Satisfaction at work has been found to be a predictive factor of permanency. On the other hand, burnout has been associated with financial loss. The purpose of this study was to analyse the levels of satisfaction and burnout of professionals in a hospital emergency department and make a comparison with results from the same service during the economic recession in 2012. An analytical, cross-sectional and descriptive study was undertaken during two time periods into the levels of satisfaction and burnout of the professionals of an emergency department. Consequently, 146 replies were received. The percentage of professionals who considered their salary to be unsatisfactory in 2012 diminished in comparison with 2018 (p = 0.034), while job stability was considered more satisfactory in 2018 (p = 0.039) and the timetable in 2018 as more unsatisfactory (p = 0.009). With regards to burnout, it was observed that in 2018 the score for depersonalisation had fallen (p = 0.029) in comparison with 2012. An improvement in the level of satisfaction is observed in 2018, and more positive scores have also been found in the depersonalisation subscale in 2018. An inverse association was observed between depersonalisation in 2018 and overall satisfaction.
Keywords: burnout; economic recession; emergency service; health personnel; health promotion; hospital; job satisfaction; nursing; professional.