O Impacto da Inteligência Emocional na Prevenção do Burnout nos Profissionais de Cuidados Paliativos- uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Context: Healthcare professionals must provide comprehensive support to terminally ill patients, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Emotional intelligence (EI) is essential to ensure high-quality care and prevent Burnout Syndrome among healthcare professionals, so multidisciplinary teams involved in Palliative Care (PC) need to develop transversal skills. Objectives: To carry out a systematic review of the literature to assess the role of emotional intelligence as a crucial skill in preventing Burnout Syndrome among healthcare professionals in palliative care. Method: The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Moher, 2009) with the aim of answering the PICO question: Can the application and development of emotional intelligence in healthcare professionals working in palliative care reduce the incidence of Burnout Syndrome and improve clinical practice and the well-being of these professionals? The research was conducted between March and April 2024, covering publications from 2014 to 2024. Of the total of 1103 articles found, 9 met the inclusion criteria and were considered in this review. Results: Analysis of the articles revealed that emotional intelligence is associated with greater emotional resilience and a lower incidence of burnout among palliative care professionals. Strategies such as the development of self-care skills, emotional regulation and social support emerged as fundamental to the sustainability of work in Palliative Care. Conclusion: Despite the methodological diversity of the studies, there is consensus on the importance of emotional intelligence as an essential tool for preventing burnout in palliative care professionals, promoting not only the mental health of professionals, but also the quality of care provided to patients. Keywords: Palliative Care, Emotional Intelligence, Burnout Syndrome, Health Professionals.