Impact of Burnout Syndrome on the significant occupations of health professionals

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout Syndrome (BS) is an emotional disorder caused by chronic stress at work, characterized by exhaustion, demotivation and decreased performance. It especially affects professionals exposed to high emotional demands, such as those in health and education. This study aimed to present the repercussions of BS in the significant occupations of health professionals. Methods: This is a narrative review of the literature. The searches were carried out by accessing national Occupational Therapy journals for articles related to the subject from the last five years. Results: The main findings indicate that BS is associated with impairments in occupational performance, due to the impairment of physical and mental health. It is observed that high work demands, associated with low autonomy, increase the risk of developing the syndrome. When the subject is unable to express the feelings generated by suffering at work, he ends up suppressing them, which leads to the process of "burnout". Conclusion: BS is associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders, negatively affecting quality of life. The lack of studies on its impacts on significant occupations is also noteworthy, reinforcing the need for new research and prevention strategies.