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Observational Study
. 2022 Jun 9;19(12):7053.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19127053.

Diagnostic Concordance between the Visual Analogue Anxiety Scale (VAS-A) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ana Lavedán Santamaría  1   2 , Olga Masot  1   2 , Olga Canet Velez  3 , Teresa Botigué  1   2 , Tània Cemeli Sánchez  1 , Judith Roca  1   2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Diagnostic Concordance between the Visual Analogue Anxiety Scale (VAS-A) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ana Lavedán Santamaría et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Anxiety is one of the most common problems among nursing students. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is used to detect anxiety in this population; however, its length hinders speedy detection. For this reason, a faster and more efficient instrument is needed for early detection. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the anxiety measurement scales State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety (VAS-A) by establishing a discrimination threshold through the contrast of true positive rates (VPR) and false positive rates (FPR). To this end, a cross-sectional quantitative observational and analytical study was carried out on 185 fourth-year nursing students. The data collected were anxiety (STAI and VAS-A) and socio-demographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed a correlation between the two scales (VAS-A and STAI). The VAS-A is a useful instrument for assessing students in a crisis that could potentially generate anxiety. The study established a reasonably safe error probability range (>5%), allowing the VAS-A scale to be used as a rapid diagnostic or pre-diagnostic tool, depending on the scores. The study shows that speedy detection of anxiety using the VAS-A and an in-depth approach with the STAI by teaching staff in crises is possible.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; nursing students; state-trait anxiety inventory; visual analogue scale.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
VAS-A and STAI histograms by cut-off point.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ROC curve.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Application of scales according to scores.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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