Abstract Body

Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the adoption of measures to detect infection and prevent its spread, causing anxiety in the population as a collateral damage. Health professionals have been considered one of the groups most at risk for mental health problems, as observed in previous epidemics. The present study aimed to assess the anxiety in primary healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the factors that influence it.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study performed through Google Forms platform between March 29 and April 5 2020 to primary healthcare professionals in mainland Portugal. Anxiety levels were obtained applying the Beck Anxiety Inventory, which was related to other variables.

Results: the study included 696 participants, of which 61.9% were physicians, 84.8% were women and 43.8% had mild to severe levels of anxiety. Factors such as personal history of previous mental health disorders, having a family member with risk factors for COVID-19 complications and being an administrative assistant, showed to be related with higher levels of anxiety. Moreover, the existence of a workspace contingency plan was associated with lower anxiety levels; nevertheless, 6.9% considered it inadequate, mainly due to inadequate protective equipment for professionals (79.6%).

Conclusion: The study highlights a baseline high prevalence of anxiety among health professionals even at the early beginning of COVID-19 pandemic and reinforces the need, in future pandemics, to take adequate measures to protect their mental health safeguarding the quality of patient care.