The health of healthcare professionals coping with the Covid-19 pandemic

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 25; no. 9; pp. 3465 - 3474
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Carmen Fontes de Souza, Soares, Catharina Matos, Souza, Ednir Assis, Lisboa, Erick Soares, Pinto, Isabela Cardoso de Matos, Andrade, Laíse Rezende de, Espiridião, Monique Azevedo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva - ABRASCO 01.09.2020; Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Brazil - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronavirus Infections - therapy; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Health care; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Medical personnel; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Health; National Health Programs - organization & administration; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Pneumonia, Viral - therapy; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Viral diseases; Brazil; Brasil
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232020259.19562020

This work aims to systematize a set of scientific evidence presented in international papers that identify the main problems affecting health professionals directly involved in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and point out actions and strategies for the protection and healthcare of these professionals. The risk of infection is the main issue and has led to absence from work, illness, death, and intense psychological distress, expressed in generalized anxiety and sleep disorders, fear of becoming ill and infecting colleagues and relatives. In the Brazilian reality, this work revives the analysis of the chronic problems affecting health workers, resulting from the underfinancing of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the sector's spending freeze, the deterioration of services and workforce's insecurity, and points out the acute challenges of work management and staff training, given the expanded hospital bed infrastructure and reorganization of the work process in primary care to face the pandemic, emphasizing the necessary measures for the protection and promotion of the physical and mental health of health professionals and workers.