Occupational psychosocial stressors and mental distress among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic
Estressores psicossociais ocupacionais e sofrimento mental em trabalhadores de saúde na pandemia de COVID-19
Einstein (São Paulo, Online); 19 (), 2021
Publication year: 2021
ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the factors associated with mental distress among health workers who cared for patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A cross-sectional analytical study of national scope, carried out between in the second quarter of 2020. A total of 437 health professionals, who filled out an electronic form about sociodemographic data, occupational aspects, psychosocial characteristics of work and mental distress. Multiple logistic regression was performed to analyze the covariables associated with mental distress. Results There was a predominance of workers on the nursing team (65.0%), female (71.0%), from Southeastern region of the country (68.6%) and with no morbidities (36.2%). The prevalence of mental distress was 61.6%. Job strain was reported by 24% of participants, and the perception of low support from coworkers was described by 52.9%. The final multiple regression model showed that mental distress was associated with females (odds ratio - OR: 1.93; 95%CI: 1.22-3.07), age up to 40 years (OR: 1.64; 95%CI: 1.07-2.52), weekly working hours equal or over 60 hours (OR: 1.87; 95%CI: 1.15-3.11), job strain (OR: 2.45; 95%CI: 1.41-4.40) and low support from co-workers (OR: 3.47; 95%CI: 2.26-5.38). Conclusion Six out of ten participants presented mental distress, which was associated to both individual characteristics and factors related to the work carried out during the pandemic. There is an urgent need to map services that have such characteristics, to outline actions to promote mental health and prevent emotional distress at different levels of health care.
RESUMO Objetivo Analisar os fatores associados ao sofrimento mental de trabalhadores de saúde que atuavam na assistência a pacientes com diagnóstico suspeito ou confirmado de doença pelo coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19). Métodos Estudo transversal analítico de abrangência nacional, realizado no segundo trimestre de 2020. Participaram 437 profissionais de saúde que preencheram formulário eletrônico sobre dados sociodemográficos, aspectos ocupacionais, características psicossociais do trabalho e sofrimento mental. Foi realizada regressão logística múltipla para analisar as covariáveis associadas ao sofrimento mental. Resultados Predominaram trabalhadores da equipe de enfermagem (65,0%), do sexo feminino (71,0%), da região Sudeste do país (68,6%) e sem morbidades (36,2%). A prevalência de sofrimento mental foi de 61,6%. O trabalho de alta exigência psicossocial foi informado por 24% dos participantes e a percepção de baixo apoio dos colegas de trabalho foi relatada por 52,9%.