Anxiety and depression in face-to-face and telehealth care during the Covid-19 pandemic: a comparative study

Abstract This study aimed to compare anxiety and depression scores in health professionals in telehealth and/or face-to-face care at a Brazilian university hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression. For this, an observational and cross-sectional study was carried out. Participants responded to the “Patient Health Questionnaire-9” and “General Anxiety Disorder-7” and a sociodemographic questionnaire and divided into three groups: telehealth professionals (G1), face-to-face care (G2) and professionals who work in both ways (G3). 159 health professionals participated, 36 men, 123 women, the majority of whom were nurses and the average age was 42 years. G2 participants had higher anxiety and depression scores when compared to the others. However, there were no statistically significant differences and associations between these groups (p> 0.05). “Age”, “profession” and “being diagnosed with COVID-19” had statistical associations with anxiety and depression. It was concluded that there was no significant difference between anxiety and depression between health professionals who work by telehealth and/or face-to-face, as well as there were no associations between protocols and groups. Age, profession and being diagnosed with COVID-19 can interfere with these scores.

摘要
本研究旨在对比巴西某大学附属医院在新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）疫情期间，提供远程医疗（telehealth）及/或面对面诊疗的医护人员的焦虑与抑郁评分，并识别与焦虑、抑郁相关的影响因素。为此开展了一项观察性横断面研究。参与者需填写《患者健康问卷-9（Patient Health Questionnaire-9）》、《广泛性焦虑障碍量表-7（General Anxiety Disorder-7）》及一份社会人口学问卷，并被分为三组：远程医疗医护人员（G1）、面对面诊疗医护人员（G2）以及同时开展两种诊疗模式的医护人员（G3）。本研究共纳入159名医护人员，其中男性36名，女性123名，多数职业为护士，平均年龄42岁。与其他两组相比，G2组参与者的焦虑与抑郁评分更高，但组间差异及各因素与评分的关联均无统计学意义（p>0.05）。“年龄”“职业”及“曾被诊断感染COVID-19”与焦虑、抑郁评分存在统计学关联。研究结论认为，提供远程医疗与/或面对面诊疗的医护人员之间，其焦虑与抑郁评分无显著差异，且诊疗模式与组别之间亦无显著关联；年龄、职业及曾被诊断感染COVID-19可对上述评分产生影响。