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RESUMEN Introducción: los conductores de transporte están expuestos a largas jornadas que pueden provocar fatiga física por excesiva concentración visual y esfuerzos en diversos músculos. La fatiga laboral que experimentan puede ser definida como un estado no placentero, por la saturación de actividad muscular, mental y afectiva que induce a enfermedades en los sistemas gástrico, circulatorio e inmunológico, al igual que a trastornos del sueño. Objetivo: analizar la fatiga laboral percibida en relación con sus factores asociados, en choferes de compañías de transporte provenientes de tres provincias de Ecuador. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio de tipo no experimental, prospectivo, analítico y transversal, en 141 conductores profesionales de tres provincias ecuatorianas. Se les aplicó el cuestionario sueco de fatiga ocupacional SOFI-SM, que evaluó la fatiga física, mental, psíquica e irritabilidad. Se realizó un análisis bivariado con las variables nominales de edad, escolaridad y antigüedad, a través de las pruebas Chi cuadrado de Pearson y V de Cramér. Para la comprobación de fatiga por provincia de procedencia, se realizó el análisis de covarianza mediante la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: se evidenció el nivel inadecuado e inaceptable de fatiga física, con una prevalencia del 64,5 % de inferencia estadística con el estado civil. No se presentaron diferencias significativas entre las puntuaciones totales del instrumento y la provincia de procedencia. Conclusiones: el nivel alto de fatiga indicó la urgencia de implementar actividades de recuperación, de adecuación de horarios y de contratación de más personal, puesto que este agotamiento ocasiona impericias, distracciones y malas decisiones que conllevan a los accidentes de tránsito. Es necesario intervenir desde la medicina laboral en la evaluación de la salud de los conductores para conocer cuáles son las enfermedades preexistentes que pudieran estar influyendo en la fatiga laboral.

ABSTRACT Introduction: transport drivers are exposed to long working days that can cause physical fatigue due to excessive visual concentration and effort in various muscles. The occupational fatigue they experiment may be defined as an unpleasant state, because of the saturation of the muscular, mental and affective activity that induces diseases in the gastric, circulatory and immunological systems as well as sleep disorders. Objective: to analyze perceived occupational fatigue in relation with its associated factors, in drivers of transportation companies from three provinces of Ecuador. Materials and methods: a non-experimental, prospective, analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in 141 professional drivers of three Ecuadorian provinces. The Swedish occupational fatigue questionnaire SOFI-SM was applied, which evaluated the physical, mental, psychical fatigue and irritability. A bivariate analysis was carried out with the nominal variables age, schooling, and seniority through Pearsonꞌs Chi squared and Cramer's tests. To verify the fatigue by province of origin, the analysis of covariance was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: the inadequate and unacceptable level of physical fatigue was evidenced, with a prevalence of 64.5 % of statistical inference with marital status. There were no significant differences between the total scores of the instrument and the province of origin. Conclusions: the high level of fatigue indicated the urgency of implementing recovery activities, adapting schedules and hiring more staff, since this exhaustion causes imperfections, distractions and bad decisions that lead traffic accidents. It is necessary to intervene from the occupational medicine in the evaluation of the health of the drivers to find out which pre-existing diseases could be influencing occupational fatigue.

RESUMO

La necesidad de evaluar la fatiga al entorno laboral es esencial para poder desarrollar programas de prevención e intervención. El principal objetivo de este trabajo fue adaptar del inglés al español el Inventario Multidimensional de Fatiga. Se analizaron la estructura interna y la fiabilidad, y se aportaron evidencias de validez convergente. La aplicación de la escala se realizó a una muestra multiocupacional compuesta por 414 empleados. También se utilizaron varios correlatos externos y dos escalas de contraste. Se aplicó el análisis factorial tanto exploratorio como confirmatorio. Los resultados indican que la versión española está conformada por 19 ítems y tres factores denominados Fatiga General, Fatiga Física y Concentración/Motivación. Los coeficientes de fiabilidad obtenidos fueron adecuados y, además, se obtuvieron evidencias de validez con cuatro correlatos externos y dos escalas de fatiga. La presente escala adaptada al español muestra unas propiedades psicométricas idóneas y puede resultar adecuada para identificar de manera apropiada la fatiga en entornos laborales. Futuras investigaciones podrían utilizarla como una herramienta de screening en combinación con otros instrumentos.

Evaluation of fatigue in work environment is crucial in order to draw up prevention and intervention programmes. The main objective of this study is to adapt the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory from English into Spanish. I analysed the internal structure and reliability and evidence was found of convergent validity. The scale was applied to a multi-occupational simple made up of 414 employees. Various external correlates and two contrast scales were also used. An exploratory as well as a confirmatory factor analysis were undertaken. The findings indicate that the Spanish version which we have presented is made up of nineteen items and three factors, namely Gendoieral Fatigue, Physical Fatigue and Concentration/Motivation. The resulting reliability coefficients were adequate and, what's more, evidence of validity was found for four external correlates and two fatigue scales. The present scale, adapted into Spanish displays ideal psychometric properties and may prove ideal for adequately identifying fatigue in work environments. The scale could be used in future research as a screening tool in combination with other instruments.

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Compreender como os conflitos com a instituição e desacordos quanto às atribuições de membros da equipe, são apreendidos e reconstruídos pelos médicos da Saúde da Família, sob a perspectiva do "burnout". Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa desenvolvida no Recife, entre agosto de 2005 e novembro de 2006, com 24 médicos. Foram selecionadas quatro equipes a partir de avaliação da gerência (acesso geográfico, conflitos na equipe, entre equipe e Distrito, entre equipe e comunidade e violência pública na área), em cada um dos seis Distritos Sanitários. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas. Resultados: Os médicos revelam enorme discrepância entre expectativas e realidade do trabalho. Rejeitam a priorização institucional da consulta e cobrança de produtividade. Sofrem diante do que consideram à perda da identidade profissional: atribuições da enfermeira questionam o núcleo histórico da sua prática -o diagnóstico e o tratamento da doença. Sobretudo entre aqueles com maiores expectativas na conversão do modelo, existe descrédito quanto às mudanças e há o desejo de desistir. Observa-se amplo conjunto de elementos que favorecem o desenvolvimento simultâneo de esgotamento e ineficácia profissional, e que provocam atitudes negativas, reforçando a necessidade da promoção da saúde no trabalho.

The scope of this paper is to understand how conflicts with the institution and disagreements regarding team members'attributions are interpreted by Family Healthcare physicians from the burnout perspective. Qualitative research was conducted with 24 doctors in Recife between August 2005 and November 2006 based on management evaluation (geographic access, conflicts within the team, between teams and the District, between the team and the community and public violence in the area), and four teams were selected in each of the six Health Districts. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted. An enormous discrepancy between the expectations of physicians and the reality of the workplace was detected. They reject the institutional consultation priority and demands for productivity. They suffer from what they consider loss of professional identity, with nurses attributions questioning the historic essence of their practice. There is discredit concerning change and a desire to abandon the profession, especially amongst those with the highest expectations concerning conversion of the model. A broad set of elements was detected that favor simultaneous exhaustion and professional inefficiency and provoke negative attitudes, stressing the need for promoting health in the workplace.

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