Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and anxiety: a longitudinal study in 287 Brazilians.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress in a sample of Brazilians and their relationship with sex, age, and work situation, and compare if these symptoms change with 8 weeks of quarantine. METHODS: Online survey to collect epidemiological data and apply the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Eight weeks later, the researchers requested the same requirements to complete the BAI and IES-R and compare the results. RESULTS: The sample of 287 answered the first and second questionnaires, being 72.8% women, with a median age of 22 years. In the first interview, the median BAI was 12 (7-19) and the median IES-R was 27.0 (15-40); in the second, the median BAI was 11 (6-22) and the IES-R was 30 (15-41) with p<00001 and 0.09, respectively. Anxiety levels were worse in females (p<0.0001 for both BAI and IES-R) and in those who worked/studied in the area of health (p=0.001 for BAI and 0.01 for IES-R). There was a negative correlation between age and anxiety (p<0.0001 for BAI and IES-R). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of anxiety that lowered after 8 weeks were found. Anxiety was worse in females, in younger people, and in those who worked/studied in the area of health.

Desafios das Fake News com Idosos durante Infodemia sobre Covid-19: Experiência de Estudantes de Medicina / Challenges Caused by Fake News among Elderly Population during the Covid-19 Infodemic: Experience of Medical Students

Resumo: Introdução: A pandemia do novo coronavírus trouxe consigo uma infodemia, ou seja, um excesso de informações, que, em populações com baixa análise crítica e falta de conhecimento técnico-científico, pode gerar e disseminar fake news. No Brasil, esses déficits são encontrados frequentemente nos idosos, que representam 13% da população, e na maior parte dos analfabetos absolutos e funcionais, o que os torna tanto vítimas quanto propagadores. Relato de Experiência: Foi realizada uma atividade multicêntrica baseada no projeto-piloto da Faculdade Evangélica Mackenzie do Paraná que promoveu educação em saúde para a população idosa por meio de redes sociais e comunicação on-line. Assim, os estudantes de Medicina ficaram disponíveis para esclarecer dúvidas e mitos relacionados à Covid-19 e enviar materiais informativos. Doze instituições de ensino superior da Região Sul do Brasil replicaram o projeto de 4 de julho a 6 de agosto de 2020, com o objetivo de combater às fake news e estimular a criação de canais de comunicação confiáveis com essa população. Discussão: A inclusão digital do idoso é algo recente, e a proporção daqueles que são usuários da internet vem crescendo no país. Entretanto, ainda há baixa interpretação crítica de informações, dificuldade de acompanhar o fluxo de notícias e pouca habilidade com ferramentas da internet. Nesse sentido, dar protagonismo a essa população digitalmente invisibilizada e permitir a ampliação do conhecimento médico geriátrico durante a pandemia, por meio do contato de acadêmicos com as demandas dos idosos, é uma forma efetiva de possibilitar um entendimento maior acerca das vulnerabilidades e necessidades do público geriátrico no que tange à educação em saúde. Conclusão: A construção do canal de comunicação entre acadêmicos e idosos apresentou uma possibilidade inovadora para a população idosa obter informação científica de forma acessível, de modo a conscientizá-la do novo coronavírus e da propagação de notícias falsas.

Abstract: Introduction: The Coronavirus pandemic brought with it an infodemic, which is an excess of information that, in environments with low critical analysis and a lack of technical-scientific knowledge, generates propitious ground for the emergence and dissemination of fake news. In Brazil, these weaknesses are widely found among the elderly, which represents 13% of the population and the majority of absolute and functional illiterates, making them both victims and propagators. Experience Report: A multicenter activity was carried out based on the pilot project by Faculdade Evangélica Mackenzie do Paraná, which promoted health education for the elderly population through social networks and online communication. Thus, medical students made themselves available to clarify their doubts and other myths related to COVID-19 and share informational materials. Twelve medical schools in the southern region of Brazil replicated the project from 4th July to 6th August 2020, with the aim of combating fake news and encouraging the creation of communication channels with this population. Discussion: Digital inclusion of the elderly is recent and the proportion of elderly people who are Internet users has been growing in the country. However, there is still a low critical interpretation of information, difficulty in keeping up with the news flow and lack of skill with Internet tools. In this sense, giving prominence to this digitally invisible population and allowing the expansion of geriatric medical knowledge during the pandemic by increasing students' contact with the demands of the elderly, is an effective way of enabling a greater understanding about the vulnerabilities and needs of the elderly regarding health education. Conclusion: The construction of a communication channel between students and the elderly is an innovative possibility for this group to enjoy easy access to scientific information, raising awareness concerning the coronavirus and fake news.