ABSTRACT
Objective:
to identify depression symptoms in Nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method:
a cross-sectional and observational study, conducted with Nursing professionals through an electronic form in the five Brazilian regions. An instrument with general information was used, as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to identify depression symptoms. The Student’s t hypothesis and Analysis of Variance tests were adopted.
Results:
the participants were 3,249 professionals. Of these, 2,092 (64.4%) did not present depression symptoms or presented minimal symptoms; 603 (18.6%) presented moderate symptoms; 330 (10.2%) had moderate to severe symptoms; and 224 (6.9%), severe symptoms. Women, workers from the North region, young adults, single and with an income of up to four minimum wages presented higher depression scores (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
the Nursing professionals did not present depression symptoms, or presented mild symptoms of the disease. Variables such as gender, age group, marital status, region of the country, having contact with people infected by COVID-19, and not using masks presented significant differences with depression symptoms.
DESCRITORES
Depressive Symptoms; Nursing; Infections by Coronavirus; Pandemic; Mental Health