Psychological discomfort of health workers in the COVID-19 pandemic. International multicenter HEROES study. Argentine report.

Abstract

In 2020 with the COVIVD 19 pandemic, the modifications in the structures and functionality of the health teams implied a considerable increase in the workload and the associated stress on workers. The objective was to characterize the consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic on both mental health and other psychosocial aspects of workers in various health facilities.

International multicenter prospective cohort study with 12-month follow-up. Inclusion criteria: being over 18 years of age, working in a health facility, in the context of a pandemic. Non-probabilistic, incidental sampling (n=1423), participating regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and neighboring countries, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan and Asia. The procedure began in Argentina with a prior dissemination of the survey, through the use of digital media, later informed consent was obtained and the survey was sent. In addition, it strengthened the sample with the "Snowball" sampling strategy. Statistical analysis: descriptive statistics through frequencies and distributions. The ethical safeguards correspond to the requirements of the CIEIS-HNC.

The local population was 80% women, 20% men, 41 years on average, 83% university students, 65% live on average with three people and 48% have a dependent minor or disabled person. Regarding the GHQ, 21% showed a sub-threshold level, and 25% the presence of morbidity. The PHQ, 54% of the respondents present some suffering associated with depression, 84% high concern of infecting loved ones. The government's confidence in information was low or moderate in 80% of the cases. 27% have a reliable support network at work. 94% did not receive help in caring for children and 71% did not receive help in caring for the elderly.

The results indicate that 27% of the population presented moderate to severe depressive symptoms and 54% mild symptoms, showing a significant increase in the general population before the pandemic.