Síndrome de burnout: consequências e implicações de uma realidade cada vez mais prevalente na vida dos profissionais de saúde

Abstract

ABSTRACT | Context: Burnout Syndrome (BS) is a prolonged response to chronic stress at work. Health professionals are more prone to develop this syndrome, as they frequently handle intense emotions, excessive workloads, and stressful situations. Objective: To describe the consequences and implications of the BS among health professionals, owing to its increased prevalence and inci dence. Methods: A systematic literature review of 2005–2015 publications was carried out using databases MeDline, lilACS, and ScielO. The following descriptors were retrieved from MeSH and DeCS in Portuguese, english, and Spanish languages: “burnout,” “consequences,” “health professionals,” “psychological stress,” and “physicians,” totaling 27 articles. The inclusion criteria were articles focused on the consequences of BS and the exclusion criteria were articles which investigated other psychological and/or psychiatric disorders among health professionals. Results: The BS was reported by 40 to 60% of health professionals assessed. This syndrome led to emotional exhaustion, poor performance, and depersonalization, and caused secondary effects to the professional and social environment. Conclusion: Owing to its high impact, and despite the scarce data on its prevalence, the BS has become a public health issue in several countries, including Brazil. BS early and precise diagnosis and detailed prevalence estimates are necessary to avoid, minimize, or solve the syndrome consequences.