Anxiety, depression and stress in nurses working in intensive therapy units with COVID-19 patients, Mendoza, 2021

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. In pandemic contexts, health workers are especially vulnerable to mental health problems and risky pathologies. Objectives of the study: 1) to explore and describe levels of anxiety and depression in intensive care unit nurses who work with COVID-19 patients and 2) to describe indicators of stress in relation to their work activity. METHOD: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Intentional sample of 52 nurses, of both sexes, who work in intensive care units COVID-19, Mendoza. Validated questionnaires were applied to assess anxiety, depression and perceived stress. RESULTS: high levels of anxiety in 72.1% of the sample and 13.5% of depression; Higher indicators of stress: feeling discouraged and tired (80.8%), mentally exhausted (76.9%), not feeling energy (73.1%), feeling very worried (75%); as favorable indicators: 76.9% do not feel that they do things out of obligation, 55.8% feel that they are doing things that they really like. DISCUSSION: High levels of anxiety and depression were observed and indicators of stress related to tension and physical-emotional exhaustion and work overload were identified; Indicators related to protective factors were found within the workplace. Preliminary data is discussed on the emotional distress of male and female nurses in times of pandemic by COVID-19.