Fear of COVID-19 among professional caregivers of the elderly in Central Alentejo, Portugal

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected many institutionalised elderly people. In Portugal, the level of pandemic fear among professional caregivers of the elderly is unknown, as are its predictive factors. This study aimed to investigate predictors of fear of COVID-19 among workers caring for institutionalised elderly people in nursing homes. This is a cross-sectional study using multiple linear regression applied to a population of 652 caregivers located in 14 municipalities in Central Alentejo, Portugal, at March 2021. The criterion variable was the fear of COVID-19. Standardised regression coefficients showed that the higher the level of education, the lower the level of fear (β = − 0.158; t = − 4.134; p < .001). Other predictors of the level of fear were gender, with women having higher levels (β = 0.123; t = t = 3.203; p < 0.001), higher scores on COVID-19-like suspicious symptoms (β = 0.123; t = 3.219; p < 0.001) and having received a flu vaccine (β = 0.086; t = 2.252; p = 0.025). The model explains 6.7% of the variation in fear of COVID-19 (R2Adj = 0.067). Health literacy can minimise the impact on the physical and mental health of these workers. In Central Alentejo, caregivers of the elderly play a fundamental role in social balance. Further studies are needed to better understand the factors that can improve their personal and professional well-being.