Burnout syndrome in Primary Health Care

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• The labor situation is crucial for social well-being, yet it can induce significant psychic changes in workers.
• Primary Health Care (PHC) workers face constant exposure to psychosocial risks and workplace instabilities.
• Understanding the mental health impact on PHC workers is vital for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of burnout syndrome among PHC workers in São Paulo.
• To investigate associations between burnout syndrome and sociodemographic/labor data in this population.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory, cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted with 74 PHC workers.
• Data collection involved sociodemographic/labor characterization and the validated Oldenburg Burnout Inventory.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• Burnout syndrome was present in 44.6% of participants.
• Other conditions observed included distance (18.9%) and exhaustion (16.2%).
• A statistically significant association was found between burnout syndrome and the unit of work (p < 0.014).

Conclusions:

• The high prevalence of burnout syndrome underscores the vulnerability of PHC workers.
• Identifying risk factors like the unit of work is essential for targeted mental health strategies.
• Intervention actions in PHC environments are necessary to mitigate burnout and support worker well-being.