Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in a Center for Academic-Public SurgeryAssistance in Chile

Abstract

Aim: To assess the degree of emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment and depersonalization in the work of physicians of the Hospital Hernán Henríquez Aravena surgery service and department of surgery of the Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.

Material and Method: Cross-sectional study. 19 medical interns, 11 surgical residents and 15 surgeons of Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital and surgery department of Universidad de La Frontera were included. Applied instrument: MBI questionnaire in its adaptation of the Spanish population. Calculation of measures of central tendency and percentage, as well as comparison of variables through t Student and values of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were performed.

Results: Regarding the MBI scale, the overall prevalence of the syndrome was 64.4%, whereas, by dimensions, emotional exhaustion showed a prevalence of 76%; Low personal accomplishment at work, 55%, and depersonalization 62%. Statistically significant differences were found in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization according to socio-demographic variables: men and women, single and married, subjects without children and with children, whether or not they take emergency room shifts, obtaining higher levels in women, unmarried, subjects without children and those who take emergency shifts.

Conclusions: It is accepted that the central triggering factor is the high emotional exhaustion that gradually leads to a state of emotional and cognitive distancing in their daily activities, with the consequent inability to respond to demands of the service. In this distancing occurs depersonalization, indifference and cynical attitudes toward responsibilities or towards people. Therefore, measures should be taken to try to reduce the prevalence of this syndrome in our medical interns and residents, mainly.