Anxiety and Depression in the Initial Stage of the COVID-19 Outbreak in a Portuguese Sample: Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, it was found that the confinement to which the population was subjected during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of anxiety and depression. OBJECTIVE: to analyze the levels of anxiety and depression symptoms in Portugal residents during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This is a descriptive, transversal, and exploratory study of non-probabilistic sampling. Data collection was carried out between 6th and 31st of May 2020. Sociodemographic and health questionnaires PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were used. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 920 individuals. The prevalence for depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) was 68.2% and (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) was 34.8%, and for anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 ≥ 5) was 60.4% and (GAD-7 ≥ 10) was 20%. Depressive symptoms were moderately severe for 8.9% of the individuals, and 4.8% presented severe depression. Regarding the generalized anxiety disorder, we found that 11.6% of individuals present moderate symptoms, and 8.4% severe anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms were substantially higher than those previously found for the Portuguese population and when compared with other countries during the pandemic. Younger individuals, female, with chronic illness and medicated, were more vulnerable to depressive and anxious symptoms. In contrast, participants who maintained frequent levels of physical activity during confinement had their mental health protected.

Prevención de la conducción bajo efectos del alcohol durante festivales universitarios: proyecto Tú decides / Prevention of drink driving at academic festivals: «Tú decides» project

OBJETIVO: El consumo de alcohol en estudiantes universitarios ha alcanzado niveles preocupantes, siendo sus efectos sobre la conducción bastantes perjudiciales. Es importante desarrollar programas de prevención destinados a concienciarles sobre los efectos del consumo de alcohol en la conducción. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo evaluar la efectividad del programa de intervención «Tú decides», implementado en la Universidad del Algarve durante varios festivales universitarios, desarrollados, entre 2010-2014. MÉTODO: Se utilizó un diseño de investigación cuasiexperimental, pre- y postest sin grupo control, en el que fueron incluidos 5.079 participantes con habilitación legal para conducir. Se les encuestó en dos momentos distintos, antes y después de la medición de la tasa de alcohol en sangre y la realización de una sesión informativa con recomendaciones técnicas para la prevención de la conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol. Se utilizó el test ANOVA de un factor para comparaciones de medias y el test Chi-cuadrado para comparación de proporciones (p < 0,05). RESULTADOS: Se verificó que la intención de conducir disminuyó del primer (50,7%) al segundo momento (42,1%) (Χ2 = 2.078,71; p = 0,000), dicha intención estaba influida por el nivel de alcoholemia (Χ2 = 338,252; p = 0,000), el género (Χ2 = 35,718; p = 0,000), la edad (Χ2 = 62,805; p = 0,000) y la situación profesional de los participantes (Χ2 = 27,397; p = 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: Se puede afirmar que el principal objetivo de esta intervención fue alcanzado, en la medida en que los participantes siguieron las recomendaciones técnicas basadas en los resultados de la tasa de alcohol en sangre

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol consumption among university students has reached worrying levels, its effects on driving being highly dangerous. This aspect emphasizes the need to develop prevention programs, intended to raise subjects' awareness about the effects of alcohol on driving. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program «Tú decides», implemented at the Algarve University during several students festivals, between 2010-2014. Method: Quasi-experimental study, pre-post test without CONTROL GROUP: A total of 5,079 participants were inquired. They were asked, at two different moments, before and after the measurement of the blood alcohol level and giving an information session with technical recommendations to prevent driving under alcohol effects. One factor ANOVA test used, in order to perform a mean comparison, as well as the Chi-square statistics, to perform a proportion comparison (p < .05). RESULTS: It was found that the intention to drive was lower at the second moment (42.1%) (Χ2 = 2078.71; p = .000). This intention was influenced by blood alcohol level different levels (Χ2 = 338.252; p = .000), gender (Χ2 = 35.718; p = .000), age (Χ2 = 62.805; p = .000) and professional situation of the participants (Χ2 = 27.397; p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: We can affirm that the main objective of this intervention was achieved, since the participants followed the technical recommendations based on the blood alcohol level results

[Prevention of drink driving at academic festivals: «Tú decides¼ project]. / Prevención de la conducción bajo efectos del alcohol durante festivales universitarios: proyecto Tú decides.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol consumption among university students has reached worrying levels, its effects on driving being highly dangerous. This aspect emphasizes the need to develop prevention programs, intended to raise subjects' awareness about the effects of alcohol on driving. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program «Tú decides¼, implemented at the Algarve University during several students festivals, between 2010-2014. METHOD: Quasi-experimental study, pre-post test without control group. A total of 5,079 participants were inquired. They were asked, at two different moments, before and after the measurement of the blood alcohol level and giving an information session with technical recommendations to prevent driving under alcohol effects. One factor ANOVA test used, in order to perform a mean comparison, as well as the Chi-square statistics, to perform a proportion comparison (p<.05). RESULTS: It was found that the intention to drive was lower at the second moment (42.1%) (χ(2)=2078.71; p=.000). This intention was influenced by blood alcohol level different levels (χ(2)=338.252; p=.000), gender (χ(2)=35.718; p=.000), age (χ(2)=62.805; p=.000) and professional situation of the participants (χ(2)=27.397; p=.001). CONCLUSIONS: We can affirm that the main objective of this intervention was achieved, since the participants followed the technical recommendations based on the blood alcohol level results.