Work overload and associated factors in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the work routine of professionals at the family healthcare center (Núcleo de Atenção à Saúde da Família – NASF-AB), providing new conditions and work overload.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with work overload in NASF-AB professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out with NASF-AB workers in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, from May to August 2021. Working conditions and overload were assessed using the National Program for Improving Access and the Quality of Primary Care questionnaire (Programa Nacional de Melhoria do Acesso e da Qualidade da Atenção Básica – PMAQ) and the scale measuring burden of professionals in mental health services (Escala de Avaliação da Sobrecarga de Profissionais em Serviços de Saúde Mental – IMPACTO-BR), respectively. A multivariate linear regression model was used. A total of 68 health professionals participated in the study, including 19 physiotherapists, 13 occupational therapists, 10 social workers, 10 nutritionists, 9 psychologists and 7 physical education professionals.

Results

There was a significant association between overall overload and being female (p = <0.005), having spaces for reflection on the work process (p = 0.027), and having difficulty moving around to conduct activities in the territory (p = 0.002) for increasing the chance of work overload.

Conclusions

Our findings encourage workers’ health policies and closer ties and negotiation with local management, as well as the return of the institutional support figure for the effectiveness and resolution of actions in primary healthcare units.