iENCUIST: Development and application of an online psychological support tool during COVID-19 in Spain

ABSTRACT

The iENCUIST online tool was designed to reduce the psychological impact on both the confined population and on professionals who were at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic. In the first study (N = 2,362), the results are shown of the short test to perform personality profiles, made up of 34 items that show good psychometric properties. In the second study, the psychological profiles of confined individuals and professionals who had requested psychological help are presented (N = 815). The results indicate that confined women present higher scores in the variables of anxiety, anger, or disgust, placing this group at a greater risk for presenting psychological problems. As for professionals, those with more years of experience or who faced past crises have greater emotional stability, being a key factor in crisis management. After 6 weeks, the usefulness of the help offered by iENCUIST was evaluated and almost 80% of users indicated that they applied the recommendations offered by the tool, and that they helped them overcome the crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) La herramienta online iENCUIST fue disenada para reducir el impacto psicologico, tanto en la poblacion confinada como en los profesionales que estaban a la vanguardia de la lucha contra la pandemia por Covid-19. En el primer estudio (N = 2.362) se muestran los resultados del test breve para realizar perfiles de personalidad, compuesto por 34 items que presentan buenas propiedades psicometricas. En el segundo estudio se presentan los perfiles psicologicos de los confinados y los profesionales que habian solicitado ayuda psicologica (N = 815). Los resultados indican que las mujeres confinadas presentan puntuaciones mas altas en las variables de ansiedad, enfado o disgusto, colocando a este grupo en mayor riesgo de presentar problemas psicologicos. En cuanto a los profesionales, aquellos con mas anos de experiencia o que enfrentaron crisis pasadas tienen mayor estabilidad emocional, siendo un factor clave en la gestion de crisis. A las 6 semanas se evaluo la utilidad de la ayuda ofrecida por iENCUIST y casi el 80% de los usuarios indico que aplicaron las recomendaciones que ofrece la herramienta y que les ayudaron a superar la crisis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)