Study of Psychosocial Risks in the Professional Environment of Health Care Workers in Morocco

Abstract

Caregivers are a particular target for psychosocial risks, including stress and burnout. Burnout is a
consequence of exposure to permanent and prolonged stress. It concerns professions with high mental,
emotional and emotional demands and high responsibility such as nurses. The objective of this study
was to describe and identify psychosocial risks, occupational stress and its components in health
professionals. This epidemiological study involved 191 health professionals working in the provincial
hospital centers of Kenitra and Sidi Slimane, Morocco. The questionnaire included: socio-demographic
and occupational data; the Karasek scale (KJCQ) with its three components: psychological demand (DP),
decision-making latitude (LD) and social support (SS). These three dimensions allow the identification
of risk situations. Job strain is the combination of low decision latitude and high psychological demand.
The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale consists of three dimensions (emotional exhaustion,
depersonalization and feeling of personal fulfillment at work). The positive diagnosis of burnout was
chosen if the score exceeded the values defined in one of the three components of MBI (high for the
first two and low for the third).