Occupational diseases and coping strategies: An integrative literature review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i12.50371

Keywords:

Occupational Health Nursing, Prevention, Occupational Diseases.

Abstract

Objective: To identify the main health issues affecting healthcare workers, as well as the proposed coping strategies. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review. The article search was conducted in the LILACS, BDENF, SciELO, and PubMed databases, using the descriptors "occupational nursing," "prevention," and "occupational diseases," combined with the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 24 original articles published between 2013 and 2024 were selected and categorized as “A” level evidence according to the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Results: The findings reveal a high prevalence of occupational diseases related to physical overload, exhausting work hours, poor ergonomic practices, stress, and low adherence to norms, protocols, and preventive measures. Among the most frequently reported coping strategies were the implementation of mental health programs, psychological support, promotion of physical activities, and the institutionalization of organizational policies. Final considerations: Occupational nursing plays a strategic role in workplace health surveillance and promotion. Its practice, grounded in humanized approaches such as active listening, risk prevention, and the coordination of protective and educational measures, is essential to achieving a better quality of life in the work environment.

References

Araújo, W. C. O. (2020). Health information retrieval: Construction, models and strategies. Convergences in Information Science, 3, 100–134. https://doi.org/10.33467/conci.v3i2.13447.

Bento, A. (2012). Como fazer uma revisão da literatura: Considerações teóricas e práticas. Revista JA, 7(65), 42–44. http://www3.uma.pt/bento/Repositorio/Revisaodaliteratura.pdf.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

Carnide, S., Falcão, I., Loureiro, H., Fonseca, J., Fernandes, J., Fernandes, A., & Sousa, P. (2024). RELOAD: Projeto de intervenção para prevenção de Burnout nos profissionais de uma unidade de saúde familiar. Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Ocupacional, 18, eSub500. https://www.rpso.pt/reload-projeto-de-intervencao-para-prevencao-de-burnout-nos-profissionais-de-uma-unidade-de-saude-familiar/.

Cascales-Martínez, A., Gómez-Urquiza, J. L., Albendín-García, L., Gómez-Salgado, J., Vieira, C. E., Almeida, A., & Duarte, J. (2024). Differences in workplace violence and health variables among professionals in a hospital emergency department: A descriptive-comparative study. PLOS ONE, 19(12), e0314932. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314932

Chapa-Koloffon, G. D. C., Jean-Tron, M. G., Ávila-Hernández, A. V., Márquez-González, H., & Garduño-Espinosa, J. (2021). Frequency of acute stress disorder in health care workers of a tertiary level pediatric hospital during the National Safe Distance Strategy for COVID-19 prevention. Boletin medico del Hospital Infantil de Mexico, 78(1), 10–17. https://doi.org/10.24875/BMHIM.20000226

Chu, W. M., Lee, M. B., Lee, Y., Hsieh, C. J., Hu, S. F., Lu, W. H., & Guo, Y. L. (2023). Risk factors surrounding an increase in burnout and depression among health care professionals in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 24(2), 164–170.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2022.12.010

D'Ettorre, G., Pellicani, V., & Greco, M. (2020). Job stress and needlestick injuries in nurses: a retrospective observational study. Acta bio-medica: Atenei Parmensis, 91(2-S), 45–49. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v91i2-S.8824

Dorneles, A. J. A., Souza, L. M., Vargas, M. A., Vieira, R. W., & Wolff, L. D. G. (2020). Sociodemographic and occupational aspects associated with burnout in military nursing workers. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73(2), e20180350. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0350

Duarte, L. R., Camargo, L. C., & Soares, N. T. (2023). Violência no trabalho de profissionais de enfermagem na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Ocupacional, 48, e13. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-6369/25221pt2023v48e13

Faria, S., Oliveira, A., Silva, A., Monteiro, R., & Santos, R. (2019). Saúde mental dos enfermeiros: contributos do Burnout e engajamento no trabalho. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental, 22, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.19131/rpesm.0258

Galvão, T. F., Tiguman, G. M. B., & Sarkis-Onofre, R. (2022). The PRISMA 2020 statement in Portuguese: Updated recommendations for reporting systematic reviews. Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 31(2), e2022364. https://doi.org/10.1590/SS2237-9622202200011.

Gold, J. E., Punnett, L., & Gore, R. J. (2017). Predictors of low back pain in nursing home workers after implementation of a safe resident handling programme. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 74(6), 389–395. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2016-103930

Ishigami, B., Gurgel, A. M., Barros, J. M. S., Medeiros, K. R., Gurgel, I. G. D., & Souza, W. V. (2024). Ansiedade e depressão em trabalhadores de saúde de UTI Covid-19 em um hospital de referência. Saúde Em Debate, 48(141), e8850. https://doi.org/10.1590/2358-289820241418850P

Karino, M. E., Felli, V. E. A., Sarquis, L. M. M., Santana, L. L., Silva, S. R., & Teixeira, R. C. (2015). Cargas de trabalho e desgastes dos trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital-escola. Ciência, Cuidado e Saúde, 14(2), 1011 - 1018. https://doi.org/10.4025/ciencuidsaude.v14i2.21603

Kgakge, K., Chelule, P. K., Kahere, M., & Ginindza, T. G. (2024). Investigating the risk of patient manual handling using the movement and assistance of hospital patients method among hospital nurses in Botswana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 399. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040399

Kołcz, A., Bielecki, A., Cieślak, M., Sadłocha, M., Michnik, R., & Wróbel, A. (2020). Analysis of selected body composition parameters and ergonomic safety among professionally active nurses in Poland: a preliminary prospective monocentric and observational study. BioMed Research International, 2020, 9212587. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9212587

Kozak, A., Freitag, S., & Nienhaus, A. (2017). Evaluation of a training program to reduce stressful trunk postures in the nursing professions: a pilot study. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 61(1), 22–32. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxw002.

Liao, J. C., Ho, M. S., Tang, S. T., Chen, C. C., Lin, M. H., Lee, J. C., & Chou, Y. J. (2016). Physiotherapists working in clinics have increased risk for new-onset spine disorders a 12-year population-based study. Medicine, 95(32), e4405. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000004405.

Martí-Ejarque, M. M., López-Gómez, J., Pujol-Gimeno, E., Cantero-Martínez, J., Blázquez-Llorca, L., & Moya-Albiol, L. (2021). Occupational diseases and perceived health in operating room nurses: a multicenter cross-sectional observational study. Inquiry, 58, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580211060774.

Moreira, S., Ferreira, M. S., Criado, M. B., Machado, J., Mesquita, C., Lopes, S., & Santos, P. C. (2021). Occupational health: does compliance with physical activity recommendations have a preventive effect on musculoskeletal symptoms in computer workers? a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7604. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147604.

Nunes, V. V., Feitosa, L. G. G. C., Fernandes, M. A., Almeida, C. A. P. L., & Ramos, C. V. (2020). Primary care mental health: nurses’ activities in the psychosocial care network. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73, e20190104. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2019-0104

Pélissier, C., Varano, M., Moulin, M., Carcasset, P., & Fontana, L. (2024). Factors associated with anxiety disorders among healthcare workers (HCWS) involved in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work (Reading, Mass.), 79(3), 1079–1089. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-230428

Pereira, A. S. Shitsula, D. M., Parreira, F. J., Shitsuka, R. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [Free ebook]. Santa Maria. Editora da UFSM. Recuperado de https://repositorio.ufsm.br/bitstream/handle/1/15824/Lic_Computacao_Metodologia-Pesquisa-Cientifica.pdf.

Reis, M., Sousa, P., Faria, S., Silva, J., Santos, L., & Monteiro, R. (2022). Avaliação do risco biopsicossocial dos trabalhadores em ambiente hospitalar. Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Ocupacional, 14, e0361. https://doi.org/10.31252/rpso.22.10.2022

Ribeiro, R. P., Marziale, M. H. P., Martins, J. T., Galdino, M. J. Q., & Ribeiro, P. H. V. (2018). Estresse ocupacional entre trabalhadores de saúde de um hospital universitário. Revista Gaúcha de Enfermagem, 39, e65127. https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447.2018.65127

Rostamabadi, A., Zamanian, Z., & Sedaghat, Z. (2017). Factors associated with work ability index (WAI) among intensive care units’ (ICUs’) nurses. Journal of Occupational Health, 59(2), 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.16-0060-OA

Shahwan, B. S., D'emeh, W. M., & Yacoub, M. I. (2022). Evaluation of computer workstations ergonomics and its relationship with reported musculoskeletal and visual symptoms among university employees in Jordan. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 35(2), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01822

Shitsuka, R., Shitsuka, R. I., Shitsuka, D. M. Shitsuka, C. D. W. M. (2014). Matemática fundamental para tecnologia. (2ed). Editora Érica.

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, Elsevier. 104(C), 333-9. Doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039.

Singh, J. (2013). Critical appraisal skills programme. Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 4(1), 76–77. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.4103/0976-500X.107697

Sousa, R. M., Ribeiro, A. C., & Valim, M. D. (2023). Síndrome de Burnout, presenteísmo e perda de produtividade em trabalhadores de enfermagem. Revista de Enfermagem Referência, serVI(2), e22112. https://doi.org/10.12707/rvi22112

Yokota, J., Fukuda, Y., Watai, I., & Ishida, S. (2019). Association of low back pain with presenteeism in hospital nursing staff. Journal of Occupational Health, 61(3), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1002/1348-9585.12030.

Published

2025-12-17

Issue

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

Occupational diseases and coping strategies: An integrative literature review. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 14, n. 12, p. e126141250371, 2025. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v14i12.50371. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/rsd/article/view/50371. Acesso em: 2 jan. 2026.