STRESS IN SYMPTOMATIC RESPIRATORY PATIENTS AND COVID-19 PANDEMIC. CENTRAL HOSPITAL OF MARACAY, VENEZUELA

ABSTRACT

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the pandemic stress of COVID-19 in patients admitted to the Respiratory Symptomatic Triage at the Hospital Central de Maracay during the month of August 2020. An investigation was carried out under a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and cross-sectional approach, with a field design. The population consisted of 100 patients who were referred from the emergency on the 7 / 1pm shift to the Triage of respiratory symptoms at the aforementioned Hospital, to whom a questionnaire structured in three parts was applied considering the diagnostic and statistical criteria of mental disorders. The results indicate that the factors significantly associated with the level of moderate stress in the Aragonese population in the COVID-19 pandemic were fear, fear or panic of the modes of transmission and the prognosis of the disease represented by 77%, the excessive flow of information circulating in the different social networks with 63%, the situation prevailing in the communities reflecting 80%. The concern and fear that the community presents of being infected with the virus that can lead to death is notorious. It is concluded that the stress derived from the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered as a public health problem that affects the biopsychosocial well-being of the individual, family and community, so it is necessary to apply preventive measures that promote the mental health of the population.