Burnout syndrome among intensive care unit physicians

Abstract

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of burnout syndrome (SB) and associated factors among attending physicians of intensive care units (ICUs) of São Luís-MA. Methods: Participants included 60 physicians on 6 MTIs from the metropolitan area of São Luís-MA investigated in September to December of 2012, using a self-administered questionnaire developed by the authors, covering sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, stressors and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Descriptive statistics and analysis of factors associated with SB through the Chi-square test and Prevalence Ratio. Results: Most are women (n = 38), between 30-39 years, formed 10 years ago or less, operating for five years or less in the ICU, in two hospitals, caring for six to ten patients/duty and high workload. The main stress factors were excessive noise and possibility of complications in attendance. The prevalence of burnout with a high score (scores greater than or equal to 27 in emotional exhaustion and 13 in depersonalization and less than 31 in reducing professional achievement) in one of the three dimensions was 50%, high scores in all three dimensions was 13.3%, and high levels in the dimensions analyzed separately in 35% of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization 6.7% in and 25% reduction in job satisfaction. Conclusions: The prevalence of burnout syndrome was high, being more common in women, in the adult ICU, work in more than two hospitals and attend more than ten patients per shift.