Post-traumatic Stress Risk among COVID-19 Survivors in Colombia

The studys objective was to establish the prevalence and variables associated with post-traumatic stress disorder risk (PTSD-R) in a sample of COVID-19 survivors in Santa Marta, Colombia. A cross-sectional study was designed with a non-probabilistic sample of adult COVID-19 survivors. Participants were demographically characterized and completed scales for depression risk, insomnia risk, and PTSD-R. Three hundred and thirty COVID-19 survivors between 18 and 89 years participated; 61.52% were women. The frequency of depression risk was 49.70%; insomnia risk, 60.61%; and PTSD-R, 13.33%. Depression risk (OR = 41.43, 95% CI 5.54 - 311.63), insomnia risk (OR = 5.25, 95% CI 1.77 - 18.71), low income (OR = 3.46, 95% CI 1.38 - 8.67) and being married or free union (OR = 2.65, 95% CI 1.13 - 6.22) were associated with PTSD-R. In conclusion, two out of every fifteen COVID-19 survivors are in PTSD-R. Depression and insomnia risk are strongly associated with PTSD-R in COVID-19 survivors.

Spanish Version of the Attitude Towards COVID-19 Vaccines Scale: Reliability and Validity Assessment

Background and purpose: The negative attitude to vaccines for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has motivated the adaptation of instruments for this specific purpose. However, details of the reliability and validity of these scales are unknown. The study aimed to evaluate some indicators of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccines Scale. Methods: A validation study was carried out with 1,136 students of emerging age (18 and 29 years) from a Colombian university; 65.5% were female. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were calculated for reliability, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyzes for validity. Additionally, the gender differential item functioning (DIF) was estimated with Kendall's tau b. Results: The Spanish version of Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccines Scale showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.94 and McDonald's omega of 0.95), a one-dimensional structure with acceptable goodness-of-fit indicators (CFI=0.94, TLI=0.91, and SRMR=0.04), and non-gender DIF (Kendall's tau b between 0.02 and 0.06). Conclusions: The Spanish version of the Attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccines Scale presents some appropriate reliability and validity indicators among university emerging adults. These findings should be explored in samples with other characteristics.

Post-COVID-19 Perceived Stigma-Discrimination Scale: Psychometric Development and Evaluation

The COVID-19 survivors face social stigmatization, even with negative tests. Valid and reliable instruments are required to quantify the stigma-discrimination complex associated with COVID-19 (COVID-19-CED). The study aimed to adapt and evaluate a scale to measure COVID-19-CED in COVID-19 survivors. A validation study was done with 330 COVID-19 survivors between 18 and 89 years. The COVID-19 Perceived Discrimination Scale (C-19-PDS) was used, which was adapted from the Tuberculosis Perceived Discrimination Scale. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), internal consistency, and differential item functioning (DIF) were performed using the classical theory of tests. EFA showed a one-dimensional solution for the items of C-19-PDS; however, CFA showed poor goodness-of-fit indicators. The 5-item version of the C-19-PDS showed better goodness-of-fit indicators, high internal consistency, and non-gender DIF. In conclusion, the 5-item version of the C-19-PDS is one-dimensional, with high internal consistency, and without gender DIF. This instrument is recommended to evaluate COVID-19-CED in the Colombian population.

COVID-19 vaccine distrust in Colombian university students: Frequency and associated variables

The study aimed to know the frequency and variables associated with COVID-19 vaccine distrust in students of a Colombian university. A cross-sectional study was carried out which participated emerging adult students of a Colombian university. A total of 1,136 students between 18 and 29 years (M= 22.0, SD = 3.0); most of them were female (66.0%), non-health students (82.8%), low-income (79.0%), and residents of urban areas (84.9%). It was frequent low institutional trust (74.8%), low cognitive, social capital (27.9%), low fear of COVID-19 (49.5%), low perceived stress related to COVID-19 (83.5%), and high COVID-19 vaccine distrust (78.9%). Non-health carrier (Adjusted OR = 3.63, 95%CI 2.58-5.10), rural residence (AOR = 1.85, 95%CI 1.13-3.04), low income (AOR = 1.84, 95%CI 1.31-2.57), and perceived stress related to COVID-19 (AOR = 1.74, 95%CI 1.20-2.54) were related to high COVID-19 vaccine distrust. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccine distrust is high among emerging adult Colombian university students. The COVID-19 vaccine distrust is related to non-health science carriers, rural residents, low-income, and low-perceived stress related to COVID-19. The COVID-19 related health literacy should be improved in students of this university considering socio-cultural background.

Social capital and psychological distress during Colombian coronavirus disease lockdown

IntroductionThis study aims to establish the association between low capital social (CS) with some indicators of psychological distress. MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire that evaluated demographic variables, social capital, coronavirus disease perceived stress, depression risk, insomnia risk, and suicide risk. SC was taken as an independent variable, and symptoms indicating psychological distress was handed as dependent variables. Odds ratios (OR) were established with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using binary logistic regression analysis. ResultsA group of 700 adults participated in the survey; they were aged between 18 and 76 years (M = 37, SD = 13). Low SC was associated with depression risk (OR = 2.00, 95%CI 1.34-2.97), elevated suicide risk (OR = 2.62, 95%CI 1.40-4.91) high perceived stress related to coronavirus disease (OR = 2.08, 95%CI 1.15-3.76), and insomnia risk (OR = 2.42, 95%CI 1.69-3.47). ConclusionsLow CS was associated with indicators of psychological distress represented in depression risk, elevated suicide risk, high perceived stress related to coronavirus disease and insomnia risk. SC is a community social resource that could help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease quarantine amidst the Colombian populations psychological health. It is necessary to deepen the SC role in psychological well-being during and after the coronavirus disease epidemic.

Clinical practice guidelines and recommendations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review and critical appraisal

BackgroundThe number of published clinical practice guidelines and recommendations related to SARS-CoV-2 infections causing COVID-19 has rapidly increased. However, insufficient consideration of appropriate methodologies in the guideline development could lead to misleading information, uncertainty among professionals, and potentially harmful actions for patients. PurposeRapid systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and recommendations in the context of COVID-19 to explore if basic methodological standards of guideline development have been met. Data sourcesMEDLINE [PubMed], CINAHL [Ebsco], Trip and manual search; from Feb 1st 2020 until April 27th 2020. Study selectionAll types of healthcare workers providing any kind of healthcare to any patient population in any setting. Data extractionAt least two reviewers independently extracted guideline characteristics, conducted critical appraisal according to The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) and classified the guidelines using the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) Guidance Manual and Rules for Guideline Development. We plan six-month updates (living review). Data synthesisThere were 1342 titles screened and 188 guidelines included. The highest average AGREE II domain score was 89% for scope and purpose, the lowest for rigor of development (25%). Only eight guidelines (4%) were based on a systematic literature search and a structured consensus process by representative experts (classified as the highest methodological quality, S3 according to AWMF). Patients were only included in the development of one guideline. A process for regular updates was described in 27 guidelines (14%). LimitationsMethodological focus only. ConclusionsDespite clear scope, most publications fell short of basic methodological standards of guideline development. Future research should monitor the evolving methodological quality of the guidelines and their updates over time. Registration/PublicationThe protocol was published at www.researchgate.net, DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.21293.51689. Preliminary results are publicly available on medRxiv.

Estructura interna y confiabilidad de la escala breve de Francis en estudiantes de Medicina / Internal Structure and Reliability of a Five-Item Form of the Francis Scale in Medical Students / Estrutura interna e confiabilidade da escada breve de Francis em estudantes de medicina

Objetivo. Conocer la estructura interna y la contabilidad de la escala breve de Francis para religiosidad (Francis-5) en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad de Bucaramanga, Colombia. Método. Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio en el que participaron 365 estudiantes, entre los 18 y los 30 años de edad (M = 20.12; DE = 1.93). La validez nomológica se probó al comparar las puntuaciones según sexo y filiación religiosa de los participantes. La consistencia interna se evaluó con alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Se observó una dimensión responsable del 88.4% de la varianza, con puntuaciones mayores en mujeres que en hombres (M = 16.70, DE = 5.03 frente a M = 15.35, DE = 5.51; t = 2.41, p = 0.016); en cristianos no católicos (M = 18.26, DE = 4.26) que en otras filiaciones (M = 16.68, DE = 4.28); y en católicos en relación con (M = 12.86, DE = 7.53) otras filiaciones (M = 8.00, DE = 7.38) y sin filiación religiosa (F = 32.84, p < 0.001), con un a = 0.97. Conclusión. Francis-5 es un instrumento válido y confiable para cuantificar religiosidad en estudiantes de Medicina. Futuras investigaciones deben determinar otras medidas de validez y confiabilidad.

Objective. To understand the internal consistency reliability of a five-item form of the Francis scale toward Christianity (Francis-5) in medical students from a university in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Method. A validation study was conducted in which 365 students participated, aged between 18 and 30 years-old (M = 20.12, SD = 1.93). An exploratory factor analysis was performed for construct validity. Nomological validity was tested by comparing scores by gender and religious affiliation. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach alpha. Results. One dimension accounted for 88.4% of the total variance; higher scores were observed in women than in men (M = 16.70, SD = 5.03 vs. M = 15.35, SD = 5.51, t = 2.41; p = 0.016), and in non-Catholic Christian affiliations (M = 18.26; SD = 4.26) than other (M = 16.68, SD = 4.28 among Catholics versus M = 12.86; SD = 7.53 among other filiations and M = 8.00, SD = 7.38 among none filiation, F = 32.849, p<0.001), and alpha was 0.97. Conclusion. Francis-5 is a reliable instrument for measuring religiosity in medical students from a university in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Further research should determine other measures of validity and reliability for the scale.

Escopo. Conhecer a estrutura interna e confiabilidade da escada breve de Francis para a religiosidade (Francis-5) em estudantes de medicina de uma universidade de Bucaramanga, Colômbia. Metodologia. Foi feita uma análise fatorial exploratória na que participaram 365 estudantes, entre os 18 e 30 anos de idade (M = 20.12 anos; DE = 1.93). A validez nomológica foi provada ao comparar as pontuações segundo o sexo e a filiação religiosa dos participantes. A consistência interna foi avaliada com alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Foi observada uma dimensão responsável do 88.4% de variação, com pontuação maiores em mulheres do que em homens (M = 16.70, DE = 5.03 frente a M = 15.35, DE = 5.51, t = 2.41, p = 0.016) e em cristãos não católicos (M = 18.26, DE = 4.26) que em outras filiações (M = 16.68, DE = 4.28), em católicos em relação com (M = 12.86, DE = 7.53) outras filiações e(M = 8.00, DE = 7.38) sem filiação religiosa (F = 32.84, p < 0.001); com um alpha de 0.97. Conclusão. Francis-5 é um instrumento válido e confiável para quantificar religiosidade em estudantes de medicina. Futuras pesquisas devem determinar outras medidas de validez e confiabilidade.