Burnout syndrome: are stroke neurologists at a higher risk?

ABSTRACT Background: Burnout syndrome is a work-related psychological response, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low professional accomplishment. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome in neurologists in the State of Paraná, Brazil, dividing them into stroke neurologists and non-stroke neurologists. Methods: We performed a crosssectional observational study, with a quantitative approach, based on the online Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey questionnaire. Results: A total of 74 neurologists were evaluated, 44.6% of whom had burnout syndrome, predominantly among females and stroke neurologists. Both the stroke neurologist and non-stroke neurologist groups had medium degrees of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization; however, while stroke neurologists had high professional accomplishment, non-stroke neurologists had mean-to-low scores of professional accomplishment. There was a proportional relationship between age and emotional exhaustion. Female neurologists also reported lower professional accomplishment levels. Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent among the neurologists of Paraná, corroborating the results previously reported in other studies. There seems to be no significant difference between those neurologists who work in the emergency stroke care setting compared with those who don't.

摘要
背景：职业倦怠综合征（Burnout syndrome）是一种与工作相关的心理反应，以情绪衰竭、去人格化及职业成就感低下为核心特征。
目的：本研究旨在评估巴西巴拉那州神经内科医师的职业倦怠综合征患病率，并将研究对象划分为卒中神经内科医师与非卒中神经内科医师两组开展分析。
方法：本研究为采用定量研究方法的横断面观察性研究，依托线上版马氏职业倦怠量表-人文服务调查（Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey）问卷完成数据采集。
结果：本次研究共评估74名神经内科医师，其中44.6%存在职业倦怠综合征，该现象在女性医师及卒中神经内科医师群体中更为高发。卒中神经内科医师组与非卒中神经内科医师组均表现出中等程度的情绪衰竭与去人格化症状；但卒中神经内科医师的职业成就感评分较高，而非卒中神经内科医师的职业成就感评分处于中等至偏低水平。年龄与情绪衰竭程度呈正相关关系，女性神经内科医师的职业成就感评分同样更低。
结论：巴拉那州神经内科医师群体中职业倦怠综合征患病率较高，该结果与既往其他相关研究的结论一致。从事急诊卒中诊疗工作的神经内科医师与未从事该类工作的神经内科医师之间，职业倦怠相关指标并无显著差异。