[Association between burnout and quality of care in primary care].

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the influence of burnout in family physicians on their score on the EQA index.

Design: Observational study. SITE: Study conducted in the primary care centers of the Terrassa Health Consortium, in Vallès Occidental, Catalonia.

Participants: Primary care physicians with a basic care unit were included. Of the 107 family doctors working in the 8 primary care centers of the Terrassa Health Consortium, 73 professionals participated.

Interventions: A self-administered survey was carried out with demographic and occupational elements such as age, gender, length of service at the work center, the MBI and the last self-reported EQA value belonging to the year 2023.

Main measures: Sociodemographic variables were analysed; years of experience and clinical variables such as the EQA, the Maslach test and its dimensions emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal fulfilment. The Maslach Burnout Inventory test was administered. The level of statistical significance considered was 5%.

Results: Seventy-threefamily doctors took the Maslach test, 54 (74%) had burnout, of which 21.9% (16) were severe. A statistically significant relationship was found between burnout and EQA (P=.023) and between emotional exhaustion and EQA (P=.013) in the mild and severe categories (P=.003).

Conclusions: Family physicians with burnout have a lower EQA value, which is not associated with age, sex or years of experience, but with the emotional exhaustion suffered.