Abstract

MANGAS, Mariana Duarte; FERNANDES, Catarina Pedro  and  CARDOSO, Ana Beatriz. Burnout among health professionals during COVID-19 pandemic: how to prevent and treat it?. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2022, vol.38, n.2, pp.226-230.  Epub Apr 30, 2022. ISSN 2182-5173.  https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v38i2.13274.

The current pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing weaknesses of the National Health System, where burnout among its professionals was already a reality. Burnout is considered a work-related syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low levels of personal achievement. There are contributing factors to burnout, but excessive work overload is cited as one of the factors most associated with burnout among health professionals. This syndrome leads to a reduction in professional performance, with a greater probability of error, higher rates of absenteeism, less commitment to work, lower job satisfaction, increased use of alcohol and drugs, physical exhaustion, and marital and family problems. Several studies point to considerable percentages of healthcare professionals who reported high levels of burnout symptoms during the pandemic period. It is, therefore, imperative to address prevention and treatment strategies, which consist of interventions aimed at physicians and organizational/structural interventions, focusing on the work environment. The implementation of effective interventions to prevent and manage burnout in healthcare professionals will contribute to the development of healthier professionals, capable of better clinical results, with fewer errors and financial burden, leading to the more efficient functioning of the healthcare sector, even if in the context of crisis.

Keywords : Burnout; Health professionals; Pandemic; COVID-19; Prevention.

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