Prevalence of burnout syndrome in employees of institutions of the health sector

Abstract

The syndrome of burnout was identified by Freudenberger in 1974, as a condition of fatigue or frustration that takes place for the dedication to a reason, it forms of life or relation that does not produce the awaited effort. The Burnout is characterized by emotional weariness, despersonalization and decrease or loss of the feeling of personal accomplishment. This problem derived from the stress, appears frequently in professionals of the health and there is propitiated by diverse factors organizationales, which prevents the development of a labor harmonic environment and a suitable communication in the different hierarchic levels. The aim of this study consisted of determining the degree of prevalencia of the syndrome of burnout in the personnel of infirmary and social work of the General Pachuca Hospital, as well as the determination of some factors predictores. The inventory was in use for measuring the syndrome of burnout of Maslach which was applied to 227 nurses and 25 social workers. The principal results indicate a positive and significant correlation with the schedule of labors and with the number of patients who attend. Likewise, significant associations were identified by variables since it is the age and the marital status of the workers, which showed to have a negative correlation with regard to the dimensions of the syndrome of burnout. Finally there exists the need to realize interventions directed to reducing and eliminating the presence of the syndrome of burnout in this type of personnel. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.