RESUMO CONTEXTO:O engagement e a satisfação no trabalho são fatores fundamentais na manutenção e aumento dos níveis de motivação dos trabalhadores, do seu bem-estar físico e psicológico e da qualidade de vida. OBJETIVO(S): Identificar os níveis de engagement e de satisfação no trabalho dos enfermeiros que trabalham nas ambulâncias Suporte Imediato de Vida (SIV) e a sua variação em função de variáveis sociodemográficas e laborais. MÉTODOS: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo-correlacional e transversal. Aplicou-se um questionário online a uma amostra de conveniência de 57 enfermeiros, com questões de caracterização sociodemográfica/laboral, de engagement (UWES, Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003) e da satisfação no trabalho (S20/23, Mélia & Peiró, 1989;Pocinho e Garcia, 2008). RESULTADOS: Encontraram-se valores médios de engagement de 4,8 (DP=1,0) e de satisfação no trabalho de 4,5 (DP=1,0). Os enfermeiros do sexo feminino e que não percecionam o seu trabalho como stressante apresentam mais engagement total e absorção; os que exercem funções nas SIV há menos de 1 ano apresentam maior dedicação. Menor perceção de stresse corresponde a mais satisfação total, satisfação com os benefícios e políticas da organização e satisfação com a participação. Engagement e a satisfação no trabalho correlacionam-se positivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de os enfermeiros apresentarem níveis elevados de engagement e moderados de satisfação no trabalho, é importante não deixar diminuir estes valores, sugerindo analisar os fatores que promovem a satisfação no trabalho de forma a ter enfermeiros motivados e comprometidos com as suas tarefas laborais.

The COVID-19 pandemic places unique challenges to medical rescuers’ occupational health. Thus, it is crucial to assess its direct and indirect impacts on key psychological outcomes and adaptation strategies. This study aims to analyse the impact of this pandemic on medical rescuers’ coping and emotion regulation strategies, and their levels of work-related psychological outcomes, such as burnout, trauma and post-traumatic growth. Additionally, it aims to analyse the contribution of coping and emotion regulation strategies, employed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, on burnout, trauma and post-traumatic growth. A sample of 111 medical rescuers answered the Brief Cope, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Medical rescuers resorted moderately to coping and emotion regulation strategies, since the beginning of COVID-19. They presented moderate burnout and post-traumatic growth and low trauma. Coping presented a higher weight on burnout, trauma and post-traumatic growth, than emotion regulation. Expressive suppression and dysfunctional coping predicted burnout and trauma, and problem and emotion-focused coping predicted post-traumatic growth. Dysfunctional coping mediated and, thus, exacerbated the effect of expressive suppression on burnout and on trauma. Practitioners should pay closer attention to professionals with higher burnout and trauma. Occupational practices should focus on reducing dysfunctional coping and expressive suppression and promoting problem-focused coping.

PurposeThis study aims to explore patterns of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel's mental health, regarding their levels of anxiety, depression, stress, COVID-19 anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms and well-being; and to explore variables that contribute to these patterns, among sociodemographic/professional and COVID-19 experience variables.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were 214 EMS personnel, who answered the Patient-Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Well-Being Questionnaire and COVID-19 related questions.FindingsEMS personnel showed an adequate psychological adjustment during COVID-19. Two clusters/patterns were found: the poorly (34%) and the well (66%) psychologically-adjusted. Personnel's age, COVID-19 fear and workplace security measures' adequacy contributed to which pattern they were more likely to belong to.Research limitations/implicationsDespite being cross-sectional and not controlling for pre-COVID-19 data, this study adds to the COVID-19 literature. Findings call for the need to explore: other COVID-19 fears; how personnel perceive workplace security measures; COVID-19 valid instruments; pre-COVID-19 data; and mental health patterns with different rescuers.Practical implicationsFindings explored EMS personnel's patterns of mental health during the COVID-19, as well as its covariates. Results allow to better prepare emergency management, which can develop prevention strategies focused on older professionals, COVID-19 related fears and how personnel assess security measures.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the scarce literature focused on COVID-19 mental health patterns instead of focussing on isolated mental health variables, as well as what contributes to these patterns. Moreover, it is one of the few studies that focused on EMS personnel rather than hospital staff.

Medical rescuers are the frontline for COVID-19 and their psychological experience and health are major concerns to our society and healthcare system. This study aims to understand how medical rescuers psychologically experienced this pandemic and explore the contributing variables to COVID-19 anxiety. Portuguese medical rescuers (n = 203) answered questions about their COVID-19 experience, the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, Patient-Health Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, and Well-Being Questionnaire. Rescuers presented low COVID-19 anxiety and low-moderate levels of fear. Most already faced or were facing changes in their job-related tasks, did not change household and did not feel stigma/discrimination. COVID-19 workplace security measures were considered moderately adequate and low anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, low to moderate stress and moderate well-being were found. Only COVID-19 fear and security measures, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive symptoms explained COVID-19 anxiety. Overall, findings showed these rescuers were psychologically well adjusted during the pandemic’s initial stages.

No abstract