Concerns and Threats Perceived by Healthcare Workers Facing the COVID-19 in Argentina

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

International Journal of Health Science

Atena

Año: 2021 vol. 1 p. 2 - 15

The goal of this study was to provide a description regarding the perceived concerns and threats of the healthcare workers facing treatment of patients with COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic in Argentina, also analysing how these issues affected their psychological well-being. During the third week (April 4-10) of mandatory quarantine, a questionnaire was administered to 809 healthcare workers from all over the country (cross-sectional design). The developed questionnaire covered: socio-demographic data, questions related to concerns of the health personnel about facing patients with coronavirus, and indicators of depression, anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and coping. Results showed increased levels indicators of depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty, developing coping strategies predominantly of emotional control. In addition, results also indicated that fear of contagion and fear of infecting their loved ones, as well as fear of the possibility of having to choose who would receive attention and who would not, were perceived as stressors having the greatest influence on discomfort. Altogether, these results show the need for preventive contingency interventions targeted to healthcare workers in order to preserve the well-being of their mental health and the quality of the therapies they apply to patients with COVID-19.