Introduction:The burnout syndrome is a psychosocial phenomenon that arises as a response to chronic interpersonal stressors present at work. There are many aspects that make nursing assistants vulnerable to chronic stress situations that may lead to burnout, highlighting the low degree of autonomy in the healthcare staff and spending more in direct contact with patients. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of the burnout syndrome in nursing assistants in a public hospital, as well as its association with socio-demographic and professional variables. Methods: A socio-demographic and professional questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS) were applied to 534 nursing assistants. Results: The prevalence of burnout syndrome among nursing assistants was 5.9%. High emotional exhaustion was observed in 23.6%, 21.9% showed high depersonalization, and 29.9% low professional achievement. It was found statistically significant associations between emotional exhaustion, job sector and marital status; depersonalization, having children and health problems; low professional achievement and job sector and number of jobs. There was association between job satisfaction and the three dimensions. Conclusison: Professionals working in the health area must pay intense and extended attention to people who are dependent upon others. The intimate contact of the nursing assistants with hard-to-handle patients, as well as being afraid to make mistakes in healthcare are additional chronic stress factors and burnout syndrome cases related in this study.

OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in medical professionals, nurses and nursing technicians working in an Onco-Hematological Pediatric Hospital in São Paulo. METHOD An exploratory, descriptive study with cross-sectional design and quantitative approach, with a sample of 188 health professionals. Data were collected using two self-report instruments: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) which is a biosocial data form, and a non-participant observation guide. RESULTS High depersonalization for nurses (29.8%), low job performance for physicians (27.8%), and of nursing technicians (25.5%). High scores were identified in at least two domains of Burnout in 19.2% of nurses, 16.8% of nursing technicians, and 16.6% of doctors. CONCLUSION Health professionals are highly vulnerable to each of the dimensions of Burnout syndrome - namely emotional exhaustion, alienation, and low job performance/satisfaction- in the hospital work.

The present study applies the risk perception analytical methodology based on rapid surveys. It took place in the micro-basin of the São Lourenço Creek in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The methodological approach was based on participatory observation, semi-structured interviews with 24 key informants selected among local farmers (N = 120), and evaluation of local work processes. Field data analysis revealed some issues related to the risk perception profile in the study population, including the development of defensive strategies to deal with work hazards, the importance of communication in developing workers' risk perceptions, the subjective responses to potentially hazardous situations, and the role of individual risk perception as a determinant of human exposure to pesticides. The results evoked the importance of systematically incorporating risk perception analyses into intervention strategies, especially in educational risk communication campaigns.

O impacto do uso de agrotóxicos sobre a saúde humana é um problema que tem merecido atenção da comunidade científica em todo o mundo, sobretudo nos países em desenvolvimento. Sua avaliação demanda o conhecimento e a visualização da importância/magnitude relativa de cada uma das vias de contaminação. Inúmeros fatores, tais como as dificuldades metodológicas relacionadas com o monitoramento da exposição ocupacional aos agrotóxicos, as elevadas taxas de subnotificação de casos, a não-consideração de determinantes sociais e econômicos na avaliação de riscos relacionados a estes agentes químicos e a influência da pressão da indústria produtora de agrotóxicos no perfil do consumo destes agentes no meio rural brasileiro. No presente trabalho discute-se a importância destes fatores como determinantes da situação de saúde do homem do campo, a partir dos resultados de pesquisas de campo realizadas em regiões agrícolas do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

Objectives: To investigate the meanings attributed by the elderly to healthy aging and to being happy in old age, and the associations between these meanings and the evaluations of the elderly individuals of their overall and domain-referenced satisfaction. Method: A crosssectional and multicenter study was performed. The verbal utterances of representative samples of community-dwelling elderly persons (N=1,242, aged 65 years and older) registered in the databases of two Brazilian cities, were submitted to content analysis and compared with satisfaction indicators, considering gender, age and family income. Results: Four themes and 14 categories explained the two concepts: physical health and functioning (42.1% of utterances), psychological well-being (25.4%), interpersonal relationships (23.5%) and material resources and access to health services (9.0%). No significant differences were observed for the prevalence ratios between the categories of meaning and great satisfaction with life, with the exception of satisfaction and pleasure. Conclusion: The two concepts raised common meanings associated with positive aspects of old age and had an impact on satisfaction ratings, showing that healthy and happy aging is more than just being healthy, but also involves psychological well-being and interpersonal relationships.

O presente estudo objetivou investigar a forma como o impacto do uso de agrotóxicos sobre a saúde humana e o ambiente é um problema que tem merecido atenção da comunidade científica em todo o mundo desde há muito tempo, sobretudo nos países em desenvolvimento onde, sem os devidos cuidados, esses compostos são amplamente utilizados. O presente estudo objetiva a aplicação de uma metodologia de diagnóstico rápido para a avaliação da percepção de riscos no trabalho rural sobretudo aquela relacionada ao uso de produtos agrotóxicos frente às especificidades deste processo de trabalho e às idiossincrasias socioculturais do homem do campo. Esta metodologia inclui: observações participantes; entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes-chave; e avaliação do processo de trabalho. A análise dos dados desvelou uma série de questões relacionadas com a percepção de riscos da população estudada, incluindo o desenvolvimento de estratégias de defesa frente aos perigos vivenciados no trabalho, as respostas subjetivas frente a situações de potencial dano à saúde e o papel da percepção individual e coletiva dos riscos na determinação da exposição aos agrotóxicos.

Objetivo: Descrever e discutir a atuação dos profissionais de enfermagem, sua exposição aos fatores de risco no trabalho e a importância do apoio psicossocial na pandemia do COVID-19. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa de análise dos conteúdos técnico-científicos produzidos em diferentes países à cerca dos profissionais de enfermagem no âmbito da pandemia. Resultados Os profissionais de enfermagem estão na linha de frente no combate ao CODIV-19 e expostos a maior risco de contaminação devido à escassez de recursos, como a falta de equipamentos de proteção individual. Os afastamentos dos colegas contaminados, as altas demandas, a escassez de materiais, o medo de ser contaminado e a falta de apoio psicossocial sobrecarregam esses profissionais e causa estresse e pode desencadear esgotamento físico e psíquico. Conclusão: É preciso considerar a importância do trabalho da equipe de enfermagem em todos os tipos de serviços de saúde, principalmente, em situações emergentes. Por isso, além das condições de trabalho adequadas, o apoio psicossocial na preservação da saúde mental destes profissionais é essencial para os trabalhadores e para a qualidade do cuidado prestado. Descritores: Infecções por coronavirus; pandemia; profissionais de enfermagem; apoio social; saúde mental. PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH OF NURSING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19Objective: To describe and discuss the performance of nursing professionals, their exposure to risk factors at work and the importance of psychosocial support in the OVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is a narrative review from the analysis of the technical and scientific contents produced in different countries to the nursing professionals in the scope of the pandemic. Results: Nursing professionals are in the front line in the fight against CODIV-19 and are exposed to a higher risk of contamination due to the scarcity of resources, such as the lack of personal protection equipment. The withdrawals of contaminated colleagues, high demands, shortage of materials, fear of being contaminated and lack of psychosocial support overload these professionals and trigger stress, physical and psychological exhaustion. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider the importance of nursing teamwork in all types of health services, especially in emerging situations. Therefore, in addition to adequate working conditions, psychosocial and mental health support to these professionals is essential for maintaining the health of these workers and the quality of care provided. Descriptors: Coronavirus infections; pandemics; nurse practitioners; social support; mental health.APOYO PSICOSOCIAL Y SALUD MENTAL DE LOS PROFESIONALES DE LA ENFERMERÍA EN LA LUCHA CONTRA EL COVID-19Objetivo: Describir y discutir el desempeño de los profesionales de enfermería, su exposición a los factores de riesgo en el trabajo y la importancia del apoyo psicosocial en la pandemia de OVID-19. Método: Se trata de una revisión narrativa desde el análisis de los contenidos técnicos y científicos producidos en los diferentes países hasta los profesionales de la enfermería en el ámbito de la pandemia. Resultados: Los profesionales de la enfermería están en primera línea en la lucha contra el CODIV-19 y están expuestos a un mayor riesgo de contaminación debido a la escasez de recursos, como la falta de equipo de protección personal. El retiro de colegas contaminados, las altas exigencias, la escasez de materiales, el miedo a contaminarse y la falta de apoyo psicosocial sobrecargan a estos profesionales y desencadenan estrés, agotamiento físico y psicológico. Conclusión: Es necesario considerar la importancia del trabajo en equipo de enfermería en todos los tipos de servicios de salud, especialmente en situaciones emergentes. Por lo tanto, además de unas condiciones de trabajo adecuadas, el apoyo psicosocial y de salud mental a estos profesionales es esencial para mantener la salud de estos trabajadores y la calidad de la atención prestada.  Descriptores: Infecciones por coronavirus; pandemias; enfermeras practicantes; apoyo social; salud mental.

Objective: to identify biopsychosocial factors at work associated with the Burnout Syndrome in mental health professionals. Method: a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach conducted with a sample of 293 mental health service workers from the public network of a municipality in the inland of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. An instrument composed of three self-administered questionnaires was applied, namely: biosocial data form, the Job Stress Scale (JSS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI- HSS). The data were analyzed through the application of the Chi-squared and logistic regression tests, with the adoption of a 5% significance level. Results: Burnout Syndrome prevalence was 7% with a predominance of nursing professionals and was associated with the work sector, the use of psychotropic drugs, low satisfaction with the manager and with the low control over the work activity. Among the professionals with Burnout Syndrome, twelve performed functions considered of high wear, six performed passive work and two were in low wear activity. Conclusion: low control was the main psychosocial factor at work associated with Burnout Syndrome, making it necessary to develop actions that promote worker autonomy and improve the management of stress-triggering psychosocial factors.