Burnout among nursing professionals in hospitals in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The evaluation of Burnout syndrome among nursing professionals becomes fundamental given its influence on the outcomes for patients, professionals and institutions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Burnout among nursing professionals in three public hospitals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 452 nursing professionals from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A personal and professional information form and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (Human Services Survey) were used. Results: Most participants showed low levels of emotional exhaustion (38.94%), depersonalization (45.80%) and reduced personal accomplishment (39.16%). The variables age (p = 0.010), hospital (p < 0.001), professional bond type (p < 0.001), time spent in hospital (p = 0.010) and in the department (p = 0.017) were related to emotional exhaustion. Gender (p = 0.013) and time spent in hospital (p =0,007) and the department (p = 0,020) were related to depersonalization. Personal accomplishment was better among professionals working on a certified hospital (p<0.001), during the day shift (p = 0.049), who had a fixed position (p<0.001) and who were older (p = 0.023). Discussion: Emotional exhaustion was characterized as fundamental for Burnout to arise among nursing professionals and depersonalization frequently coincide with emotional exhaustion. The exact definition of the participation of each individual in the outcome of care is difficult to delimit as it might influence the perception of professionals regarding personal accomplishment in work. Conclusions: Personal and professional characteristics were associated with Burnout among nursing professionals. It is important to promote actions that can reduce the incidence of Burnout among nursing professionals.