Association between offensive behaviors and risk of burnout and depression in health workers

Objective: to evaluate the occurrence of offensive behaviors at work, their characteristics and association with gender, stress, burnout and depression in healthcare workers. Method: cross-sectional, descriptive study, of a quantitative nature, carried out with 125 workers from the Brazilian Unified Health System. Data were collected from June 2021 to April 2022, using three self-administered questionnaires that assess personal and occupational characteristics; offensive behaviors, stress and burnout and depressive symptoms. Descriptive statistics, Chi-Square association test and logistic regression analysis were applied. Results: 44% of the sample reported 83 behaviors, with threats of violence being the most frequent (26%). Nursing technicians/aides, nurses and doctors were the most exposed professionals. The main aggressor was the patient, except for bullying, perpetrated by co-workers (48%). There was an association between offensive behaviors and burnout (OR: 4.73; 95% CI: 1.29-17.3; p=0.02) and between offensive behaviors and symptoms of depression (OR: 1.05; 95% CI : 1.01-1.10; p=0.02). Conclusion: the occurrence of offensive behaviors in healthcare work is frequent and characteristic; burnout and depressive symptoms increased, respectively, 4.73 and 1.05 times the chances of the worker suffering these offensive behaviors in the workplace.