Concern about COVID-19 infection and workload as predictors of psychological distress during the health emergency in Peruvian healthcare personnel

Introduction: During the health emergency, there is concern about the mental health repercussions that Peruvian health workers, who represent the front line of care for COVID-19, may be experiencing. Objective: To determine whether concern about COVID-19 and workloads predict psychological distress in healthcare workers. Methods: Predictive study in which 367 workers (nurses, doctors, nursing assistants, obstetricians, dentists, psychologists, nutritionists, among others) from 12 health networks in the Puno region participated, selected through intentional non-probabilistic sampling. The data were collected via the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the COVID-19 Scale of Concern and the Workload Scale. Results: It was found that there are no significant differences between men and women in psychological discomfort and concern about COVID-19 infection and workload. Furthermore, highly significant correlations were found between the study variables (p <0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed an adequate adjustment for the model (F = 94.834; p <0.001), where concern about COVID-19 (β = –0.436; p <0.01) and workload (β = 0.239; p <0.01) are variables that significantly predict psychological discomfort (adjusted R² = 0.33). Conclusions: Concern about COVID-19 and work overload predict psychological distress in health personnel in the Puno region.