INTRODUCTION: There is currently a deficiency of physicians in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). The cause of this deficit is multifactorial, although the burnout phenomenon has been described as relevant. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the situation of human resource in the pediatric intensive care units in Argentina and measure the level of burnout. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study through surveys administered electronically; the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used. Physicians that work at public o private pediatric intensive care units in Argentina during at least 24 hours per week were invited to participate. RESULTS: A total of 162 surveys were completed (response rate 60%). We observed a high risk of burnout in emotional exhaustion in 40 therapists (25%), in fulfillment in 9 (6%), and depersonalization in 31 (19%). In combination, 66 professionals (41%) had a high risk of burnout to some extent; there were independent protective factors of this risk as to be certified in the specialty (ORA 0.38, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.75) and work in public sector PICU (ORA 0.31, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.65), while working more than 36 hours/week on duty increased the risk (ORA 1.94, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.85). Additionally, 31% said that they did not plan to continue working in intensive care, and 86% did not think to continue with on call duties in the following years. Over 60% of respondents reported that changes in professional practice (salary, staff positions, early retirement, fewer loads on call) could prolong the expectation of continuing activities in PICU. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of doctors working in the PICU of Argentina have a high risk of burnout syndrome and a low expectation of continuing in the field.
INTRODUCTION: There is currently a deficiency of physicians in pediatric intensive care units (PICU). The cause of this deficit is multifactorial, although the burnout phenomenon has been described as relevant. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the situation of human resource in the pediatric intensive care units in Argentina and measure the level of burnout. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study through surveys administered electronically; the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used. Physicians that work at public o private pediatric intensive care units in Argentina during at least 24 hours per week were invited to participate. RESULTS: A total of 162 surveys were completed (response rate 60%). We observed a high risk of burnout in emotional exhaustion in 40 therapists (25%), in fulfillment in 9 (6%), and depersonalization in 31 (19%). In combination, 66 professionals (41%) had a high risk of burnout to some extent; there were independent protective factors of this risk as to be certified in the specialty (ORA 0.38, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.75) and work in public sector PICU (ORA 0.31, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.65), while working more than 36 hours/week on duty increased the risk (ORA 1.94, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.85). Additionally, 31% said that they did not plan to continue working in intensive care, and 86% did not think to continue with on call duties in the following years. Over 60% of respondents reported that changes in professional practice (salary, staff positions, early retirement, fewer loads on call) could prolong the expectation of continuing activities in PICU. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of doctors working in the PICU of Argentina have a high risk of burnout syndrome and a low expectation of continuing in the field.
Authors: Ricardo Castro; Nicolas Nin; Fernando Ríos; Leyla Alegría; Elisa Estenssoro; Gastón Murias; Gilberto Friedman; Manuel Jibaja; Gustavo Ospina-Tascon; Javier Hurtado; María Del Carmen Marín; Flavia R Machado; Alexandre Biasi Cavalcanti; Arnaldo Dubin; Luciano Azevedo; Maurizio Cecconi; Jan Bakker; Glenn Hernandez Journal: Crit Care Date: 2018-02-21 Impact factor: 9.097
Authors: Margo M C van Mol; Erwin J O Kompanje; Dominique D Benoit; Jan Bakker; Marjan D Nijkamp Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-08-31 Impact factor: 3.240