Psychometric Properties of a Short Academic Motivation Scale (SAMS) in Medical Students

Background: Medical education represents a complex field of study, influenced by various psychological, demographic, and contextual factors. Academic motivation, essential for educational success, has been linked to critical decisions in medical careers and can be modulated by contextual elements such as socioeconomic and geographical environments. The theory of self-determination has provided a solid framework for understanding the multidimensional nature of motivation. Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the Short Scale of Academic Motivation among Peruvian medical students. Methods: Using an instrumental design, the factorial structure, reliability, and gender invariance of the SAMS-S were assessed. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the scale's structure based on seven dimensions. Additionally, reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha coefficient and omega coefficient, and gender invariance was determined through multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The Peruvian version of the SAMS-S showed a good fit in the CFA with satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices. However, challenges in discriminant validity among certain dimensions were detected, suggesting the presence of a second-order factor. The proposed second-order model yielded an adequate fit (χ2 = 198.26, df = 70, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.08 [90% CI: 0.07-0.1], SRMR = 0.07), validating the factorial structure of the SAMS-S. The scale's reliability and its subscales were within acceptable ranges. Furthermore, the gender invariance of the SAMS-S was confirmed at all levels, from configural to strict. Conclusions: The second-order model of the SAMS-S presents as a valid and reliable tool for measuring academic motivation among medical students in Peru. Its robustness and adaptability make it relevant for future research in similar educational contexts and can serve as a basis for interventions aimed at improving academic motivation in this specific group.

Intake of foods high in saturated fats, vegetarian dietary pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with body weight in Peruvian university students

Background

The prevalence of obesity continues to increase among university students and the general population. Consumption of a diet high in saturated fats could be one of the risk factors.

Objective

The consumption of foods high in saturated fats, the vegetarian diet pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with excess body weight (overweight/obesity) were evaluated in Peruvian university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out selecting 5,608 Peruvian university students through no probabilistic convenience sampling. The survey was carried out during the months of February and April 2022. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between diet (saturated fats intake and dietary pattern) and sociodemographic factors with excess body weight in a cross-sectional analysis.

Results

It was observed that students who reported high consumption of foods high in saturated fats (ORB = 1.14) and those who had a non-vegetarian dietary pattern (ORB = 2.76) were found to be more likely to have excess body weight. On the contrary, students who reported adherence to the vegetarian diet pattern for more than 5 years were less likely to be overweight or obese (ORB = 0.84). Being ≥26 years of age (ORB = 3.28), living in urban areas (ORB = 1.68) and coastal areas of the country (ORB = 1.17), and enrolled in the engineering faculty (ORB = 1.19), were significantly associated with excess body weight.

Conclusion

The findings of the current study evidenced several factors associated with excess body weight in university students. Therefore, it is necessary to promote and implement healthy lifestyle programs, considering sociodemographic and dietary aspects such as age and dietary intake to control and prevent obesity in university students.

Psychometric evaluation and invariance of the Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener (BFS-E) in university students

Introduction

University students constantly face a number of health challenges related to an unhealthy diet, characterized by a high intake of saturated fats.

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener (BFS-E) food frequency questionnaire in a university population.

Methods

An observational analytical study of instrumental type was carried out in 5608 Peruvian university students. Based on the Block Fat Screener questionnaire, a back-translation and cultural adaptation process was carried out. The validity of the questionnaire was determined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), hypothesizing a unidimensional structure. For the determination of reliability, the alpha coefficients were considered; likewise, the ω and H coefficients were used to evaluate the construct. The model explained 63% of the cumulative variance.

Results

The CFA confirmed the unidimensionality of the 16-item questionnaire with appropriate goodness-of-fit indicators; therefore, which model of the Peruvian version adequately fits the observed data. The values of the reliability coefficients were higher than 0.90, with ordinal α = 0.94, ω = 0.94, and H = 0.95.

Conclusion

The Spanish version of the Block Fat Screener food frequency questionnaire presents adequate psychometric properties and is therefore a valid scale to quickly measure fat intake in university students in a Latin American context.

Dietary Intake, Stress, Anxiety, and Satisfaction with Nutrition Services in Patients with and without COVID-19

Background

Dietary intake constitutes a fundamental support in hospitalized patients to reduce morbimortality, risk of complications, and hospital stay.

Objective

We compared dietary intake, stress, anxiety, and satisfaction with the nutrition service in patients with and without COVID-19; we also analyzed the correlation between the variables mentioned.

Methods

A cross-sectional, comparative, and correlational study was carried out. A total of 215 patients were selected by non-probability convenience sampling (97 with COVID-19 and 118 without COVID-19).

Results

Patients with COVID-19 presented a higher percentage of "all the dish served" consumption (63.9%), as well as a higher percentage of "high" anxiety (18.6%) and "very high" satisfaction (28.9%) compared to their counterparts without COVID-19. The stress variable was predominantly moderate in both groups (57.7% vs 55.9%). Statistically significant and indirect correlation was found between satisfaction and stress level (rho = -0.289; p<0.01) in patients without COVID-19; similarly, between intake and stress level (rho =-.254; p<0.05) in patients with COVID-19. Both groups presented a statistically significant and direct correlation between anxiety and stress level (rho =0.432 without COVID-19, rho = 0.525 with COVID-19; p<0.01).

Conclusion

The findings suggest a multidisciplinary intervention, in which the improvement of mental health in the study population is contemplated and to coadunate the negative effects on the perception of the quality of care of the nutrition service and on dietary intake.

Sociodemographic Aspects and Healthy Behaviors Associated With Perceived Life Satisfaction in Health Professionals

BACKGROUND

Life satisfaction is a determining factor for the improvement of mental and physical health. Health care workers are a vulnerable population to suffer alterations in the factors that affect life satisfaction. Determining the influence of these factors on quality of life is important for their proper management.

OBJECTIVE

To examine sociodemographic factors and healthy behaviors influencing life satisfaction in Peruvian professionals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 506 health care workers, who had a mean age of 40.34 years (SD = 10.39). A sociodemographic questionnaire, sleep quality, physical activity, eating habits, and life satisfaction were used. A regression model was fitted with the life satisfaction variable as the dependent variable.

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, age (β = -.938, P < .01) and perception of poor health status (β = -4.743, P < .001) were found to be associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, higher university education level (β = 1.667, P < .001), absence of smoking (β = 3.202, P < .01), absence of depressive symptoms (β = 3.390, P < .001), interest in daily activities (β = 3.503, P < .05), good sleep quality (β = 1.027, P < .01), a high frequency of physical activity (β = 1.056, P < .01), and healthy eating are variables associated with higher life satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Sociodemographic aspects such as age and the perception of poor health are associated with lower life satisfaction. On the other hand, healthy behaviors such as absence of smoking, absence of depressive symptoms, interest in daily activities, good quality of sleep, high frequency of physical activity, and a healthy diet were associated with higher life satisfaction.

Dietary practices and nutritional status of children served in a social program for surrogate mothers in Colombia

BACKGROUND

Dietary practices are acquired in the family context and in turn can affect the health of family members, especially the nutritional status of children. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status and feeding practices in children from foster families served by the SOS Children's Villages program in Cartagena, Colombia.

METHODS

The study had a cross-sectional design. Through a non-probabilistic purposive sampling, 139 children from 0 to 5 years of age from the SOS Children's Villages Cartagena program were involved. The sociodemographic background of the participants was recorded and the nutritional status of the children was evaluated through anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Dietary practices were measured by means of a standardized questionnaire. Analyses were performed with Poisson regression models with robust variance. These regression models provided prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

RESULTS

Among dietary practices, it was observed that most families eat together at home (63.3%), watch television when they eat (55.4%), and have dietary norms (80.6%). Consumption of plant foods was predominantly high, especially vegetables (86.3%), fruits (92.1%), cereals (84.9%), root vegetables, and bananas (93.5%). Consumption < 4 times/week of soft drinks and industrialized juices increases 14.3 times the probability of low weight-for-height in the study population compared to the group that does not consume them. On the other hand, watching television while eating (PR: 2.82, 95%CI 1.32-4.69) and consumption of sweet snacks (PR: 2.24, 95%CI 1.03-4.87) increased the probability of low height-for-age; while having eaten norms at home decreased the probability of low height-for-age in the study population by 50%.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to develop and implement interventions such as preventive measures and early diagnosis of inappropriate feeding behaviors to ensure adequate nutritional status among children under 5 years of age.

Psychometric Analysis of the Quarantine Coping Strategies Scale (Q-COPE) in the Spanish Language

The possibility of facing an epidemic or pandemic resulting in mandatory isolation or quarantine has become a relevant construct for comparing and evaluating coping strategies under such conditions. The objective of this research was to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of a scale to assess quarantine coping strategies (Q-COPE). This was an instrumental study and 1110 Peruvian adults (M = 26.9 years; SD = 9.77) participated in the context of social isolation. For the construction of the scale, qualitative and quantitative procedures were followed. The internal structure was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The content analysis by expert judges supports the representativeness of the items related to the construct. EFA and CFA allowed the establishment of five factors: Emotional regulation, Information, Accommodation, Social support, and Altruism. The first-order model presents adequate goodness-of-fit indices: χ² = 489.048, df = 220, χ²/df = 2.223, SRMR = 0.025, CFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.047. Likewise, the second order model presented similar values: χ² = 499.674, df = 225, χ²/df = 2.221, SRMR = 0.026, CFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.965, RMSEA = 0.047. The 23-item version was consistent with the proposed theory, obtained adequate fit indices and acceptable factor loadings (>0.70), and presented good internal consistency indexes evaluated by Cronbach's α, ordinal α, omega (ω), and H coefficient. It is concluded that the Q-COPE scale presents good psychometric properties that justify its use in an adult population and allows the assessment of the coping strategies that people use in the face of a quarantine situation.

Academic self-efficacy, self-esteem, satisfaction with studies, and virtual media use as depression and emotional exhaustion predictors among college students during COVID-19

The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between depression, emotional exhaustion, self-esteem, satisfaction with studies, academic self-efficacy, and the use of virtual media in Peruvian university students during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A total of 569 college students (61.9% female), with a mean age of 21.73 years (standard deviation = 4.95), responded to the following questionnaires: Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, Single Item Self-Esteem Scale, Brief Scale of Satisfaction with Studies, Scale of Use of Virtual Media, Patient Health Questionnarie-2, and Single Item of Academic Emotional Exhaustion. Correlation statistics, regression models, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for data analysis. The results demonstrated a direct and significant correlation between virtual media use, academic self-efficacy, self-esteem, depression, and emotional exhaustion (p <.01). In addition, satisfaction with studies (β = −0.13), academic self-efficacy (β = −0.19), self-esteem (β = −0.14), and emotional exhaustion (β = 0.19) predicted depression significantly, whereas virtual media use (β = 0.17), study satisfaction (β = 0.09), and depression (β = 0.20) predicted emotional exhaustion associated with academics. The SEM model indicated that self-esteem, satisfaction with studies, and academic self-efficacy negatively predict depression, whereas academic self-efficacy positively predicts virtual media use. Finally, both virtual media use and depression positively predict emotional exhaustion. This model presents optimal goodness-of-fit indices (X² = 8.926, df = 6, p =.178; comparative fit =.991, Tucker–Lewis =.979, root mean square error of approximation =.029 [confidence interval 90% =.000–.067], standardized root mean square residual =.022). Thus, academic self-efficacy, self-esteem, satisfaction with studies, and virtual media use predict depression and emotional exhaustion among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psychological Distress, Anxiety, and Academic Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Study Satisfaction Among Peruvian University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The objective of this research study was to determine if psychological distress, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy predict satisfaction with studies in Peruvian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional and predictive design was used, in which 582 Peruvian university students participated, 243 men and 339 women, between the ages of 16 and 41. Student's t-statistics were used to analyze the differences in scores of psychological distress, anxiety, academic self-efficacy, and satisfaction with studies based on the sex of the participants, Pearson's R was used for the analysis of correlations between variables, and multiple linear regressions were used to evaluate the predictive model. In the analyses, the significance level was set at 0.05. The results show that men have higher levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and academic self-efficacy than women do (p < 0.01); high levels of psychological distress correlate with high levels of anxiety (r = 0.580, p < 0.01) and low levels of satisfaction with studies (r = -0.178, p < 0.01) and academic self-efficacy (r = -0.348, p < 0.01); high levels of anxiety correlate with low levels of satisfaction with studies (r = -0.122, p < 0.01) and academic self-efficacy (r = -0.192, p < 0.01); and high levels of academic self-efficacy correlate with high levels of satisfaction with studies (r = 0.429, p < 0.01). Academic self-efficacy was also found to predict satisfaction with studies (β = 0.429, p < 0.01). This concludes that, although there are significant correlations between psychological distress, anxiety, academic self-efficacy, and satisfaction with studies, academic self-efficacy is the variable that most predicts satisfaction with studies in Peruvian university students.

Predictors of Depression in Nurses During COVID-19 Health Emergency; the Mediating Role of Resilience: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Nurses are susceptible to several mental problems, such as fear, stress, and depression due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects their emotional well-being. However, resilience plays an important role in mitigating the effects of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

This study was to examine the mediating role of resilience in the relation between fear, stress, and depression of nurses during COVID-19 health emergencies.

METHODS

A cross-sectional-predictive study was carried out. The variables analyzed were fear, resilience, stress, and depression. A total of 286 nurses from 2 hospitals in the cities of Juliaca and Puno, Peru. Data analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTS

Analyses showed that the variables were significantly related (P < .01). In addition, a confirmatory analysis of the hypothesized model using structural equation modeling shows that fear and stress are predictors of depression, and that resilience plays a role in mediating the effect of fear on stress (X² = 534.69, gl = 372, P = .000; TLI = .902, CFI = .910, RMSEA = .039 [95% CI = 0.032-0.046], and SRMR = .065).

CONCLUSION

Nurses tend to develop fear, stress, and depression. Resilience reduces the impact of these psychological variables. Hospital management should provide psychological support and training for nurses in coping strategies.

Predictors of Intention to Vaccinate Against COVID-19 in a Peruvian Sample

BACKGROUND

Vaccination against COVID-19 is considered one of the most effective strategies to control this global public health crisis. However, vaccine hesitancy is one of the main threats to mitigating the pandemic. The present study aimed to identify predictors of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in 3 geographical regions of Peru.

METHODS

An online analytical cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were selected by non-probability convenience sampling and size was estimated using the online statistical calculator proposed by Soper. A total of 529 Peruvian nationals completed the questionnaires. Student's t-test and Fisher's F test (ANOVA) were used. A significance level of .05 was considered.

RESULTS

Face-to-face work (β = 2.037, P < .001), fear of COVID-19 (β = .461, P < .001), vaccine confidence (β = 2.881, P < .001) and trust in health care institutions (β = .432, P < .01) predict a higher intention to receive the vaccine. However, the variables perception of a worldwide conspiracy (β = -1.900, P < .001), and practice Protestant religion (β = -2.274, P < .001) predict negatively their acceptance.

CONCLUSION

Several positive predictors of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 have been identified. However, having a perception of a global conspiracy and practice Protestant religion are shown to be risk variables for vaccine acceptance. Therefore, there is a need to develop strategies to ensure high uptake and success of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

Burnout, Professional Self-Efficacy, and Life Satisfaction as Predictors of Job Performance in Health Care Workers: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement

Background:

It is essential to identify the factors that influence the work performance of health professionals working in health care facilities, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, since these factors have an impact on the quality of medical care provided to the population.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between job burnout, professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and job performance in Peruvian health care workers.

Methods:

Cross-sectional explanatory study, with the voluntary participation of 508 health professionals (physicians and nurses) of both sexes (70.7% women, 29.3% men), and from different health facilities in the city of Lima. All participants were administered the Single Burnout Item questionnaire, the Professional Self-Efficacy Scale (AU-10), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWL), the Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis.

Results:

In the SEM analysis, it was found that for the mediation model the incremental goodness-of-fit indices were significant (χ² = 2292.313, gl = 659, P < .001, χ²/gl = 2.788). Career self-efficacy (β = .557, P < .001) and life satisfaction (β = .289, P < .001) were positive predictors of work engagement. While burnout was a negative predictor (β = .878, P < .001). The consistent mediation of work engagement of professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and burnout had a positive predictor effect on job performance (β = .878, P < .001).

Conclusion:

Research provides evidence that professional self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and burnout could influence job performance through work engagement.

Validity and Reliability of a Brief Scale of Intention to Vaccinate Against COVID-19 in a Peruvian Sample

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of a brief scale measuring intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in a Peruvian sample in the context of the current pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional and instrumental study was carried out. A total of 547 Peruvian citizens selected through non-probability convenience sampling participated. Considering existing theories of vaccination hesitancy, 12 items were proposed that evaluate the intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 and the internal structure was evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was analyzed with the ordinal alpha coefficient.

RESULTS

The exploratory factor analysis yielded a structure of 2 oblique factors that explain 69% of the total variance and the items saturated between 0.52 and 0.97. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that, of 4 models analyzed, the fourth model that was composed of 6 items presented optimal indices of goodness-of-fit (X² = 11.089, P = .197, CFI = 0.999, TLI = 0.999, RMSEA = 0.034 [IC 90%, 0.000-0.077], SRMR = 0.016). Reliability analysis through the ordinal alpha coefficient yielded that the brief scale of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 has adequate internal consistency (α = .91).

CONCLUSIONS

The brief scale of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 presents adequate psychometric properties that demonstrate validity and reliability and can be used in future research and clinical practice.

Association and diagnostic value of a novel uric acid index to cardiovascular risk

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the association and diagnostic value of a novel uric acid index (UA index) to cardiovascular risk (CVR).

DESIGN

and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed. We analyzed data from the Plan for Prevention and Surveillance of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases at the Hospital de Huaycan, Peru. The QRISK model was used to measure the CVR. Stepwise regression models were performed to determine significant factors to predict CVR and formulate the UA index, then the association of UA index and high CVR was evaluated by Poisson regression models, and the diagnostic accuracy was verified through ROC curves.

RESULTS

In total 291 participants (206 women and 85 men) were analyzed. The correlation between UA index to CVR was stronger (R 2 :0.31, p < 0.001) than uric acid (UA) alone (R 2 :0.19, p < 0.001), and the contribution of UA was stronger than triglycerides or glucose in the stepwise regression model. In the Poisson models, the UA index adjusted model (PRa: 1.58, CI95% 1.11-2.24) presented significant independent association to CVR. The diagnostic accuracy was similar in men (cut-off: 10.8, AUC:0.81; 0.75-0.87) and women (cut-off: 10.0; AUC: 0.77, 0.71-0.84).

CONCLUSION

UA index presented a good diagnostic accuracy and independent significant association to high CVR in adults from Peru. This marker can be used to assess CVR and follow therapeutic progress in primary health care.

Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Retinopathy of Prematurity in Peru

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to determine retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prevalence and possible risk factors associated with ROP development in newborns admitted to a neonatal unit of a Peruvian National Reference Hospital.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included 216 preterm infants. The data were collected between January 2016 and December 2018. All infants were examined according to Peruvian guidelines for screening and treatment of ROP. The association of clinical risk factors and the development of ROP was analyzed and predictive factors were determined.

Results

The study subjects were 216 preterm infants of which 72 had some stage of ROP (32 stage 1; 23 stage 2 and 17 stage 3) and 144 preterm infants without ROP. The incidence of ROP in preterm infants less than 32 weeks was 60.9%, while for those weighing less than 1500 g it was 71.6%. The factors associated with ROP were gestational age below 32 weeks, birth weight below 1500 grams, neonatal sepsis, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, hyaline membrane disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, persistence of ductus arteriosus and intraventricular hemorrhage. Exclusive breastfeeding was found to play a protective role against ROP. Binary logistic regression analysis found that only gestational age below 32 weeks (OR, 2.637; 95% CI, 1.04–6.69), weight below 1500 grams (OR, 4.377; 95% CI, 1.75–10.92), neonatal sepsis (OR, 6.517; 95% CI, 2.81–15.14), vaginal delivery (OR, 3.748; 95% CI: 1.54–9.14), and the presence of hyaline membrane disease (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.47–8.74) are predictors of ROP.

Conclusion

The incidence of ROP among very low birth weight infants was 71.6%. Infants with weight below 1500 grams, neonatal sepsis, presence of hyaline membrane disease whose mother had vaginal delivery are at risk for the development of ROP. Thus, preventing premature births and encouraging exclusive breastfeeding are two main ways to prevent ROP.

Effectiveness of a Program Based on Telehealth in Nutritional Knowledge and Body Mass Index in Peruvian University Teachers

BACKGROUND

University teachers, as agents of socialization, are one of the most influential groups in improving public health, and their nutritional knowledge can influence both the eating behavior of students and the family.

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a telehealth program on the level of nutritional knowledge and body mass index (BMI) of university teachers.

METHODS

A pre-experimental study was carried out from August to December 2020. A pretest and a posttest were applied. The number of teachers in the initial test was 88 and those included in the final evaluation, 83; and they were selected by nonprobability sampling for convenience. The telehealth-based program lasted 18 weeks and included basic information on nutrition and motivational messages. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected through a predesigned questionnaire before and after the educational program.

RESULTS

Posttest knowledge scores increased significantly from 6.40 ± 1.70 to 10.59 ± 1.18 (P < .001). In relation to time, significant variations are observed in weight measurements (P < .001), BMI (P < .001), and basic nutritional knowledge (P < .001) before and after the intervention program.

CONCLUSION

The telehealth-based intervention improved basic nutritional knowledge levels and BMI. Likewise, the current findings provide evidence on the importance and need to develop future nutritional education programs that comprehensively encompass all study plans for the benefit of the university community.

Properties of a scale of concern for COVID-19: Exploratory analysis in a Peruvian sample

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

[Properties of a scale of concern for COVID-19: Exploratory analysis in a Peruvian sample]

OBJECTIVE

Concern about getting sick could help prevent disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a COVID-19 concern scale (EPCov-19).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is an instrument-based study and information was collected from 224 people of Peruvian nationality in the context of social isolation. The items of the Cancer Concern Scale were adapted for this study.

RESULTS

A scale with satisfactory psychometric properties was obtained. With a matrix of polychoric correlations, values higher than the standard were obtained in all 6 items (r >0.3) and the reliability was acceptable (α=0.866; 95% CI=0.83 - 0.89). Parallel analysis suggested unidimensionality of the EPCov-19, the variance explained was 79.7% and saturations were higher than 0.4. Goodness-of-fit índices were satisfactory (CFI=0.995; GFI=0.997; TLI=0.991; and RMSEA=0.059, 95% CI=0.012 - 0.077).

CONCLUSIONS

This is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring concern about the spread of COVID-19 and can be used in future studies.