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BackgroundThis study analyzed the difference in psychological distress of the healthcare workers in three different periods of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Argentina. Specifically, from the third week of the mandatory quarantine through the two following weeks.MethodsAnalysis of the responses of 1,458 members of the health personnel was done on a questionnaire on healthcare workers concerns regarding the care of patients with coronavirus, indicators of depression, anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, and coping.ResultsThe psychological indicators that were considered presented differences between the evaluated periods. Perceived concerns about the possibility of infecting loved ones and infecting themselves were greatest in the periods after the onset of the pandemic. In addition, the perception of how the work environment worsened and how lack of sleep interfered with their work was also higher in periods 2 and 3. The same results were found in the indicators of depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty. Finally, the indicators of high tension and concurrent lack of emotional control, which was greater in the last periods evaluated, were also expressed in the coping strategies (showing emotional lability, only contained by hypercontrol).ConclusionThe differences found in the psychological indicators between the evaluated periods support the need for early psychological care of health personnel which should be a priority of public health and a fundamental fact to increase its immediate effectiveness in the care of infected patients.

El propósito del presente artículo es informar las propiedades psicométricas y los datos normativos de la Escala de Autocuidado en población argentina. Dicha escala mide el autocuidado desde una conceptualización amplia e integral que incluye los aspectos materiales externos del autocuidado, el autocuidado intrapsíquico y los aspectos relacionales de cómo los humanos se cuidan a sí mismos. La escala está compuesta por 31 ítems que se responden con un formato tipo Likert de siete opciones de respuesta. Se diseñó un estudio no experimental, transversal, de tipo instrumental. Se estableció una muestra no probabilística conformada por 768 participantes de la República Argentina. Al realizar los estudios de validez de constructo se efectuó el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio observándose la agrupación de los ítems en seis factores. Con el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio se observó que el modelo de seis factores presentó un buen ajuste. Los resultados muestran una adecuada consistencia interna del test y una adecuada estabilidad test-retest luego de cinco semanas. En su conjunto, los resultados obtenidos en la investigación realizada son concordantes con los hallazgos del estudio original lo que indica que las propiedades psicométricas de la escala son confiables y válidos para ser utilizados en población general argentina.

La Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) es una escala que evalúa, de forma global, la capacidad en la disposición de una persona de estar atento y consciente de la experiencia del momento presente en la vida cotidiana. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de la MAAS en estudiantes universitarios argentinos. Se diseñó un estudio no experimental, transversal, de tipo instrumental. La base epistemológica utilizada fue la psicometría clásica. La muestra no probabilística estuvo constituida por 895 adultos argentinos de población universitaria. La edad promedio fue de 26.32 (DE = 6.946, Mín = 18, Máx = 48). El 54 % (n = 483) eran mujeres y el 45.6 % (n = 408) eran varones. Los análisis psicométricos informaron que la escala posee una estructura unidimensional con validez y fiabilidad adecuada (α = .89). La escala cuenta con adecuada evidencia de validez de constructo y con excelentes puntuaciones de consistencia interna, lo que determina que es un instrumento válido y confiable para evaluar atención de conciencia plena en población de estudiantes universitarios argentinos.

Objectives: 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 wellbeing. Study design: Cross-sectional design. Methods: During the third week (April 4-10) of mandatory quarantine, a questionnaire was administered to 809 healthcare workers from all over the country. 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: Results showed that the main worries of these healthcare workers were the possibility of infecting their loved ones (84%), followed by the possibility of infecting themselves (65%). Also, 76% considered that the work environment worsened, and 77% that it would help them to count with mental support staff in their workplace. In addition, the healthcare workers showed significantly increased levels in indicators of depression, anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty and in developing coping strategies that were predominantly of emotional control. The 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. Conclusions: 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.

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