Repercussion of working conditions on the mental health of health professionals in facing the new coronavirus pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Health service professionals are exposed to COVID-19, this condition of vulnerability can affect the mental health of these professionals.

Objective: Check the repercussion of working conditions on the mental health of health professionals who work in areas of care for people with suspected and confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: Descriptive, qualitative, ethnographic study, carried out with 10 health professionals who work in areas of assistance to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19, in a hospital in a municipality in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected between February and March 2021 from a semi-structured interview analyzed using Thematic Analysis.

Results: They indicated a lack of professionals and work overload among the professionals, in addition to the lack of psychological support. They reported anxiety, depression, changes in sleep and mood due to the emotional overload of work and highlighted the need to use medication to alleviate emotional damage. Social interaction was impaired due to prejudiced behavior and there are fears of contaminating family members.

Conclusion: The current context of the pandemic can affect the mental health of health professionals and aggravate it due to the workload and lack of emotional support, so it is important that institutions adapt to the dimension of professionals and implement psychological support strategies to the professionals.