Prevalence of Burnout at the Roberto del Rio Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout is a psycho-emotional syndrome which presents in individuals whose work involves the attention and care of others. Key manifestations are an intense feeling of emotional tiredness, despersonalization and a trend to underestimate one´s own work.

Objective: To study the prevalence of this disease at the Roberto del Rio Hospital and to provide some epidemiological variables of risk.

Method: A sample of 250 profesionals were studied using a Burnout Syndrome questionaire, completed by the subjects between May and September 2002. Descriptive statistics were used and comparison of percentages using the Ji square test.

Results: 98% completed the questionaire, 69% of those evaluated were at risk of developing the burnout syndrome.

Conslusions: It is important to consider and evaluate the existence of this syndrome in health care workers.