Burnout, communication skills and self-efficacy in emergency and critical care health professionals

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the level and relationship between communication skills, perceived self-efficacy and Burnout syndrome in health professionals from the hospital emergency department and the critical care unit of a regional hospital. Method: An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 90 health professionals from a Regional Hospital, 19 physicians (21.1%), 47 nurses (52.2%), 24 nursing aides (26.7%). The Communication Skills Scale for Health Professionals, the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey and the Scale of Perceived Self-Efficacy were utilized. Results: A negative correlation was obtained between the different dimensions of the Communication Skills Scale for Health Professionals, the personal accomplishment at work of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the perceived self-efficacy with the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. On the other hand, a positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between the dimensions of communication skills with the personal accomplishment dimension in the Maslach Burnout Inventory work and the perceived self-efficacy. Conclusions: The communication skills and the perceived self-efficacy of the health professionals in the emergency department and critical care unit are related to less emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and greater personal accomplishment at work.