Avaliação do prazer e sofrimento no trabalho entre profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde

Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) professionals are inserted in a work scenario with constant sources of stress, which requires facing complex demands that may present as a possible cause of illness. Therefore, it becomes important to investigate aspects linked to work organization and strategies for coping with work challenges present in the relationships of pleasure and suffering that these professionals experience. The objective of this study was to analyze pleasure and suffering at work among PHC professionals. This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional and analytical study, carried out with PHC professionals from a municipality in the north of Minas Gerais. The sample size considered a prevalence of 50%, confidence level of 95%, margin of error of 5%, deff = 1.4 and an increase of 10% to compensate for possible losses. The sample calculation indicated the need to interview at least 593 professionals. The distribution of the sample by Basic Health Unit was proportional to the number of professionals, by urban and rural area; the Family Health teams were selected by simple random sampling and all professionals were invited to participate in the study. An instrument composed of sociodemographic and work questions and the Work and Illness Risk Inventory (ITRA) was used. Data from the Indicators of Pleasure and Suffering at Work Scale (EIPST) were analyzed using IBM-SPSS 23.0 software, using descriptive, bivariate and multiple analyses. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated, with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Only variables that presented a descriptive level lower than 5% (p < 0.05) were kept in the final model. 638 professionals distributed across 58 UBS participated in this study. The majority of professionals are female and earn a monthly income of one to two minimum wages. Most of those investigated are auxiliary professionals and Community Health Agents (CHA); among those interviewed, 53.7% have worked in PHC for 2 to 10 years; 75.1% are contracted employees and 58.8% are satisfied with their remuneration. Pleasure indicators at a satisfactory level were presented by 51.9% of professionals working within the scope of PHC. Higher prevalences of suffering, classified as moderate or severe, were observed among postgraduate professionals (RP=1.35 and p=0.004), who have worked for more than 10 years (RP=1.37 and p=0.008) and who are permanent employees in PHC (RP =1.36 and p<0.001). Furthermore, the prevalence of moderate or severe suffering was more prevalent among auxiliary health professionals and CHAs (RP =2.38 and p=0.025). It was possible to observe that PHC professionals experienced considerable labor suffering. These findings highlighted the need for strategies that promote pleasure at work and reduce suffering among PHC professionals in the municipality investigated. The implementation of Occupational Health Surveillance policies that advocate professional development, improvements in working conditions and encouragement of self-care are essential for sustainability and productivity in the workplace.