Health-related quality of life of nursing professionals in Bahia, Brazil, in the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective To identify factors associated with the health-related quality of life of nursing professionals in Bahia, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method Cross-sectional study with snowball sampling including 113 nurses and nursing technicians. From September 2020 to May 2021, sociodemographic, occupational, epidemiological, and quality of life information was collected in an electronic form and evaluated with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, according to its Physical, Psychological, Social relations, and Environmental domains. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with variation in the four quality of life domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Results Low mean quality of life scores were significantly associated with being a suspected case of COVID-19 (in the Physical domain), withdrawing from professional practice due to COVID-19 (Physical and Psychological domains), working exclusively in private institutions (Social relations), older age (Social relations), and lack of social support (in the Physical, Psychological, Social Relations, and Environmental domains). Conclusion and implications for the practice Older age, exclusive work in private institutions, being a suspected case of COVID-19, withdrawing from professional practice due to COVID-19, and lack of social support were associated with lower quality of life of nursing professionals during the pandemic.

Burnout among Brazilian Dentists during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

“…The sensation of safety at work is essential for coping with the fear of contracting the virus and transmitting it to patients and loved ones, decreasing stress and consequent burnout, particularly among professionals on the frontline of a new and unpredictable pandemic. Feeling safe at work when using personal protective equipment was referred to by 62.3% of dentists, [ 26 ] 78.5% of physicians [ 24 ], and 79.5% of nursing professionals [ 27 ] working on the frontline against the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.…”

“…The Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization burnout dimensions were negatively related to the regular use of alcohol among Lithuanian dentists [ 28 ]. In Brazil, increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic was mentioned by 36.5% of dentists [ 26 ], 37.2% of physicians [ 23 ], 47.8% of nursing professionals [ 27 ], and 51.1% of multi-professional residents [ 24 ]. Increased alcohol consumption could represent both adaptive and maladaptive methods for coping with the stress of the pandemic [ 4 ].…”