PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS AND BURNOUT SYNDROME AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS

Objective: exposure to physchosocial factors in the workplace, such as psychological demands, task control and social support are related to stress and have an impact on mental health. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of the burnout syndrome in a group of hospital workers in the city of Santiago de Chile and the possible association between those psychosocial factors and the syndrome. Design: Transversal type of study. Sample: random, with cases selected by convenience (n = 416). Instruments: Psychic Effects Burnout Scale (EPB), Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), ISTAS 21 Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace. Method: k-media conglomerates and a logistic regression model were used to estimate Burnout prevalence. Results: prevalence of workers with burnout was 25% and it was significantly related to higher levels of psychological demand, plus an interaction between social support and task control. Conclusions: Burnout syndrome is associated to the three psychosocial factors of the demand-control-support model.