Perspectivas de profissionais da saúde acerca do seu adoecimento e hospitalização por Covid-19 : descrição interpretativa

Abstract

In December 2019, the first cases of the infection caused by the coronavirus were registered in the city of Wuhan, China. The high hospitalization rate brought the need for system restructuring to health services. Over time, a large number of contaminated health professionals was observed. Many of them had to experience hospitalization and receive the health care that was previously provided by them. Objective: to understand the perspective of health professionals regarding their illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19. Method: descriptive and interpretative study, carried out in the metropolitan region of Goiânia, Goiás. Participants were recruited through the analysis of medical records in two health institutions, reference for COVID-19 cases. These institutions were important spaces for the care of infected patients, mainly in the moderate and severe forms of the disease. There was also an indication of professionals who needed hospitalization by institution managers and study participants. The snowball sampling procedure greatly contributed to obtaining potential participants, as inconsistencies in the information in institutional records made recruitment difficult. Data were collected from January to August 2022 remotely. The collection took place through semi-structured interviews with a sociodemographic questionnaire, followed by guiding questions. The interviews were recorded and transcribed in full. An interpretative thematic analysis was carried out through six stages, recommended by Braun and Clarke. Results: Fifteen health professionals of both sexes participated in the study. The sample consisted of nurses, nursing technicians, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and social workers. After analyzing the data, three relevant topics for research were described: 1) Contamination by COVID-19 – disastrous reflection of occupational exposure: social, organizational and personal issues experienced with the emergence of an unknown disease were addressed. They described feelings of fear, concern and uncertainty, in addition to reports of the experience of professionally experiencing the high number of cases and deaths, the unpreparedness of health services and the work overload generated by the pandemic context. 2) Experience of being a professional-patient: “a big scare”: professionals reported the difficulty faced in experiencing the negative evolution of the disease and needing hospitalization. Prior knowledge of the disease's prognosis and professional experience generated a mix of emotions in the participants, both positive and negative, regarding the hospitalization process; 3) Post-COVID experience – sequelae and challenges for returning to work: the permanence of disease symptoms and a slow recovery process were described. The sequelae were multisystemic. However, the psychological impact was the most significant in these people's lives. Returning to work after hospitalization, despite the insecurity and fear of new contamination, meant a moment of personal and professional re-signification. Final considerations: It is expected that, with this pandemic experience, managers and health professionals will be better prepared to deal with similar issues in the future, if they occur. The need for better health structures, trained professionals and, above all, the implementation of assistance focused on person-centered care is evident