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Occupational stressors and implications for the mental health of primary care workers in the pandemic and post pandemic periods: An integrative review

Estressores ocupacionais e implicações para a saúde mental de trabalhadores da atenção primária nos períodos pandêmico e pós-pandêmico: uma revisão integrativa

Eder Paulo Reis Ornelas Silva; Erica Lima Costa de Menezes; Jamily Cerqueira Etinger Almeida Novais; Magda Duarte dos Anjos Scherer; Letícia de Lima Trindade; Nília Maria de Brito Lima Prado

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216/20262815625 Revista CEFAC, vol.28, n1, e5625, 2026
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Abstract

Purpose: to systematize stress factors related to work changes during the pandemic and the implications for the mental health of Primary Healthcare workers in the post-pandemic period.

Methods: an integrative literature review of the BVS, CAPES Journals, PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, with a score of 80% or higher, according to the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist. Data processing and analysis considered personal, organizational, and social aspects in the study design.

Literature Review: a total of 17 studies were included, which indicated that, during the pandemic, workers faced significant stressors, such as increased working hours and absenteeism, adaptation to new technologies, resource shortages, high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as negative social implications, such as discrimination and stigmatization, which contributed to high levels of burnout and other mental health problems. In the post-pandemic period, high prevalences of mental health problems persisted, indicating the lasting nature of impacts.

Conclusion: the findings show that the organizational and psychosocial stressors, during the pandemic, continue to have a negative impact on the mental health of Primary Healthcare (PHC) workers, highlighting the need for support policies and ongoing interventions focused on the well-being of these professionals.

Keywords

Occupational Stress; Primary Healthcare; COVID-19; Occupational Health

Resumo

Objetivo: sistematizar os fatores estressores relacionados às mudanças no trabalho durante a pandemia e as implicações para a saúde mental dos trabalhadores da Atenção Primária à Saúde no período pós-pandêmico.

Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados BVS, CAPES Journals, PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect e Web of Science, com uma pontuação igual ou superior a 80%, de acordo com a lista de verificação do Critical Appraisal Skills Programme.

Revisão da Literatura: foram incluídos 17 estudos, os quais indicam que, durante a pandemia, os trabalhadores enfrentaram estressores como aumento das jornadas e do absenteísmo, adaptação a novas tecnologias, escassez de recursos, altos níveis de ansiedade, depressão e estresse, além de implicações sociais negativas, como discriminação e estigmatização, que contribuíram para níveis elevados de Burnout e outros problemas de saúde mental. No período pós-pandêmico, observa-se a persistência de altas prevalências dos agravos à saúde mental, indicando a natureza duradoura dos impactos.

Conclusão: os achados demonstram que os estressores organizacionais e psicossociais durante a pandemia continuam a repercutir negativamente na saúde mental dos trabalhadores da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) evidenciando a necessidade de políticas de apoio e intervenções contínuas voltadas para o bem-estar desses profissionais.

Palavras-chave

Estresse Ocupacional; Atenção Primária à Saúde; COVID-19; Saúde Ocupacional

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02/07/2025

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18/11/2025

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