RESUMO
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the spread of abundant misinformation by the media, which caused fear and concern. Objective: To determine the association between the pathologies of the mental sphere and the perceptions of fear and exaggeration transmitted by the media with respect to COVID-19 in Latin America. Methodology: The present study has an analytical cross-sectional design that is based on a validated survey to measure fear and exaggeration transmitted by the media and other sources (Cronbach's α: 0.90). We surveyed more than 6,000 people, originally from 12 Latin American countries, who associated this perceived exaggeration with stress, depression, and anxiety (measured through DASS-21, Cronbach's α: 0.96). Results: Social networks (40%) or television (34%) were perceived as the sources that exaggerate the magnitude of the events. In addition, television (35%) and social networks (28%) were perceived as the sources that generate much fear. On the contrary, physicians and health personnel are the sources that exaggerated less (10%) or provoked less fear (14%). Through a multivariate model, we found a higher level of global perception that was associated with whether the participant was older (p = 0.002), had severe or more serious anxiety (p = 0.033), or had stress (p = 0,037). However, in comparison with Peru (the most affected country), there was a lower level of perception in Chile (p < 0.001), Paraguay (p = 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.001), Ecuador (p = 0.001), and Costa Rica (p = 0.042). All of them were adjusted for gender and for those having severe or major depression. Conclusion: There exists an association between some mental pathologies and the perception that the media does not provide moderate information.
RESUMO
El uso de fuentes de información es importante en la formación del estudiante de medicina; sin embargo, en Latinoamérica se ha reportado una disminución en su empleo y se han identificado problemas en su conocimiento. El objetivo del estudio consistió en determinar los factores asociados al uso de las fuentes de información en estudiantes de Medicina de una universidad de Tacna, Perú. Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico y transversal en estudiantes de una universidad privada, mediante un muestreo aleatorio estratificado. Se utilizó un instrumento autoaplicado de forma virtual, que indagó en las características socioeducativas, la frecuencia de uso/capacitación de las fuentes de información y las características de la investigación científica. El resultado del estudio indicó un mayor uso de las fuentes de información, asociado con las variables independientes, mediante los modelos de regresión múltiple. De 274 estudiantes, el 32,1 % utilizó frecuentemente las fuentes de información. Las de mayor uso fueron: Google Académico (36,5 %) y SciELO (25,2 %); en contraste, la mayoría de los estudiantes desconocen las fuentes: HINARI (56,2 %) y EMBASE (55,5 %). Desempeñarse en un año académico superior y tener más percepción de las habilidades en la búsqueda de información científica, constituyen los factores asociados a un mayor uso de las fuentes de información.
The use of information sources is important in the training of the medical student; however, in Latin America a decrease in its use has been reported and problems have been identified in its knowledge. The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with the use of information sources in medical students at a university in Tacna, Peru. An observational, analytical and cross-sectional study was carried out in students of a private university, using a stratified random sampling. A virtual self-applied instrument was used, which inquired into the socio-educational characteristics, the frequency of use/training of the information sources and the characteristics of scientific research. The result of the study indicated greater use of information sources, associated with the independent variables, through multiple regression models. Out of 274 students, 32.1% frequently used information sources. The most used were: Google Scholar (36.5%) and SciELO (25.2%); in contrast, most students are unaware of the sources: HINARI (56.2%) and EMBASE (55.5%). In conclusion, performing in a higher academic year and having more perception of the skills in the search for scientific information are the factors associated with greater use of information sources.
RESUMO
Introduction: Knowing a disease is crucial for being able to fight it, especially in a region in which COVID-19 caused so many deaths, such as Latin America. Objective: To determine the association between basic knowledge of COVID-19 and education level according to country of residence in Latin America. Methodology: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Basic level of knowledge was measured through nine close-ended questions (scale validated in Peru). The score obtained was analyzed through performing a crosstab vs. gender, age, education level, and country of residence. Results: Of a total of 9,222 respondents, almost all of them knew the common symptoms (99%), modes of transmission (93%), and knew how to recognize which was not a specific symptom (93%). Through the multivariate model, we found that there was no association with gender (p = 0.716) or age (p = 0.059), in comparison with those who had primary or a lower education level. All the other higher education levels had statistically significant scores (all p-values p < 0.001). When comparing knowledge according to countries, and using Peru as reference for comparison, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Bolivia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colombia had a better level of knowledge (all p-values < 0.001); however, only El Salvador had a lower level (p < 0.001). Discussion: There was lack of knowledge of some topics, difference according to academic degree and country. As Peru was one of countries that obtained the lowest level of knowledge, it could have influenced the fact that it was the most affected country in the world.
