Relationships between common mental disorders, Burnout, and poor sleep quality in healthcare professionals working on the frontline of COVID-19 combat

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic directly impacted the mental health of frontline health care workers fighting COVID-19. This study aims to investigate whether the working conditions of these professionals acted as predictors of common mental disorders, poor sleep quality, and burnout. Cross-sectional study conducted with 133 health professionals from three COVID-19 treatment units in the Agreste of Pernambuco-Brazil. The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep quality were 26.3%, 36.8%, 28.6%, and 80%, respectively. The prevalence of high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization was 47.4% and 57.1%, respectively. Weekly workload of more than 40 hours and high level of occupational stress were significant predictors of burnout and sleep disorders. The symptoms of mental illness among health professionals suffer a cumulative effect, and it is necessary to establish measures for the prevention of health problems among these workers.