Table 3.
Acute stress scale used among professionals caring for patients with COVID-19 over two periods and two geographical areas.
| Scale item | Scale score (N=228), mean (SD), 95% CIa | |||
| First period: 800-900 deaths per dayb | Second period: <500 deaths per dayb | Geographical area: more impactc | Geographical area: less impactd | |
| I can’t help but think of recent critical situations. I can’t get out of work. | 1.5 (0.5), 1.2-1.8 | 0.8 (1.0), 0.4-1.2 | 1.4 (1.0), 1.2-1.6 | 1.2 (0.9), 0.9-1.5 |
| I have completely lost the taste for things that gave me peace of mind. | 1.5 (0.5), 1.2-1.8 | 1.2 (1.0), 0.8-1.6 | 1.2 (0.9), 1.1-1.3 | 0.8 (0.8), 0.5-1.1 |
| I keep my distance, I resent dealing with people, and I'm irascible even at home. | 1.6 (0.9), 1.0-2.2 | 0.8 (0.8), 0.4-1.2 | 1.2 (1.0), 1.0-1.4 | 0.9 (0.8), 0.6-1.2 |
| I feel that I am neglecting many people who need my help. | 1.3 (0.9), 0.7-1.9 | 0.8 (1.0), 0.4-1.2 | 0.9 (0.9), 0.8-1.0 | 0.8 (0.9), 0.5-1.1 |
| I have difficulty thinking and making decisions, I have many doubts, and I have entered a kind of emotional blockage. | 1.5 (0.9), 0.9-2.1 | 0.6 (0.8), 0.2-1.0 | 1.0 (1.0), 0.8-1.2 | 0.7 (0.9), 0.4-1.0 |
| I feel intense physiological reactions (shock, sweating, dizziness, shortness of breath, insomnia, etc) related to the current crisis. | 1.5 (0.8), 0.9-2.1 | 1.1 (0.9), 0.7-1.5 | 1.1 (1.0), 0.9-1.3 | 0.8 (0.9), 0.5-1.1 |
| I feel on permanent alert. I believe that my reactions now put other patients, my colleagues, or myself at risk. | 1.6 (1.1), 0.8-2.4 | 0.8 (0.8), 0.4-1.2 | 0.9 (1.0), 0.7-1.1 | 0.6 (0.7), 0.4-0.8 |
| Worrying about not getting sick causes me a strain that is hard to bear. | 1.1 (1.0), 0.4-1.8 | 0.7 (0.9), 0.3-1.1 | 0.9 (0.9), 0.8-1.0 | 0.6 (0.8), 0.3-0.9 |
| I’m afraid I’m going to infect my family. | 1.3 (0.7), 0.8-1.8 | 0.9 (1.0), 0.5-1.3 | 1.4 (1.0), 1.2-1.6 | 1.3 (1.0), 1.0-1.6 |
| I have difficulty empathizing with patients’ suffering or connecting with their situation (emotional distancing and emotional anesthesia). | 1.4 (1.1), 0.6-2.2 | 0.6 (1.1), 0.1-1.1 | 0.7 (1.9), 0.6-0.8 | 0.6 (0.9), 0.3-0.9 |
| Total (scores range from 3 to 30) | 14.3 (5.5), 10.5-18.1 | 8.3 (6.6), 5.3-11.3 | 10.6 (6.4), 9.5-11.7 | 8.2 (5.0), 6.5-9.9 |
aIndividual scores range from 0 to 3 and italicized values represent statistical significance: P<.05.
bThe first period was from March 25 to April 1, 2020; the second period was from April 1 to 19, 2020.
cThis geographical area was most affected by COVID-19, with a higher mortality per 1000 inhabitants, and included Madrid, Catalonia, Basque Country, Aragon, Castile and Leon, and Valencia.
dThis geographical area was least affected by COVID-19, with a lower mortality per 1000 inhabitants, and included Asturias, Canary Islands, La Rioja, Murcia, and Navarre.