PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE: Mental health of health professionals

Working in Pediatric Palliative Care units can predispose to psychological illness due to feelings of hopelessness, sadness and impotence in the face of death. The objective of this study was to evaluate symptoms of anxiety, depression and motivation among health professionals working in Pediatric Palliative Care in a Teaching Hospital in the interior of São Paulo. This is a cross-sectional study with quantitative and qualitative approaches. 30 professionals participated, of which 63.2% (n=19) presented possible or probable symptoms of anxiety, and 29.9% (n=9) of depression. Of the participants with anxiety symptoms, 26.6% (n=8) had undergone psychological counseling and 13.3% (n=3) used psychotropic drugs. Among the participants with depressive symptoms, only 3.3% (n=1) had undergone psychological counseling. The qualitative analysis of motivation identified five main categories: 1) lack of rewards, 2) recognition, 3) improved quality of life, 4) learning, and 5) motivation for life. In emotionally demanding contexts such as Pediatric Palliative Care, there is a higher prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, impacting the mental health of professionals; and motivation is linked to personal and professional factors.