Common mental disorders in emergency services nursing professionals

Abstract

Objective: To analyze sociodemographic and work variables regarding the risk for common mental disorders in nursing professionals working in urgent and emergency care services. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted in the Adult Emergency Room and Adult and Coronary Intensive Care Units of a public teaching hospital and in two public Emergency Care Units in the countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data collection was performed with use of two instruments: sociodemographic and professional questionnaire and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's exact and binomial logistic regression were performed in the analyzes. Results: Participation of 302 nursing professionals. There was a prevalence of 20.5% for common mental disorders. In the bivariate analysis, the variables related to common mental disorders were: not having children (p=0.025), working in tertiary care departments (p=0.008), statutory contract regime (p=0.041). In the multivariate analysis, the hospital departments (p=0.001) and the nurse position (p=0.017) indicated a high risk for common mental disorders. Conclusion: The variables of department and position behaved as risk and had a prevalence odds ratio of 4.21 and 2.80, respectively, indicating that the working conditions in urgent and emergency environments associated with the nurse position favor the development of common mental disorders in nursing professionals. Through this study, it was possible to understand the need to implement strategies for the early identification of common mental disorders and the promotion of mental health among professionals, aiming at improving psychosocial aspects in work environments.