Occupational stress in primary care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: mixed methods study^*

Highlights

(1) Primary Health Care professionals work under high psychological demand.

(2) They are exposed to a high risk of occupational stress and psychological symptoms.

(3) Social support exerts great influence to minimize risks to mental health.

(4) The work in the pandemic contributed to increase psychological symptoms in the worker.

(5) Professional experience and length of service minimized risk factors in the pandemic.

Objective:

to analyze the risk of exposure to occupational stress among primary healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and their perception regarding their experience.

Method:

mixed-methods sequential explanatory study with 50 primary care professionals. Sociodemographic, clinical, and labor questionnaires, Job Stress Scale, and semi-structured interviews were used. Quantitative data were submitted to descriptive and analytical statistical analysis; qualitative data were submitted to Thematic Content Analysis.

Results:

66% of professionals were exposed to occupational stress. Doctors were associated with highly demanding work (p<0.001); nurses, nursing technicians, and dental professionals with active work (p<0.001); and dentists with lower psychological demand (p<0.001). Professionals with more than sixteen years of experience had better conditions to deal with stressful factors, compared to those with less than five years (p<0.03). Data integration showed implications of the pandemic in life, work, and interfaces with psychological symptoms.

Conclusion:

professionals worked under high psychological demands and a high risk of exposure to stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-control and high social support may contribute to reducing these risks, as well as professional training and experience.

Descriptors:
Health Personnel; Occupational Stress; Primary Health Care; COVID-19; Occupational Health; Mental Health