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Aim: Assess the impact of stress and Burnout syndrome on health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic., Method: A survey through an online questionnaire was conducted among health personnel, completed with a paper questionnaire collection, Information was collected on demographics, COVID-19 unit activity, the Burnout syndrome calculated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale, is defined by high levels of exhaustion and depersonalization when the total score reaches 30 and 12 points respectively and by a low level of professional accomplishment from a total score of 40, the level of stress perception is calculated by the post-traumatic stress scale, whose threshold is equal or greater than 44 points., Results: 345 responses were included concerning doctors, paramedics and technical-administrative staff working in an Algerian health facility between October 2021 and January 2022. Prevalence rates were 44.3% for burnout, 30.1% for depersonalization and 56.2% for low achievement, the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was 38.6% of study participants. Analysis of risk factors among caregivers (physicians and paramedics) showed that burnout was related to age (p=0.041), the notion of the workplace in a dedicated COVID-19 patient unit (p=0.009) and the occurrence of death in the health professional's entourage (p=0,015). The occurrence of a death event among those around caregivers is a risk factor for post-traumatic stress syndrome with a OR=2.02, IC 95% [1,17-3,47]., Conclusion: Knowledge of the impact of COVID-19 on health professionals is an important element in maintaining their mental health and is a key consideration when managing health crises.

Objective: To objectively assess the quality of "crisis communication" media, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the three Greater Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco)., Methods: A compliance audit for press releases and epidemiological bulletins was analyzed against a quality benchmark, which had been specifically designed by the authors. This framework, made up of five dimensions and 50 items, graded (0/1), was applied by two researchers in preventive medicine. Multiplying the scores by a coefficient of two resulted in a partial score of 20 points for each dimension and a total score of 100 points for the checklist taken as a whole. The quality of the communication media was considered to be good when exceeding the thresholds of 15/20 for the different dimensions and 75/100 for the entire grid., Results: A total of 141 information media were included in this audit (Tunisia: 60; Algeria: 60; Morocco: 21). The overall median quality score for these media was only 56/100 (IIQ: [46-58]), without major variability between countries. The most appreciated dimension was "maintaining the confidence of the population", with an overall median score of 14/20 (12/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 16/20 for press releases). The most poorly rated dimension was "strengthening community participation", with a median score of only 4/20 (6/20 for epidemiological bulletins and 4/20 for press releases)., Conclusion: The quality of the Maghreb crisis communication media during COVID-19 was insufficient in most of its dimensions and items, particularly from a psychosocial standpoint. Reinforcement of the capacities of communication officers to develop information material and supports during health crises is indispensable and should be considered as an urgent matter., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)