The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Nursing Students

Objectives: This research was planned to examine the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on the post-traumatic stress symptoms of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Single-blinded study with parallel groups. Setting: Faculty of Nursing. Participants: 60 first-year students studying at the Faculty of Nursing were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. Method: Data were collected using the Information Form prepared by the researcher and the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. The intervention group was collected online three times, before the cognitive behavioral group therapy, at the end of the therapy and three months later. Group intervention program based on cognitive behavioral approach of ten sessions; face-to-face, the intervention group was divided into two separate groups and each group was completed in approximately one and a half months (May-June 2022), two days a week. Follow-up measurement was completed in September 2022. While group therapy was applied to the intervention group, no intervention was made to the control group.