Papel do distresse moral na síndrome de Burnout em uma unidade de cuidados paliativos do Distrito Federal

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals face stressful situations daily, especially in palliative care settings, where they are more exposed to ethical dilemmas due to close contact with patients with life-threatening illnesses. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the frequency of Moral Distress and its association with Burnout Syndrome among healthcare professionals working in the Palliative Care service at the Hospital de Apoio de Brasília, affiliated with the Health Department of the Federal District. METHODS: Between June and November 2024, a questionnaire was applied collecting sociodemographic data, the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals – Brazilian version (MMD-HP BR) and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) scales. RESULTS: A total of 100 professionals were included, with a mean age of 39.79 ± 10.23 years. The majority were female (82%), physicians (24%), public service workers (71%), had no palliative care formation (79%) and had worked at the institution for less than 11 years (75%). The MMD-HP BR scale scores ranged from 0 to 309 (median = 98), while the OLBI scale scores ranged from 36 to 65 (median = 49). Burnout was found to be associated with age (Coefficient β = -0.11, p = 0.02) and with the intention to leave the job (Coefficient β = 2.81, p = 0.01); however, there was no statistically significant association between Burnout and Moral Distress. CONCLUSION: There was no association between Moral Distress and Burnout in our study. This may be due to the interdisciplinary nature of palliative care in the studied population, which could help mitigate this impact. Nevertheless, the association between burnout, professionals’ age, and the desire to leave their jobs highlights workforce overload. Broader studies are needed to enhance understanding and help to develop prevention and control policies for these phenomena.