Abstract

RIVERI BELL, Reyna María et al. Burnout syndrome in the nursing personnel of the Polyvalent Therapy Service of "Saturnino Lora" Hospital. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2008, vol.24, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-2961.

Objetive: to measure the degree of occupational stress to which the nursing personnel working at the Polyvalent Therapy Service of "Saturnino Lora" Hospital of Santiago de Cuba is subjected. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Polyvalent Therapy Service of "Saturnino Lora" Hospital in the province of Santiago de Cuba, from February to March, 2006. Of a group of 62 nurses, the 59 that were working at the moment of collecting the information were taken as a sample. They gave their consent to take part in the research and they were applied a survey of working satisfaction proposed by Maslach (1982) and an instrument designed by the authors, which was validated and included general and professional considerations on some aspects that may influence on the Burnout. Percentage was used as an outcome measure. The data were processed in doble- entry tables. Results: females prevailed in this study. The oldest group was 31-35. Most of them were married and they had one or two children. The highest per cent was satisfied with their jobs and they felt the recognition of their chiefs for their work. No marked differences were found among those who considered that the working hours influenced on stress. Only 5.1 % would wish to work in other services, and most of them had done it. It was proved that the personnel working in this service at that moment was not affected by the Burnout syndrome. Conclusions: on measuring by interpreting the levels of stress of Maslach's scale, the high level was more significant in the personnel that had been working for more than 11 years in this service, which made us maintain the control of the aspects influencing on stress and on the Burnout and give some recommendations to the heads of the service.

Keywords : Burnout syndrome; occupational stress; nursing; intensive therapy.