Communication as pillar for anxiety management in the nursing during the COVID-19: a scoping review: Presenter(s): Caroline Pereira, University of São Paulo, Brazil

The Coronavirus Disease - 19 (COVID-19) outbreak is generating changes and increasing of symptoms of anxiety in the general population, even in the health professionals. Among the health professionals, nursing stands out, as it is considered the backbone of the health system because they are on the front line of care in integral period with patients. This research aimed to map the production of knowledge on the strategies used for the management of anxiety, in nursing professionals, during the COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The methodology adopted was a scoping review conducted in the BVS, EMBASE, PUBMED, CINAHL, PsycINFo, SCOPUS and Web of Science information sources. The review protocol is registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under number CRD42020192918. A total of 31 studies were included in the review, and the interventions identified were based on communication as the role for the strategies of anxiety’s management in the nursing team. The interpersonal communication was frequently mentioned, mainly to offer psychological support and exchange of experiences. However, intrapersonal communication was also efficient in the management of anxiety symptoms. The communication allowed the ramification of interventions into 5 groups, entitled: emotional support, social support, educational campaign, implementation of safety policies, and adoption of a positive coping style. The synthesis of evidence for the management of anxiety, based on communication, are essential to the mental health of nursing staff during the COVID-19, once through this synthesis, it was possible to identify the main interventions to manage anxiety, based on the power of communication, and such knowledge can be applied in the development of an anxiety management protocol for nursing professionals.