Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To know the relationship, if this exists, between the quality of professional life (CPL) and the burnout of primary health care staff. DESIGN: Transversal study employing CVP-35 test and MBI (Maslach Burnout Inventory), both sent by postmail. SETTING: 3 urban centers and 3 rural centers. Total: 131 professionals. MEASURES: In the CVP-35 test, scores from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum) are obtained. Maslach categorised each dimension into high, medium and low level. RESULTS: 71.7% answered. Medium age 44 years, average of 1339 sanitary cards. The number of visits/day was 37, home visits 1 per day. The CVP average was 4.48 (95% CI, 4.08-4.88). The damage perception in the post 5.9 (95% CI, 5.6-6.1); the professional intrinsic motivation 6.5 (95% CI, 6.2-6.7), and the manager support 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6-4.1). MBI: high depersonalization 54.3%, emotional exhaustion (r=0.6; P<.0001), intrinsic motivation, and personal accomplishment (r=0.46; P<.0001) and professional quality of life front emotional fatigue (r= -0.4; P < .0005). CONCLUSIONS: CPL and burnout measure different but related dimensions. Therefore, its utility is dependent on the objectives. Target elements, which can improve the quality of professional life, can be identified from these tools.