Psychosocial risk and burnout in nurses: Analysis in a hospital in southern Bolivar, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: The evolution of the study of burnout syndrome has allowed for the establishment of its presence and the differences with other diagnoses at the level of occupational psychosocial risks. The labor organization is related to the high expectations and work capacities demanded of the working population.

Objective: To establish the prevalence level of burnout syndrome in nurses and nursing assistants at a local hospital in Bolívar, Colombia.

Methods: Descriptive study. The sociodemographic variables of 136 caregiving nurses were identified, to whom the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory and a Likert scale with seven response options were applied, covering its three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, Personal Accomplishment.

Results: Eleven positive cases of burnout syndrome were detected, representing 8% of the sample. Low scores were recorded in Personal Accomplishment. The mean age of the participants was 36.33 years. The most revealing finding of the study is how caring for others at home directly impacts the mental health of the employee. With a correlation of 0.382, the highest detected, it is clear that family responsibilities act as an additional burden that adds to work stress, cumulatively accelerating emotional exhaustion.

Conclusion: The prevalence of the syndrome was 8.10% in this study. The existence of emotional exhaustion in workers who also share the role of family caregiver is confirmed (rs = 0.382), confirming in this case that burnout transcends the workplace and impacts family life.