BURNOUT IN INTENSIVE CARE PROFESSIONALS: A PRE AND POST-PANDEMIC LOOK

Abstract

Introduction: Feeling of exhaustion, cynicism or negative feelings related to work and reduced professional efficacy are the characterizations of burnout syndrome, which has a high prevalence among health professionals, being even more susceptible to professionals who have a more exhausting work routine in an ICU environment. Discussion: Burnout in the medical class is shown in ascendancy, and studies indicate that the risk and clinical presentations of the syndrome vary according to the specialty and conditions to which the professional is exposed, such as workload, emotional aspects of the patient and family, mortality rates, among others. Therefore, intensive care medicine received special prominence in the presence of emotional and physical exhaustion, a fact that was greatly aggravated at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several characteristics were influenced in mental exhaustion, psychological imbalance and professional frustration in relation to the intensive physician, including female professionals, with a higher prevalence than males. It was found that there are numerous repercussions both for the quality of life of the professional, as emotional lability and susceptibility to other diseases, as well as damage to medical care, a consequence of the professional's exhaustion. Conclusion: Taking into account all the negative repercussions of Burnout, it is highlighted that prolonged stress that culminates in exhaustion is a process that can be avoided, from the dissemination and knowledge of the syndrome.