Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university professors at a University Institution in North Lima; [Impacto psicológico de la pandemia COVID-19 en profesores universitarios de una Institución Universitaria de Lima Norte]

Abstract

Introduction: psychological distress is one of the events that compromise the mental health of University professors in a situation that puts their physical and mental well-being at risk, therefore, the objective of the research is to determine psychological distress in University professors that are of a University Institution in North Lima. Methods: it is a quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental cross-sectional study, with a total population of 147 participating health professionals, who responded to a questionnaire of sociodemographic data and the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21). Results: the results show that in health professionals, 61 (41,5 %) present high psychological distress, 44 (29,9 %) medium psychological distress and 42 (28,6 %) low psychological distress. Conclusions: it is concluded that strategies should be sought to improve the mental health of health professionals, who are in the first line of care for COVID-19 patients and this should be increased in mental health services that allow attending to professionals who are at a higher risk of psychological distress. © 2023; Los autores.