Psychophysical Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on HealthCare Workers in Argentina. The ImPPaCTS-SAC.20 Survey

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Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has generated negative psychological effects in the whole population.
Our objective was to describe this impact on health care workers of Argentina.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study evaluating anxiety, depression, burnout, and lifestyle and alterations in lifestyle and interpersonal relationships by means of an anonymous survey carried out from June to September 2020.

Results: A total of 1221 healthcare workers, with median age 42 years (IQR 34.5-52) and 65% women were surveyed for the study. Among them, 77.2% lived in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the Buenos Aires province; 66.7% were specialist physicians or nurses, 41.1% were clinical specialists, 29.8% intensive care or coronary care unit physicians and 10.2% kinesiologists or nurses. In 51.8% of cases, healthcare workers reported that all biosafety recommendations were not met in their workplaces.
Anxiety was detected in 40.5% of cases, major depression in 22.1% (4.5% referred frequent suicidal ideation), minor depression in10.9% and burnout in 38.7%. Smoking increased in 9.4% of healthcare workers and alcohol in 22%; 62.1% declared worse sleep quality, 50.2% reduced physical activity, 18.4% worsened their affective relationship and 40.4% suffered discrimination for being health workers.

Conclusion: The Coronavirus pandemic has produced an increase in depression, anxiety, burnout and unhealthy lifestyle habits in healthcare workers surveyed in Argentina.