Health professionals faced a challenge with the onset and rapid spread of COVID-19. Initial studies that evaluated the psychological impact of COVID-19 on the general population identified high levels of anxiety and sleep disorders. The main objective of this project was to analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 on doctors in Puerto Rico. An anonymous and electronic cross-sectional study aimed at doctors in Puerto Rico was conducted between February and April 2021. The electronic survey included sociodemographic data and four self-assessment tools (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and COVID-19 Organizational Support) to measure anxiety, perceived stress, sleep disturbances and organizational support during the pandemic. A total of 145 doctors completed the survey, with women predominating at 53.5%, and the majority practiced in the metropolitan area of San Juan (50.3%). 26.9% reported mild anxiety symptoms, while 33.8% had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Moderate to high perceived stress was detected in 69.9% of the participants, with women reporting significantly higher levels of anxiety (8.84 ± 5.99; p = 0.037) and stress (19.0 ± 6.94, p = 0.001). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index revealed that 67.9% of doctors had overall scores that corresponded to poor sleep quality. The evaluation of perceived organizational support reflected a high perception of work support (65.7%), but a low perception of personal support (43.4%) and risk support (30.3%). The correlation analysis showed a negative relationship for work and personal support, but a positive relationship for risk support, all of which were statistically significant. COVID-19 has left a lasting psychological imprint on health professionals in Puerto Rico, one year after the start of the pandemic. Our data support the importance of organizational support and its link to the development of anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies to identify those who are at risk of suffering from psychological disorders and to provide effective support to medical professionals during health emergencies, ensuring their well-being and optimal care for patients.
Analyze the psychological impact (anxiety, stress and sleep disorders) and the correlation with organizational support on medical personnel in Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic to support effective support strategies.