Evolución del síndrome de desgaste profesional en médicos de familia: Estudio longitudinal a los 5 años

INTRODUCTION. The aim of the current study was to analyze the evolution of the burnout syndrome in a group of family doctors throughout five years. MATERIAL AND METHODS. A descriptive and longitudinal study was conducted in Barcelona and the north region of the province. Two samples with a total of 100 doctors were obtained from a study published in 2000. The first sample was formed by physicians with high scores of burnout (PAB). The second one was formed by physicians who were two standard deviations below the median low score in burnout (PBB). We obtained data from a questionnaire of socio-demographic information and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). RESULTS. The levels of professional burnout in family doctors have increased globally in the last five years. Although the PAB group improved in emotional exhaustion (p = 0.034), depersonalization (p = 0.035) and personal accomplishment (p = 0,004), they continued to have criteria of PBS (professional burnout syndrome). On the contrary, the PBB group significantly increased their emotional exhaustion levels (p = 0.000) and depersonalization (p = 0.000). Specific education in burnout management techniques tends to maintain the scores in PBB subgroup (F = 4.415; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION. Burnout levels in family doctors have increased in the last five years and have affected negatively physicians who were not affected previously. In those already affected, the evolution tends to obtain a certain stability at high scores.