Prevalence of symptoms of burnout syndrome in primary health care professionals

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout syndrome results from a response to chronic work stress and is responsible for causing symptoms related to three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, reflecting work overload; depersonalization, characterized by professional detachment and cynicism; and reduced professional accomplishment, related to low productivity at work. Burnout is often associated with jobs that require professionals to have direct contact with users, such as health professionals. Primary Health Care is the assistance level that greatest contact with the community and requires teamwork, thus exposing workers to potential psychosocial stressors. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of symptoms of burnout syndrome among Primary Health Care professionals in Toledo, state of Paraná, Brazil. Methods: This was a descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Human Services Survey, were used to assess the outcomes. Results: The prevalence of high risk for the development of burnout syndrome was 10.6%, and, when dimensions were evaluated separately, it was found that 29.8, 52.1 and 22.3% of participants showed a high level of symptoms in the dimensions emotional exhaustion, reduced professional accomplishment, and depersonalization, respectively. Previous use of psychiatric medication due to another condition had a significant correlation with high risk for burnout. Conclusions: The results of this research corroborated other similar studies, contributing to knowledge on the subject in a region of the state of Paraná where there was still no research on the syndrome.