OBJECTIVE: Satisfaction and burden of professionals in mental health services can affect their well being and also the quality of the care they provide to the patients. In order to evaluate those dimensions, it is necessary to have access to valid and reliable measure scales. This study describes the evaluation of the construct validity of two scales measuring satisfaction (SATIS-BR) and burden (IMPACTO-BR) of professionals in mental health services. METHODS: The scales were applied to a sample of 172 professionals who worked in six mental health services in a medium city of the state of São Paulo. Construct validity was evaluated by testing the hypotheses that theoretically related constructs should present statistical significant correlation. A Spearman correlation analysis was performed between those two scales and a comparison was made between two groups of subjects, with and without indicative of stress, regarding their levels of satisfaction and burden. RESULTS: A significant negative correlation was observed between the satisfaction and burden scores (r= -0,38). It was also observed a significant difference in satisfaction and burden degree between the two groups of subjects, with and without indicative of stress, subjects with stress presenting lower degree of job satisfaction and higher level of burden in work. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the satisfaction and burden scales analyzed present construct validity and are adequate to evaluate the quality of mental health services. Burden scores were predictive of stress in mental health professionals.
Mental health services; satisfaction and burden; professional team; service evaluation
