Objective: To evaluate levels of occupational stress and work engagement among primary health care workers. Method: A descriptive, correlational and transversal study was carried out in a small municipality in the countryside of São Paulo, with a non-probabilistic sample of convenience, with 85 workers. Three self-applied instruments were used: one developed by researchers, containing sociodemographic variables; Work Stress Scale (WSS) and Utrech Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Results: Prevalence of women (72.6%), 40 years old or more (45.9%), 4 years and 4 months of mean working time in primary care. Thirty-one workers (36.5%) presented significant stress (scores ≥2.5). Work engagement showed a mean of 4.1 (±1.2) to 4.4 (±1.4), classified as high in all dimensions. Occupational stress and work engagement correlated negatively. Conclusion: Workers presented high levels of work engagement; more than one-third had significant occupational stress. Workers with high levels of occupational stress tend to have lower work engagement.

Níveis de engagement em profissionais da atenção primária à saúde: estudo comparativo em dois municípios brasileirosNiveles de engagement en profesionales de la atención primaria a la salud: estudio comparativo en dos municipios brasileños AbstrAct Objective: To evaluate the levels of engagement of Primary Health Care professionals in two municipalities. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out with 238 health professionals who work in the Primary Care services of two municipalities in the state of São Paulo. The engagement dimensions of the professionals were investigated through the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Results: Female predominance (82.8%), age under 40 years (52.9%). Median working time in primary care of three (municipality A), four years (municipality B). Significant difference in levels of engagement in both municipalities. Community health agents presented mean scores in all dimensions. Significant difference in levels of engagement according to professional category in all dimensions. Conclusion and implications for practice: Municipal health professionals with 100.0% coverage by the Family Health Strategy tend to have higher levels of engagement. Nurses presented greater engagement; community health workers reached lower levels than other professionals did. Engagement is an indicator that contributes to the evaluation of the workforce in the Primary Health Care services and can be used to direct strategies that improve the levels of dedication, absorption and vigor of the professionals, benefiting the organization of the primary care services. Objetivo: Avaliar os níveis de engagement de profissionais da atenção primária em saúde de dois municípios. Métodos: Estudo descritivo realizado com 238 profissionais de saúde que atuam nos serviços de Atenção Primária de dois municípios do estado de São Paulo. As dimensões de engagement dos profissionais foram investigadas através da Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Resultados: Predomínio do sexo feminino (82,8%), idade inferior a 40 anos (52,9%). Tempo mediano de atuação na atenção primária de três (município A), quatro anos (município B). Diferença significante dos níveis de engagement nos dois municípios. Agentes comunitários de saúde apresentaram escores médios em todas dimensões. Diferença dos níveis de engagement segundo categoria profissional significante em todas dimensões. Conclusão e implicações para a prática: Profissionais de município com 100,0% de cobertura pela Estratégia Saúde da Família tendem a ter maiores níveis de engagement. Enfermeiros apresentaram engagement maior; Agentes comunitários de saúde alcançaram níveis mais baixos que os demais profissionais. O engagement é um indicador que contribui para a avaliação da força de trabalho nos serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde e pode ser empregado para direcionar estratégias que melhorem os níveis de dedicação, absorção e vigor dos profissionais, beneficiando a organização dos serviços de atenção primária. Palavras-chave: Engajamento no Trabalho; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Promoção da S...

Objective Professional engagement is an indicator of the relationship between a nurse and the work environment and is an important factor in performance and productivity. The goal of this study was to evaluate levels of engagement among nurses in primary health care units. Methods Cross‐sectional study in a city of São Paulo state, Brazil, in 2017, using an instrument containing sociodemographic variables and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Results In the sample of 75 nurses, the majority were female (94.7%), aged between 29 and 39 (52.0%), specialists (81.3%), married (57.3%), permanent employees (68.0%), working 40 hr per week (98.7%), and working in primary health care for 3–10 years (42.7%). Engagement levels were classified as high in all dimensions. Nurses who worked as managers presented a very high level of dedication; professionals aged 40 years or older presented very high levels in all dimensions (Dedication: 5.2; Absorption: 5.0; Vigor: 5.3; and Overall score: 5.1); and professionals with more than 10 years of experience in primary health care had very high levels in all dimensions (Dedication: 5.0; Absorption: 5.0; Vigor: 5.0; and Overall score: 5.0). Conclusions Nurses working in Brazil's primary health care system have high engagement and ability to act; they enhance team performance and quality and effectiveness of care provided.

BACKGROUND: Brazil's Family Health Strategy is based on a primary healthcare model, which is considered to have case resolution capacity, with physicians at its center. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the levels of occupational stress and work engagement among primary healthcare physicians. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2017, in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A non-probability sample including 32 physicians from family health teams was used. Three self-applied instruments were used: a scale developed by the researchers seeking sociodemographic and professional variables, the Work Stress Scale and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. RESULTS: Female professionals (59.4%), permanent employees (56.3%), workload of 40 hours per week (59.4%) and 3-10 years of acting in primary care (68.8%) were more prevalent. Six professionals (19.4%) exhibited significant stress (score ≥ 2.5). The main stressors were lack of prospects for career growth (2.9 ± 1.3), form of task distribution (2.7 ± 1.0), poor training (2.7 ± 1.2) and insufficient time to perform the job (2.6 ± 1.2). Levels of work engagement ranged from 4.3 to 4.6 and were rated as high in all dimensions. Physicians with occupational stress had average levels of work engagement, whereas those without occupational stress had high levels of work commitment. CONCLUSIONS: A notable percentage of the physicians were experiencing occupational stress. The physicians had high levels of work engagement. Occupational stress was negatively correlated with work engagement, and it significantly compromised physicians' levels of work engagement and interfered with their positive relationship with the work environment.

Objective: to evaluate the levels of occupational stress, work engagement, and coping strategies among community health workers. Methods: cross-sectional study with 133 Community Health Workers. We used a questionnaire with socioeconomic and professional variables, the Work Stress Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and the Coping Modes Scale. Results: The mean occupational stress score was 2.7. Work engagement levels were high for dedication (4.0), vigor (4.3), and overall score (4.0). Problem-focused coping modes (3.9; ±0.6) and based on religious practices and fantasy thinking (3.4; ±0.7) stood out. Conclusion: there is a high percentage of professionals with significant occupational stress. The levels of work engagement were medium for absorption and high for dedication, vigor, and overall score. The coping strategies are focused on problem solving, religious practices and fanciful thoughts of positive character.