Perceived concerns and threats of healthcare workers facing COVID-19 in Argentina

RICHAUD DE MINZI, MARÍA CRISTINA; VARGAS RUBILAR, JAEL; EDIMAN, LEANDRO; KLOS, MARÍA CAROLINA; LEMOS, VIVIANA; MESURADO, BELÉN; RODRIGUEZ DE BEHRENDS, MARISA; MUZIO, RUBÉN

International Journal of Health Science

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2021 vol. 1 p. 1 - 15

2764-0159

Abstract: Objectives: The goal of this studywas to provide a description regardingthe perceived concerns and threats of thehealthcare workers facing treatment of patientswith COVID-19 during the early phase of thepandemic in Argentina, also analysing howthese issues affected their psychological wellbeing. Study design: Cross-sectional design.Methods: During the third week (April 4-10)of mandatory quarantine, a questionnairewas administered to 809 healthcare workersfrom all over the country. The developedquestionnaire covered: socio-demographicdata, questions related to concerns of thehealth personnel about facing patients withcoronavirus, and indicators of depression,anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, andcoping. Results: Results showed that the mainworries of these healthcare workers werethe possibility of infecting their loved ones(84%), followed by the possibility of infectingthemselves (65%). Also, 76% considered thatthe work environment worsened, and 77%that it would help them to count with mentalsupport staff in their workplace. In addition,the healthcare workers showed significantlyincreased levels in indicators of depression,anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty andin developing coping strategies that werepredominantly of emotional control. Theresults also indicated that fear of contagionand fear of infecting their loved ones, as wellas fear of the possibility of having to choosewho would receive attention and who wouldnot, were perceived as stressors having thegreatest influence on discomfort. Conclusions:Altogether, these results show the need forpreventive contingency interventions targetedto healthcare workers in order to preservethe well-being of their mental health and thequality of the therapies they apply to patientswith COVID-19.