Prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in military health personnel in training exposed to COVID-19
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Society of Global Health
Abstract
Description
Objective
The COVID-19 health crisis triggered an increase in prevalence of psychological
distress in health personnel in training. This study aims to estimate the prevalence
of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress in health personnel who have
cared for patients with COVID-19.
Method
A cross-sectional study was carried out, from March to September 2021, among
health personnel enrolled in some medical specialty of the Military Graduate
School of Health. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress
were measured, as well as associated demographic factors.
Results
A study sample of 170 health personnel in training were surveyed online; 76%
reported being a doctor and 24% were nurses, 54% were female sex, 52% in the age
group between 30 and 39 years, most with single marital status and no children.
Of the participating health personnel, we found prevalence’s of 30% anxiety, 34%
depression, and 6% post-traumatic stress. When performing Pearson’s
correlation, it was found that variables such as infected family member, number
of times infected, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), were significantly associated with
the total of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-5) score.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant psychological impact,
manifesting itself in the form of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress in
military health personnel in training. Therefore, it is of great importance to detect
at least this psychic discomfort from the pandemic in front-line personnel, so that
decision-makers in health policies address them as priority problems for health
personnel.