BURNOUT IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS: AN ANALYSIS IN PANDEMIC TIMES

Abstract

Several studies on Burnout Syndrome have demonstrated its great impact on the labour market, namely in absenteeism, in the intention to leave the position and in the actual departure from the workplace. Other studies have proved that the health sector is one of the sectors most affected by this syndrome. For this reason, it is important to assess the situation of Occupational Therapists in Portugal in relation to Burnout Syndrome, in the context of a pandemic. With this objective in mind, a quantitative study was carried out. As a data collection instrument, the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Service Survey in Portuguese was used. As for the results, the majority of the subjects in the sample (69.28% - 239 subjects) did not reveal burnout in any of the three dimensions of the scale. On the other hand, significant differences were detected in the emotional exhaustion dimension between those who were absent in the last six months and those who did not, revealing those who were absent more emotional exhaustion. It was also revealed the existence of significant differences - for the worse - in all dimensions of burnout in those who thought about changing their profession or organization in the last month compared to those who did not think about it. Finally, it revealed significant differences - also for the worse - (i) in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions in those who thought about changing their profession in the last six months compared to those who did not think about it and (ii) in the emotional exhaustion and low personal fulfilment dimensions in those who thought of changing organizations in the last six months compared to those who did not think of doing so.