Occupational Health Conditions Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic created a stage of vulnerability for healthcare workers, whose working conditions and health were affected by the increased demand for care of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the hospital setting, altering the occupational health conditions in several areas. Objective. We aimed to analyze the occupational health conditions of healthcare workers in a secondary care hospital during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method. A quantitative, observational, and retrospective study was conducted on a sample of 159 healthcare workers from a secondary care hospital clinic. A 103-item questionnaire with five domains covering sociodemographic, occupational, and health variables, including those related to occupational health, was used. We used univariate analysis to describe the study population, while bivariate analysis for the difference in proportions and multivariate analysis for variable reduction. Data analysis and visualization were performed using the R Studio software, version 4.0.3. Results. The sample included females (57.2%) and paramedical staff (51.6%). The most commonly provided protective equipment was surgical masks. Healthcare workers showed an increased prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Statistically significant differences between the medical, paramedical, and general services departments regarding training and distribution of protective equipment (p<0.05) were identified. Low satisfaction concerning quality of working life and a low perception of safety with significant differences (p<0.05) were reported. Conclusions. Further need for interventions and policies designed to prevent risks and improve health and well-being of healthcare workers in crisis situations is noted.