[Anxiety and burnout in health personnel in times of COVID-19 in Mexico].

Background: The levels of anxiety and mental disorders have increased considerably in the general population due to COVID-19. The risk of health personnel is greater than that of the general population. However, there are no studies that estimate the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of health personnel in Mexico.

Objective: To measure the levels of burnout and anxiety in health personnel, and to compare those levels between medical and nursing personnel, and from those in the COVID-19 Area and those who were not there, as well as to establish the relationship between sex and age.

Material and methods: A sample of 211 health workers was captured: 75 (35.5%) were from medical personnel, and 136 (64.5%) from the nursing staff. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which evaluated anxiety and burnout, respectively, were administered online (via internet).

Results: Nursing staff showed higher levels in the BAI compared to medical staff, but no differences were observed in the MBI scales. Health personnel who worked in the COVID-19 Area showed higher levels of burnout and anxiety.

Conclusions: Due to the high levels of anxiety and burnout we found out, we believe it would be convenient to detect the highest risk cases to be referred to mental health services, and the rest could receive preventive interventions that may be implemented during future pandemics.