Determinants of the Attitude to COVID-19 Vaccine in Lima-Peru: Path Analysis and Structural Regression

Introduction Research on the effects of COVID-19 has shown that a favorable attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine would help reduce the pandemic's sequelae and avoid lethal variants. Objective A theoretical model was tested through the strategy of path analysis and structural equation modeling, seeking to evaluate the direct effect of neuroticism and the indirect effects of risk-avoidance and rule-following behaviors, mediated by attitudes toward science. Methods A total of 459 adults, mostly women (61%), mean age 28.51 (SD = 10.36), living in Lima (Peru), participated. The scales of neuroticism, risk avoidance behavior (RAB), norm following (NF), attitudes toward science, and attitudes toward vaccination were administered. Results The path analysis explained 36% of the variance in vaccine attitude, whereas the latent structural regression model achieved a 54% explanation;according to this model attitude toward science (β=.70, p < .01) and neuroticism (β=-.16, p < .01) are significant predictors of vaccine attitude. Likewise, risk avoidance behavior and rule-following have indirect effects on attitudes toward vaccination. Conclusion Low neuroticism and a positive attitude toward the science that mediates the effects of RAB and NF directly condition the possibility of vaccination against COVID-19 in the adult population.

Determinants of the Attitude to COVID-19 Vaccine in Lima-Peru: Path Analysis and Structural Regression.

Introduction: Research on the effects of COVID-19 has shown that a favorable attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine would help reduce the pandemic's sequelae and avoid lethal variants. Objective: A theoretical model was tested through the strategy of path analysis and structural equation modeling, seeking to evaluate the direct effect of neuroticism and the indirect effects of risk-avoidance and rule-following behaviors, mediated by attitudes toward science. Methods: A total of 459 adults, mostly women (61%), mean age 28.51 (SD = 10.36), living in Lima (Peru), participated. The scales of neuroticism, risk avoidance behavior (RAB), norm following (NF), attitudes toward science, and attitudes toward vaccination were administered. Results: The path analysis explained 36% of the variance in vaccine attitude, whereas the latent structural regression model achieved a 54% explanation; according to this model attitude toward science (ß=.70, p < .01) and neuroticism (ß=-.16, p < .01) are significant predictors of vaccine attitude. Likewise, risk avoidance behavior and rule-following have indirect effects on attitudes toward vaccination. Conclusion: Low neuroticism and a positive attitude toward the science that mediates the effects of RAB and NF directly condition the possibility of vaccination against COVID-19 in the adult population.

Efectos de un programa de prevención sobre las adicciones tecnológicas y disposiciones cognitivaafectivas en universitarios

Objetivo: Se evaluó los efectos de un programa de prevención en línea sobre las adicciones tecnológicas y disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en universitarios durante la pandemia COVID19. Método: Participaron en la muestra 42 estudiantes, de los cuales 21 conformaron el grupo experimental (GE) y los otros 21 estudiantes el control (GC). Se utilizaron las escalas de eficacia académica y engagement académico, así como los test de adicción al teléfono móvil, al internet y a los videojuegos. Resultados: La aplicación del programa redujo significativamente la adicción al internet, teléfono móvil y videojuegos y a la vez aumentó significativamente la valoración positiva del compromiso académico y la eficacia académica;las comparaciones entre los grupos de estudio (GE versus GC) de acuerdo con los tamaños de efecto (.30 < d >.50) evidenciaron diferencias prácticas importantes en cuanto al uso adictivo de internet, del teléfono móvil y los videojuegos, para las tres variables el GE mostró menores promedios que el GC;de otra parte las comparaciones entre GE y GC resultaron con diferencias de magnitudes de efecto entre mediano (d >.50) y grande (d >.80) en eficacia académica y compromiso académico respectivamente, en estas dos variables el GE mostró mayores promedios. Conclusión: el programa de prevención ha reducido las adicciones tecnológicas, así como incrementó las disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en el estudiantado.Alternate :Objective: The effects of an online prevention program on technological addictions and cognitiveaffective dispositions in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated. Methods: Forty-two students participated in the sample, of which 21 formed the experimental group (EG) and the other 21 students the control group (CG). Academic efficacy and academic engagement scales were used, as well as cell phone, internet and video game addiction tests. Results: The application of the program significantly reduced the internet addiction, cell phone and video games and at the same time significantly increased the positive assessment of academic engagement and academic efficacy;comparisons between the study groups (GE versus GC) according to the effect sizes (.30 < d >. 50) evidenced important practical differences in the internet addiction, cell phone and video games, for the three variables the GE showed lower averages than the GC;on the other hand the comparisons between GE and GC resulted with effect size differences between medium (d >.50) and large (d >.80) in academic efficacy and academic engagement respectively, in these two variables the GE showed higher averages. Conclusion: the prevention program has reduced technological addictions, as well as increased cognitive-affective dispositions in students.

Challenges and Difficulties Related to the Professional Performance and Training of Peruvian Medical Residents during a Pandemic

Physicians that pursue postgraduate studies must simultaneously manage activities related to their academic training and their duties as specialized in a hospital. The aim of this study was to determine the challenges that affect the professional development and growth of 142 first-year medical residents from a private university in Peru, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The residents responded to an online questionnaire with eight open-ended questions soliciting the identification of two difficulties or challenges per question. Descriptive analysis of the challenges that were detected was carried out and two binomial logistic regression models were tested to evaluate the effect of academic and personal factors on professional development. A structural regression model with three predicting factors (Academic training, Mentorship and use of ICT, and Health conditions) was also tested to predict professional development. Over 80% of the residents expressed having problems with their professional performance, activities, and attention span during the residency. The adjusted logistic regression model explained 42% of the effect of factors that make the emergence of challenges for medical residents more probable in the performance of professional activities. Likewise, the structural regression model indicated a good fit, where all three factors significantly explained medical residents' professional performance;however, the Mentorship and use of ICTs factor was the best predictor of professional performance during the residency program.