Psychosocial factors related to intensive care work and the health of the nursing staff

Abstract

Given the evolving dynamics of the labor market, characterized by increasing work intensity and precarious conditions, analyzing the perception of psychosocial factors in the work of nursing staff in intensive care units has become an ongoing necessity. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial factors related to the work of nursing staff in intensive care units, as reported in the literature. An integrative literature review was conducted in December 2023 using the Base de Dados em Enfermagem, Virtual Health Library, Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciências da Saúde, PubMed, Index Psicologia – Periódicos, BMC Medical Ethics, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus. The guiding question was: “How do psychosocial factors contribute to the illness of nursing staff in intensive care units?” A total of 21 articles published between 2000 and 2021 were included, with a predominance of Brazilian studies using qualitative methodologies. The findings revealed a phenomenon previously overlooked or not recognized as a significant issue, despite the historical presence of psychosocial factors in the nursing profession. The reviewed studies indicate psychosocial risks directly impact the health of nursing staff. There is a need for further research, particularly intervention studies, longitudinal studies, and causal relationship analyses. Additionally, implementing continuous education strategies in health care services is essential to prevent health issues caused by psychosocial factors.