Impact of lockdown on lifestyle: healthcare professionals and overall population

Section: Originals

How to quote

Suárez-Bárcena L, Amores-Lizcano E, López-Gil MP, Romero-Blanco C. Impacto del confinamiento en el estilo de vida: profesionales sanitarios y población general. Metas Enferm may 2022; 25(4):49-58. Doi: http://doi.org/10.35667/MetasEnf.2022.25.1003081922

Authors

Laura Suárez-Bárcena1, Ester Amores-Lizcano1, Mª Pilar López-Gil2, Cristina Romero-Blanco3

Position

1Especialista en Enfermería Familiar y Comunitaria. Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real. Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM). Ciudad Real (España)2Enfermera. Centro de Salud III de Ciudad Real. Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha (SESCAM). Ciudad Real (España)3Doctora (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha). Facultad de Enfermería de Ciudad Real. Universidad de Castilla La-Mancha. Ciudad Real (España)

Contact address

Cristina Romero Blanco. C/ Madara, 18. 13250 Daimiel, Ciudad Real (España).

Contact email: cristina.romero@uclm.es

Abstract

Objective: to explore the effects of lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic on the lifestyles of the overall population and healthcare professionals (HCPs).
Method: a cross-sectional descriptive study. Non-probability snowball sampling was conducted through WhatsApp. After the pilot survey, an ad-hoc questionnaire was distributed on sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle variables during lockdown. The parametric tests used for analysis were Student-Fisher’s t and Pearson’s Chi-squared test, and odds ratio with CI95%.
Results: the study included 184 HCPs and 460 non-HCPs. The median age of the sample was 40.4 (SD: 12.8) years, they were mostly women (66.9%) with university education (65.8%). More HCPs had positive test results for COVID-19, OR= 17.1 (9.1-32.1) or symptoms compatible with COVID-19, OR= 2.1 (1.4-3.1). The psychological impact of lockdown was higher in HCPs, OR= 1.5 (1.0-2.1). There were no significant differences in the activities carried out during quarantine, except for telework (p< 0.001). The degree of concern self-reported by 68.0% of the non-HCP population was “Very concerned” and “Highly concerned”, similarly to HCPs (65.8%) (p= 0.218). Healthy lifestyles were maintained during lockdown, except for physical exercise which was worse in both groups (66.3% of HCPs and 66.4% of non-HCPs). Smoking and/or alcohol intake increased between 20 and 30% in both groups.
Conclusions: changes were perceived among HCPs and non-HCPs regarding occupation during lockdown, psychological impact or tendency to get infected. It is essential to introduce resources for mental healthcare, particularly for HCPs.

Versión en Español

Título:

Impacto del confinamiento en el estilo de vida: profesionales sanitarios y población general