Background COVID-19 became a major public health concern in March 2020. Due to the high rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in a short time, health care workers and other involved staff are subjected to a large workload and high emotional distress. Objective The objective of this study is to develop a digital tool to provide support resources that might prevent and consider acute stress reactions in health care workers and other support staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods The contents of the digital platform were created through an evidence-based review and consensus conference. The website was built using the Google Blogger tool. The Android version of the app was developed in the Java and XML languages using Android Studio version 3.6, and the iOS version was developed in the Swift language using Xcode version 11.5. The app was evaluated externally by the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality. Results We detected the needs and pressing situations of frontline health care workers, and then, we proposed a serial of recommendations and support resources to address them. These resources were redesigned using the feedback received. A website in three different languages (Spanish, English, and Portuguese) and a mobile app were developed with these contents, and the AppSaludable Quality Seal was granted to the app. A specific self-report scale to measure acute stress and additional tools were included to support the health care workforce. This instrument has been used in several Latin American countries and has been adapted considering cultural differences. The resources section of the website was the most visited with 18,516 out of 68,913 (26.9%) visits, and the “Self-Report Acute Stress Scale” was the most visited resource with 6468 out of 18,516 (34.9%) visits. Conclusions The Be + against COVID platform (website and app) was developed and launched to offer a pool of recommendations and support resources, which were specifically designed to protect the psychological well-being and the work morale of health care workers. This is an original initiative different from the usual psychological assistance hotlines.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the response capacity of the health care workforce, and health care professionals have been experiencing acute stress reactions since the beginning of the pandemic. In Spain, the first wave was particularly severe among the population and health care professionals, many of whom were infected. These professionals required initial psychological supports that were gradual and in line with their conditions. Objective In the early days of the pandemic in Spain (March 2020), this study aimed to design and validate a scale to measure acute stress experienced by the health care workforce during the care of patients with COVID-19: the Self-applied Acute Stress Scale (EASE). Methods Item development, scale development, and scale evaluation were considered. Qualitative research was conducted to produce the initial pool of items, assure their legibility, and assess the validity of the content. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach α and McDonald ω. Confirmatory factor analysis and the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test were used to assess construct validity. Linear regression was applied to assess criterion validity. Back-translation methodology was used to translate the scale into Portuguese and English. Results A total of 228 health professionals from the Spanish public health system responded to the 10 items of the EASE scale. Internal consistency was .87 (McDonald ω). Goodness-of-fit indices confirmed a two-factor structure, explaining 55% of the variance. As expected, the highest level of stress was found among professionals working in health services where a higher number of deaths from COVID-19 occurred (P<.05). Conclusions The EASE scale was shown to have adequate metric properties regarding consistency and construct validity. The EASE scale could be used to determine the levels of acute stress among the health care workforce in order to give them proportional support according to their needs during emergency conditions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Backgroud: This study designed and validated a scale to measure acute stress experienced during the care of patients with COVID-19 (EASE scale). Methods: The COSMIN recommendations were followed in the design and validation of the EASE scale. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega. Qualitative research was conducted to assess content validity. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factorial Analysis were used to assess construct validity. Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test and Lineal Regression were applied to assess criterion validity. Responsiveness and interpretability were also assessed.Results: A total of 228 health professionals from the Spanish public health system responded to the ten items, of the EASE scale. Internal consistency was 0.87 (McDonald’s Omega). Two factors explaining 55% of the variance were isolated. Goodness-of-fit indices confirmed this factor structure. The highest level of stress was found among professionals working in health services who accumulated a higher number of deaths from COVID-19 (P<.05). By means of translation-counter-translation, it was adapted to Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and English.Conclusions: EASE gathers adequate metric properties. Its systematic use would allow the identification of professionals with a higher risk of developing affective/anxiety disorders and Moral injury that could limited that patients received safety and integrated care.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 became a major public health concern in March 2020. Due to the high rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in a short time, healthcare workers and other involved staff are subjected to extraordinary workload and high emotional distress. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a digital tool to provide support resources that might prevent and approach acute stress reactions in healthcare workers and other support staff due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS The contents of the digital platform were created through an evidence-based review and consensus conference. The website was built using the Google Blogger tool. The Android version of the app was developed in Java and XML languages using Android Studio version 3.6., and the iOS version was developed in Swift language using Xcode version 11.5. The app was evaluated externally by the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality. RESULTS We detected the needs and pressing situations of frontline healthcare workers, and then, we proposed a serial of recommendations and support resources to address them. A website in three different languages (Spanish, English, and Portuguese) and a mobile app were developed with these contents, and the AppSaludable Quality Seal was granted to the app. The resources section of the website was the most visited, and the ‘self-report’ was the most visited resource. CONCLUSIONS ‘Be + against COVID’ platform (website & app) was developed and launched to offer a pool of recommendations and support resources, which were specifically designed to protect the psychological well-being and the work morale of healthcare workers. This is an original initiative different from the usual psychological assistance hotlines.

BACKGROUND Clinical uncertainty, the shortage of equipment and the difficulties in maintaining the supply chain, constant changes in instructions, the interruption of all non-delayable care, the increased perception of self-risk and the experience of isolation of admitted patients has affected healthcare workers mental health. During the first outbreak, the exceptionality and urgency of the situation demanded measures and a specific screening tool to support healthcare workers identifying their stress levels that affected their wellbeing. OBJECTIVE This study designed and validated in the first days of the outbreak in Spain a scale to measure acute stress experienced by healthcare workforce during the care of patients with COVID-19 (EASE scale). METHODS Item development, scale development, and scale evaluation were considered. Qualitative research was conducted to produce reactive items, assure their legibility, and content assess content validity. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega. Confirmatory Factorial Analysis, and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test were used to assess construct validity. Lineal Regression was applied to assess criterion validity. Back translation methodology was used to adapt the scale into Portuguese, and English. RESULTS A total of 228 health professionals from the Spanish public health system responded to the ten items, of the EASE scale. Internal consistency was 0.87 (McDonald’s Omega). Goodness-of-fit indices confirmed a two factors structure, explaining 55% of the variance. As expected, the highest level of stress was found among professionals working in health services who accumulated a higher number of deaths from COVID-19 (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS EASE gathers adequate metric properties regarding consistency and construct validity. Its systematic use would allow the identification of professionals with a higher risk of developing affective/anxiety disorders and Moral injury that could limit that patients received safety and integrated care.