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Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Bernat-Carles Serdà

    (Health and Healthcare Research Group, Health Sciences Department, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

  • Maria Aymerich

    (Faculty of Education and Psychology, Quality of Life Research Institute, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

  • Josefina Patiño-Masó

    (Nursing Department, Quality of Life Research Institute, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

  • Mònica Cunill

    (Faculty of Education and Psychology, Quality of Life Research Institute, University of Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain)

Abstract

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are among those most affected by the COVID-19 health emergency, with many presenting symptoms of anxiety and depression. Research shows that one of the factors involved in mitigating the impact of stressful situations is the use of cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms. The aims of this study were (a) to describe the functional and dysfunctional cognitive emotional regulation mechanisms (FRMs and DRMs) by gender, (b) to screen the main group of healthcare professionals who are candidates to receive psychological assistance based on FRMs and DRMs, and (c) to determine the HCP profile of candidates for psychological assistance. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted. Data were obtained from an adhoc questionnaire—the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ-18), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The representative sample comprised 1452 HCPs. The results revealed significant differences between men and women in the use of DRMs. Women showed a higher use of catastrophizing (≤0.001) and rumination (0.008). The screening procedure detected that 7.5% (109 cases) of the HCPs were candidates to receive psychological support. According to the results of this study, age group (30–39 years old), professional activity (being a nurse or nursing assistant), and having psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression are variables that independently increase the probability of requiring psychological assistance. The gender variable was not found to be an independent factor when it comes to receiving psychological support. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider the influence of cognitive emotional regulation strategies employed by HCPs in the screening of candidates for psychological assistance and design effective interventions to reverse the emotional distress caused by COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernat-Carles Serdà & Maria Aymerich & Josefina Patiño-Masó & Mònica Cunill, 2021. "Mental Health Screening of Healthcare Professionals Who Are Candidates for Psychological Assistance during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11167-:d:663637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kathrine Jáuregui Renaud & Davis Cooper-Bribiesca & Elizabet Martínez-Pichardo & José A. Miguel Puga & Dulce M. Rascón-Martínez & Luis A. Sánchez Hurtado & Tania Colin Martínez & Eliseo Espinosa-Pobla, 2021. "Acute Stress in Health Workers during Two Consecutive Epidemic Waves of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Beata Dziedzic & Ewa Kobos & Zofia Sienkiewicz & Anna Idzik, 2022. "Mental Health of Nurses during the Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, February.

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