title: BURNOUT SYNDROM AMONG PUBLIC AMBULANCE STAFF.
abstract: Healthcare professionals are frequently confronted with urgent situations and a high-risk human intervention. They are usually exposed to what is called burnout syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the effects of burnout syndrome on the professional conduct and attitudes of doctors and nurses who work in the Romanian public ambulance service. Secondary, the causal relationships between burnout and various socio-demographic variables were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS- 20), Maslach Burnout Inventory and Job Satisfaction Questionnaire were administered to 122 ambulance doctors, nurses and drivers (62 females and 60 males).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of job satisfaction is the most important indicator of burnout syndrome. Significant differences were found between low and high alexithymic subjects. Women are more susceptible to experience higher levels of burnout than men. The level of burnout is influenced by the combined effect of job satisfaction and alexithymia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burnout syndrome is a common problem among people working in the emergency medical system. The causes of job-related burnout have to be identified in order to apply an appropriate level of burnout intervention program and to increase the efficiency of coping strategies.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iorga
authors.forename: Neonila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dascalu
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soponaru
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ioan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires