Vulnerability to burnout among physicians at a public hospital in Recife

Abstract

This study identified factors associated with burnout among physicians at a public hospital in Recife, Brazil. A self-administered questionnaire (socio-demographic characteristics, working conditions and Maslach Burnout Inventory) was completed by 158 physicians (92.4%). Burnout was defined by a superposition of high scores in emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) and low scores on personal accomplishment at work (PA). Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used in the analysis and 5.1% had burnout. Female physicians were predominant in the sample (83.5%) especially those for longer than ten years in the profession (81.6%). High levels were found in EE (61.4%) and DP (36.7%) and low levels in PA (13.3%). There was an association between: high EE and "often/always" working very fast and "never/rarely" having enough time for tasks; high level of DP and working ten years in the profession and "often/ always" doing tasks very fast; low level of PA and being female and "never/rarely" having enough time for tasks. Burnout and "often/always" working very quickly, "never/sometimes" having enough time for tasks, being male and having no expectation of professional growth. For 37.3%, two of the three dimensions indicate a high propensity to burnout, making transformation in working conditions a priority.