Psychological rehabilitation of medical workers with emotional burnout syndrome

Abstract

Introduction. Health preservation for public health care workers, by means of psycho-rehabilitation programs managing stress in medical establishments, is a topical medical, psychologic and economic task.Objective. To study levels of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal achievements reduction as psychologic burnout factors in workers of primary health care, depending on position and educational level, with specification of psychologic rehabilitation program and evaluation of its efficiency.Materials and methods. The study covered 137 female medical workers of outpatient departments in Moscow, with emotional burnout syndrome and length of service at least 5 years. Emotional burnout syndrome was assessed via a questionnaire «Occupational burnout» including 3 scales: «Emotional exhaustion» (1), «Depersonalization» (2) and «Personal achievements reduction» (3). 3 groups of the examinees were identified: group 1 — senior officers (15), group 2 — doctors (40), group 3 — nurses and paramedical personnel (82). All the examinees underwent 8 weeks of psychologic rehabilitation based on training of stress-resistance, personality development and relaxation methods.Results. Groups 1 and 2 demonstrated medium (scales 1 and 3) and high (scale 2) levels of emotional burnout syndrome, and the group 3 presented medium (scale 3) and low (scales 1 and 2) levels. All the groups responded positively on psychologic rehabilitation that decreased emotional exhaustion, increased responsibility for daily duties, improved and stabilized self-esteem.Conclusions. Manifestations of emotional burnout syndrome depend on peculiarities of medical workers’ occupational activities, position and educational level. Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are more marked in senior officers and in doctors, than in nurses and paramedical personnel. Self-evaluation of occupational competence and activities is the same among all categoriesof the medical workers. psychologic rehabilitation enables to decrease symptoms of emotional burnout syndrome and is an important component of programs preserving working potential of medical establishments.