Perceived stress by students of the medical sciences in Cuba toward the COVID-19 pandemic: results of an online survey

Abstract

IntroductionThe aims of this study were to determine the usefulness of the Modified (10-items) Scale of Perceived Stress related to COVID-19 (EEP-10-C by its acronym in Spanish) and to identify the levels of stress perceived by students of the medical sciences in Cuba toward the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, with self-reported data of students from fourteen Cuban Universities of Medical Sciences (n = 200), through an online survey. The EEP-10-C was used as an instrument to identify stress. Its validity was determined through a confirmatory factor analysis and its internal consistency and reliability was measured by the Cronbach’ alph. A cluster analysis was performed to establish as cut-off point the center of the cluster with the highest values of stress perceived by the scale.ResultsThe average age of the sample was 23.30 ± 1.91 years, with observed scores of the EEP-10-C between 0 and 29 points (13.25 ± 5,404). When applying the cut-off point ≥25, only two students had high rates of stress perceived. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the validity of the instrument; with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.755. The cutoff point ≥20 was proposed as a reference of high stress perceived for the study population, when applying this one, 14% of students presented high rates of stress.DiscussionIn Cuba, students of the medical sciences have participated in research and supporting health care, despite which they have presented low levels of stress. The main contribution of the research was the validation of the EEP-10-C for its use in assessing levels of stress in Cuban medical students, proposing the cut-off point ≥20 as a reference of high stress perceived.

COVID-19 Lockdown in New Zealand: Perceived Stress and Wellbeing among International Health Students Who Were Essential Frontline Workers

“…An online survey of approximately 20 min was conducted between 21 September and 26 October 2020 while the international student campuses were still in lockdown. The survey collected (i) demographic information, (ii) qualitative data on challenges faced and coping strategies and achievements throughout the lockdown, and (iii) quantitative data on perceived stress levels, the latter by utilising Cohen’s Short Form of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) [ 31 ] adapted for the COVID-19 lockdown event [ 25 , 28 , 32 ]. Cohen’s PSS-10 instrument enjoys wide and enduring usage as an instrument for measuring perceived stress levels and reports on situations of daily life, which are considered as stressful (in this research specified as lockdown and isolation due to the outbreak of COVID-19).…”

“…Answers were scored as follows: 0—never; 1—almost never; 2—sometimes; 3—fairly often; and 4—very often. Participant total scores on the PSS-10 can range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress (see results below in the Descriptive Statistics of Perceived Levels of Stress) [ 17 , 23 , 32 , 33 ].…”

Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic-related Perceived Stress Scale (PSS–10–C)

“…2 The instrument's relevance is evidenced by several citations of using the PSS-C-10 in the world context. [3][4][5] The PSS-10-C presented a one-dimensional structure, without a confirmatory analysis factorial, and high internal consistency; however, the need to make adjustments in PSS-10-C was noted. 1 Since perspective focused on the writing of the items, a review of the PSS-10-C suggested that the Spanish item 6 ('I have felt unable to face the things I have to do to control the possible infection') could partly explain that the factorial solution was not wholly satisfactory in explaining less than 50% of the variance.…”