JOB-RELATED FACTORS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION IN PRIMARY CARE TEAMS IN BRAZIL: FINDINGS FROM THE PANDORA-SP STUDY

Introduction and objectives: Depression among health care workers is a matter of great concern because its consequences for workers (disability, impaired productivity, and suicide) and patients (malpractice, prescription errors, and adverse patient health outcomes). Some job-related factors have been highlighted as harmful for the mental health of health care workers. Previous studies that investigated this issue in primary care teams are scarce. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among primary care workers (doctors, nurses, nursing assistants and community health workers) and to identify job-related factors associated with depressive symptoms. Method: We assessed the data from the PANDORA-SP study (Panorama of Primary Health Care Workers in São Paulo, Brazil: Depression, Organizational Justice, Violence at Work, and Burnout Assessments), a survey that was carried out in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. We used the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire to address depressive symptoms and Demand-Control model to assess job strain. Other job-related characteristics were investigated (leadership style, profession, length of employment in family health program, social support, and working in deprived area). Results and conclusions: We assessed 2,940 workers (response rate = 93%). 36.3 % of our participants presented intermediate depressive symptoms, and 16 %, probable major depression. The job–related factors associated with depression were job strain, profession, leadership style, length of employment, and social support. Our results have implications for healthcare managers and policy makers. Interventions need to focus on job characteristics.