Os efeitos do absenteísmo de profissionais de saúde na pandemia da COVID-19: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an economic, political, social and health crisis in Brazil and in the world. Health workers were directly exposed to the virus, which led to physical and mental illness, leading to absenteeism. In this context, the present study aims to carry out a bibliographical survey on the impacts of absenteeism of health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an integrative literature review study with a qualitative approach. The analysis aimed to answer the following research question: what are the impacts of absenteeism of health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic? For this, the following databases were observed: Nursing Database, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, MEDLINE and SCOPUS. After selecting the studies, the final sample consisted of 12 articles. Elements that dealt with the effects of absenteeism were identified in the sample. Studies that originated the financial impact (91.7%), the need to hire staff (75%) and the reorganization of work processes (58.3%) predominated. The articles that presented the sample bring some strategies used to reduce absenteeism, such as: dependence measures in relation to the number of professionals, improvement in organization and working conditions and resizing of working hours. It is suggested, therefore, that debates and discussions take place in order to consolidate the National Policy on Workers' and Women's Health and the National Policy on Humanization.