Burnout among Physicians Working in Palliative Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study

José Vítor Gonçalves; Luísa Castro; Rui Nunes; Guilhermina Rêgo

doi:10.20344/amp.18361

Autores

José Vítor Gonçalves Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department. Vila Nova de Gaia / Espinho Hospital Centre. Vila Nova de Gaia. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0974-4204
Luísa Castro Health Information and Decision Sciences Department - MEDCIDS. Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto.School of Health. Polytechnic of Porto. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1312-0154
Rui Nunes Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1377-9899
Guilhermina Rêgo Faculty of Medicine. University of Porto. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8590-9832

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.18361

Palavras-chave:

COVID-19, Cuidados Paliativos, Esgotamento Profissional, Esgotamento Psicológico, Médicos, Portugal

Resumo

Introdução: Os médicos que trabalham em cuidados paliativos apresentam um risco mais elevado de burnout. Esta perturbação psicológica carateriza-se por três dimensões – exaustão emocional, despersonalização e redução da realização pessoal – e está associada a diversas consequências para os profissionais como a diminuição da satisfação profissional ou o aumento dos níveis de exaustão. Ao afetar os profissionais de saúde, o burnout tem também impacto nos utentes, visto causar um aumento da probabilidade de erros clínicos. Com vista a monitorizar a qualidade dos cuidados prestados é fundamental monitorizar os níveis de burnout. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de determinar os níveis de burnout e varíaveis associadas dos médicos que trabalham na Rede Nacional de Cuidados Paliativos em Portugal.
Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal, exploratório e quantitativo com amostragem por conveniência e bola de neve. Foi utilizado o questionário Copenhagen Burnout Inventory para determinar os níveis de burnout de médicos que exercem funções na Rede Nacional de Cuidados Paliativos. As contribuições das varíaveis pessoais, laborais e decorrentes da pandemia de COVID-19 foram analisadas segundo três subclasses: burnout pessoal, burnout relacionado com a atividade profissional e burnout relacionado com o utente. Os resultados obtidos permitiram identificar profissionais em risco, fazer uma comparação com resultados prévios na literatura e determinar o impacto da COVID-19 na atividade assistencial não relacionada com COVID-19.
Resultados: Setenta e cinco médicos participaram neste estudo. Foi realizada a caraterização socio-demográfica e determinados os níveis de burnout e variáveis associadas. Níveis elevados de burnout pessoal, relacionados com a atividade profissional e para com o utente estavam presentes, respetivamente, em 32 (43%), 39 (52%) e 16 (21%) dos participantes. A maioria considerou que a COVID-19 teve um impacto na sua atividade clínica. A dedicação exclusiva em cuidados paliativos e o tipo de unidade de cuidados paliativos estavam associados a menor nível de burnout relacionado com atividade profissional e para com o utente. A autopercepção de saúde estava associada a menores níveis de burnout em todas as subclasses.
Conclusão: Foi observado um elevado nível de burnout nos médicos que trabalham na Rede Nacional de Cuidados Paliativos. São necessárias medidas para identificar e prevenir o burnout nestes profissionais,com vista à sua proteção.

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