Avaliação da qualidade de sono e ansiedade em profissionais e estudantes da saúde no contexto da pandemia pela covid-19 / Evaluación de la calidad del sueño y la ansiedad en profesionales y estudiantes de la salud en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19 / Assessment of sleep quality and anxiety in healthcare professionals and students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introdução: Na pandemia desencadeada pela COVID-19, o desenvolvimento progressivo de sintomas de ansiedade e a má qualidade do sono devem ser investigados em profissionais e estudantes da área da saúde para o adequado manejo. Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência de problemas de sono e sintomas ansiosos em profissionais e estudantes da saúde, e analisar o efeito de variáveis sociodemográficas-clínicas na ansiedade e sono dessa população.Metodologia: Neste estudo transversal de caráter quantitativo aplicou-se um formulário online a 3.337 profissionais e estudantes da saúde do Brasil participantes de um congresso virtual, contendo 51 perguntas subdivididas em três categorias: Perfil sociodemográfico-clínico, Escala de Sono de Jenkins e Inventário de Ansiedade de BECK.Resultados: Dentre os participantes, 81,4% eram estudantes da área da saúde e 12,8% profissionais de saúde. Os achados obtidos indicam que 41% dos participantes apresentaram problemas de sono muito frequentes e 46,6% sinais de ansiedade moderada a grave. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre as variáveis sociodemográficas-clínicas e os questionários validados de sono e ansiedade. Conclusão: Essa pesquisa identificou importante prevalência de problemasde sono e sintomas ansiosos em profissionais e estudantes da saúde, sendo primordial a identificação precoce dessas alterações para um manejo efetivo (AU).

Introduction: In the pandemic triggered by COVID-19, the progressive development of anxiety symptoms and poor sleep quality should be investigated in healthcare professionals and students for proper management.Objective: To identify the prevalence of sleep problems and anxious symptoms in healthcare professionals and students, and to analyze the effect of sociodemographic-clinical variables on anxiety and sleep in this population. Methodology: In this cross-sectional quantitative study, an online form was applied to 3,337 healthcare professionals and students from Brazil participating in a virtual congress, containing 51 questions subdivided into three categories: Sociodemographic-clinical profile, Jenkins Sleep Scale and BECK Anxiety Inventory.Results: Among the participants, 81.4% were healthcare students and 12.8% were healthcare professionals. The findings indicate that 41% of the participants had very frequent sleep problems and 46.6% showed signs of moderate to severe anxiety. There was a statistically significant association between the sociodemographic-clinical variables and the validated sleep and anxiety questionnaires. Conclusion:This study identified a high prevalence of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms among healthcare professionals and students, and early identification of these alterations is essential for effective management (AU).

Introducción: En la pandemia desencadenada por el COVID-19, el desarrollo progresivo de síntomas de ansiedad y la mala calidad del sueño deben ser investigados en profesionales y estudiantes de la salud para su adecuado manejo. Objetivo: Identificar la prevalencia de problemas de sueño y síntomas ansiosos en profesionales y estudiantes de la salud, y analizar el efecto de las variables sociodemográficas-clínicas sobre la ansiedad y el sueño en esta población. Metodología:En este estudio transversal y cuantitativo, se aplicó un formulario línea 3.337 profesionales y estudiantes de la salud de Brasil que participaron en un congreso virtual, conteniendo 51 preguntas subdivididas en tres categorías: perfil sociodemográfico-clínico, Escala de Sueño de Jenkins e Inventario de Ansiedad de BECK. Resultados: Entre los participantes, 81,4% eran estudiantes de salud y 12,8% profesionales de la salud. Los resultados indican que el 41% de los participantes tenía problemas de sueño muy frecuentes y el 46,6% mostraba signos de ansiedad de moderada a grave. Hubo una asociación estadísticamentesignificativa entre las variables sociodemográficas-clínicas y los cuestionarios validados de sueño y ansiedad. Conclusión:Este estudio identificó una alta prevalencia de problemas de sueño y síntomas de ansiedad en profesionales de la salud y estudiantes, y la identificación precoz de estas alteraciones es esencial para un manejo eficaz (AU).

Factors associated with older adults' cognitive decline 6 months after gamma-variant SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Cognitive deficits are commonly reported after COVID-19 recovery, but little is known in the older population. This study aims to investigate possible cognitive damage in older adults 6 months after contracting COVID-19, as well as individual risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 70 participants aged 60-78 with COVID-19 6 months prior and 153 healthy controls. Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) screened for cognitive impairment; Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory screened for depression and anxiety. Data were collected on demographics and self-reports of comorbid conditions. Results: The mean age of participants was 66.97 ± 4.64 years. A higher proportion of individuals in the COVID group complained about cognitive deficits (χ2 = 3.574; p = 0.029) and presented with deficient MoCA-B scores (χ2 = 6.098, p = 0.014) compared to controls. After controlling for multiple variables, all the following factors resulted in greater odds of a deficient MoCA-B: COVID-19 6-months prior (OR, 2.44; p = 0.018), age (OR, 1.15; p < 0.001), lower income (OR, 0.36; p = 0.070), and overweight (OR, 2.83; p = 0.013). Further analysis pointed to individual characteristics in COVID-19-affected patients that could explain the severity of the cognitive decline: age (p = 0.015), lower income (p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.049), ageusia (p = 0.054), overweight (p < 0.001), and absence of cognitively stimulating activities (p = 0.062). Conclusion: Our study highlights a profile of cognitive risk aggravation over aging after COVID-19 infection, which is likely mitigated by wealth but worsened in the presence of overweight. Ageusia at the time of acute COVID-19, anxiety, being overweight, and absence of routine intellectual activities are risk factors for more prominent cognitive decline among those infected by COVID-19.

The context of COVID-19 affected the long-term sleep quality of older adults more than SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Sleep problems are one of the most persistent symptoms of post-COVID syndrome in adults. However, most recent research on sleep quality has relied on the impact of the pandemic, with scarcely any data for older adults on the long-term consequences of COVID infection. This study aims to understand whether older individuals present persistently impaired sleep quality after COVID-19 infection and possible moderators for this outcome. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of a longitudinal cohort study with 70 elders with 6-month-previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and 153 controls. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality; Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory for screening depression and anxiety. Demographics and comorbid conditions were collected. Results: The mean age of participants was 66,97 ± 4,64 years. There were no statistical differences in depression and anxiety between groups. Poor sleep quality was found in 52,9% and 43,8% of the COVID and control groups (p=.208). After controlling for multiple variables, all the following factors resulted in greater chances of poor sleep quality: female gender (OR, 2.12; p=.027), memory complaints (OR, 2.49; p=.074), insomnia (OR, 3.66; p=.032), anxiety (OR, 5.46; p<.001), depression (OR, 7.26; p=.001), joint disease (OR, 1.80; p=.050), glucose intolerance (OR, 2.20; p=.045), psychoactive drugs (OR, 8.36; p<.001), diuretics (OR, 2.46; p=.034), and polypharmacy (OR, 2.84; p=.016). Conclusion: Psychosocial burden in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-existing conditions seems to influence the sleep quality of older adults more than SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Desafios da pandemia para a mentoria: o papel dos mentores juniores e das redes sociais / Challenges of the pandemic for mentoring: the role of junior mentors and social networks

Resumo: Introdução: A aprovação no curso de Medicina traz consigo a euforia e, por vezes, associa-se a grandes mudanças no dia a dia dos alunos. Essas mudanças estão relacionadas a momentos de medo, sofrimento e adaptação. Os programas de mentoria surgem como espaços importantes de cuidado que oferecem acolhimento e suporte às vivências dos alunos, de modo a contribuir para o desenvolvimento pessoal e acadêmico deles. Relato de experiência: Diante da necessidade de adaptar o ensino presencial ao modelo remoto, em detrimento da pandemia de Covid-19, o programa de mentoria da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte investiu na realização de atividades on-line, protagonizadas por monitores denominados mentores juniores. Essas atividades se valeram do potencial das mídias sociais, por meio das plataformas de videoconferência, além de interações nas redes sociais, para realizar os encontros e promover a manutenção do vínculo, bem como proporcionar um espaço de acolhimento e integração entre estudantes e mentores. Discussão: A partir da realização de atividades remotas, alunos e mentores mostraram-se muito participativos e satisfeitos. A atuação dos mentores juniores na elaboração dessas atividades virtuais foi um importante diferencial, possibilitando o engajamento dos mais tímidos e daqueles que tinham dificuldade em cumprir os horários presenciais. Conclusão: Mediante a observação no desenvolvimento das atividades do programa e com base na avaliação dos alunos e mentores sobre o desempenho da mentoria no semestre remoto, considera-se que é de grande valia investir no potencial das mídias sociais para impulsionar as reuniões dos grupos de mentoria, garantir a manutenção do acolhimento e suporte aos alunos, bem como para estreitar os vínculos entre os participantes. Sob esse prisma, é necessário considerar a possibilidade de adotar um modelo misto no aperfeiçoamento do programa de mentoria.

Abstract: Introduction: Being accepted for medical school brings euphoria, and is sometimes associated to major changes in the student's daily life. These changes pertain to moments of fear, suffering and adaptation. The mentoring programs, therefore, appear as essential care spaces, offering welcoming and support to students, in order to contribute to their personal and academic development. Experience Report: Faced with the need to adapt from face-to-face teaching to the remote model, to help control the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mentoring program of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte invested in conducting online activities led by junior mentors. These activities took advantage of the potential of social media, through video conferencing platforms, in addition to interactions on social networks, to hold the meetings and maintain the link, as well as providing a space for welcoming and integrating students and mentors. Discussion: In relation to the remote activities, students and mentors were found to be very participative and satisfied. The role of junior mentors in developing these virtual activities was an important differential, enabling the engagement of the most timid and those who had difficulty in meeting the face-to-face schedules. Conclusion: Through observation during the development of the program activities, and based on the evaluation of students and mentors on the performance of mentoring in the remote semester, the conclusion is drawn that it is important to invest in the potential of social media to boost mentoring group meetings, ensure that the students are offered reception and support, and to strengthen the bonds with the participants. In light of this, it is necessary to consider the possibility of adopting a mixed teaching model to improve the mentoring program.