Mental health impacts in pediatric nurses: a cross-sectional study in tertiary pediatric hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.5750.3583Keywords:
COVID-19; Mental Health; Anxiety; Depression; Nurses, Pediatric; Burnout, Professional.Abstract
Objective: to assess mental health issues in pediatric nurses during
coronavirus pandemic in 2019. Method: cross-sectional study was
conducted with pediatric nurses at the Instituto da Criança e do
Adolescente based on online self-rated survey about clinical practice
and mental health impact during COVID-19 pandemic. Validated
self-reported scales for anxiety, depression and burnout were used
for assessing these professionals. Results: 107/298 (36%) nurses
answered, 90% were female, median age was 41(23-64) years,
68% worked with adolescents, 66% in frontline. Burnout, anxiety
and moderate/severe depression occurred in 65%, 72% and 74%,
respectively. Lack of standardized treatment protocol for nurses
(27%vs.10%, p=0.049), moderate/severe depression (74% vs. 16%,
p=0.002) and burnout (82% vs. 58%, p=0.01) were significantly
higher in pediatric nurses with anxiety compared to those without.
Pediatric nurses that worked with adolescents compared to those that
did not showed higher frequency of burnout in the former group (77%
vs. 32%, p=0.0001). Multivariable analysis revealed that adequate
quarantine adherence increased the presence of anxiety in 4.6 times
[OR4.6(CI 1.1-20.2), p=0.04]. Conclusion: most pediatric nurses
who had worked in the frontline of COVID-19 were under precarious
conditions, working with reduced team, and with an expressive
changes in their monthly income. Current anxiety was a relevant
issue, burnout was also an important mental condition for these
professionals, reinforcing culture of good teamwork, collaboration
practices and psychological/psychiatric approach.
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