Síndrome de burnout em profissionais de saúde durante a pandemia de COVID-19: dos fatores de risco às estratégias de intervenção

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Burnout Syndrome on healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to understand how the pandemic intensifies Burnout Syndrome, identify risk and protective factors, and explore management and prevention strategies. The findings will contribute to filling gaps in the mental healthcare of healthcare professionals in both the current and future pandemic contexts. A bibliographic search was conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed) database. Only articles that met the following criteria were analyzed: written in English or Portuguese and freely accessible in full text. A total of 52 articles were included, covering the period from January 2020 to February 2023. The articles examined were deemed relevant for addressing the impact of burnout on the mental health of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as preventive and treatment measures for burnout in these professionals. Additionally, the reference lists of the selected articles were also analyzed. The results of the studies in this review indicate that combating burnout in healthcare professionals requires a comprehensive approach, addressing individual, social/interpersonal, and organizational levels. Effective strategies include the use of mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, social activities, recognition, emotional support, and the promotion of a healthy work environment. Emerging interventions, such as online mindfulness training and the use of mobile applications, have also shown promising results. However, studies on specific interventions have limitations in generalization. In addition to individual approaches, it is essential to implement occupational well-being initiatives and training programs, although the long-term effects may be inconsistent, highlighting the importance of continuous support in medical education. Keywords: Burnout syndrome, healthcare professionals, COVID-19, intervention strategies.