Prevalence of symptoms of burnout syndrome in primary health care professionals.

Introduction: Burnout syndrome results from a response to chronic work stress and is responsible for causing symptoms related to three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, reflecting work overload; depersonalization, characterized by professional detachment and cynicism; and reduced professional accomplishment, related to low productivity at work. Burnout is often associated with jobs that require professionals to have direct contact with users, such as health professionals. Primary Health Care is the assistance level that greatest contact with the community and requires teamwork, thus exposing workers to potential psychosocial stressors.