title: Burnout syndrome and weekly workload of on-call physicians: cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Burnout syndrome (BS) is characterized by three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal fulfillment. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a possible association between BS and weekly workload, and to describe the prevalence of BS and the sociodemographic and occupational profile of on-call physicians in Maceió.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in intensive care units (ICU) at public and private hospitals in Maceió.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered form was used to evaluate sociodemographic characteristics and BS through the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) among 67 on-call physicians at ICUs in Maceió. Pearson's R correlation test was used to compare workload and emotional exhaustion. For other dimensions, Spearman's S test was used (P < 0.05). Other variables were represented by simple frequencies. The 95% confidence interval was calculated for each variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the physicians studied, 55.22% were female and the mean age was 43.9 ± 8.95 years. The mean weekly workload on call was 43.85 ± 24.49 hours. The frequency of high scores in at least one of the three dimensions of MBI was 70.14%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the high prevalence of BS, especially among physicians who did not practice regular physical activity, our data did not indicate any significant correlation between weekly workload and any of the three dimensions of BS in this sample. The high prevalence of BS draws attention to the importance of investigating other possible causes, in order to prevent and adequately treat it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Surgery and Anesthesiology, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiano Timbó
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Bruna Acioly
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Leão
authors.forename: Gisélia Maria Sales
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: João Gustavo Rocha Peixoto dos
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039602:After-Hours Care; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*