Contributing factors for acute stress in healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador

• Autores: Martin Delgado, Jimmy; Poblete, Rodrigo; Serpa, Piedad; Mula, Aurora; Carrillo, Irene; Fernández, Cesar; Vicente Ripoll, María Asunción; Loudet, Cecilia; Jorro, Facundo; Garcia Elorrio, Ezequiel; Guilabert, Mercedes; Mira, José Joaquín
• Año de publicación: 2022
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Stress; Argentina; Chile; Colombia; Ecuador
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

This study analyzed the frequency and intensity of acute stress among health professionals caring for COVID-19 patients in four Latin American Spanish-speaking countries during the outbreak. A cross-sectional study involved a non-probability sample of healthcare professionals in four Latin American countries. Participants from each country were invited using a platform and mobile application designed for this study. Hospital and primary care workers from different services caring for COVID-19 patients were included. The EASE Scale (SARS-CoV-2 Emotional Overload Scale, in Spanish named Escala Auto-aplicada de Sobrecarga Emocional) was a previously validated measure of acute stress. EASE scores were described overall by age, sex, work area, and experience of being ill with COVID-19. Using the Mann–Whitney U test, the EASE scores were compared according to the most critical moments of the pandemic. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to investigate associations between these factors and the outcome ‘acute stress’. Finally, the Kruskal–Wallis was used to compare EASE scores and the experience of being ill. A total of 1372 professionals responded to all the items in the EASE scale: 375 (27.3%) Argentines, 365 (26.6%) Colombians, 345 (25.1%) Chileans, 209 (15.2%) Ecuadorians, and 78 (5.7%) from other countries. 27% of providers suffered middle-higher acute stress due to the outbreak. Worse results were observed in moments of peak incidence of cases (14.3 ± 5.3 vs. 6.9 ± 1.7, p < 0.05). Higher scores were found in professionals in COVID-19 critical care (13 ± 1.2) than those in non-COVID-19 areas (10.7 ± 1.9) (p = 0.03). Distress was higher among professionals who were COVID-19 patients (11.7 ± 1) or had doubts about their potential infection (12 ± 1.2) compared to those not infected (9.5 ± 0.7) (p = 0.001). Around one-third of the professionals experienced acute stress, increasing in intensity as the incidence of COVID-19 increased and as they became infected or in doubt whether they were infected. EASE scale could be a valuable asset for monitoring acute stress levels among health professionals in Latin America.
Fil: Martin Delgado, Jimmy. Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil; Ecuador
Fil: Poblete, Rodrigo. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Chile
Fil: Serpa, Piedad. Universidad Industrial Santander; Colombia
Fil: Mula, Aurora. Hospital Universitario de Sant Joan D´alacant; España
Fil: Carrillo, Irene. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España
Fil: Fernández, Cesar. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España
Fil: Vicente Ripoll, María Asunción. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España
Fil: Loudet, Cecilia. General José de San Martín de la Plata General Hospital; Argentina
Fil: Jorro, Facundo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños Pedro Elizalde (ex Casa Cuna); Argentina
Fil: Garcia Elorrio, Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria. Centro de Investigaciones en Epidemiología y Salud Pública; Argentina
Fil: Guilabert, Mercedes. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España
Fil: Mira, José Joaquín. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España