Risk factor and symptoms of burnout in physiotherapists in the canton of Bern

Developing work readiness in university graduates: a case study in mapping a university curriculum to work readiness domains in an Australian physiotherapy degree

BACKGROUND

Recent research has identified six domains of work readiness: Practical Wisdom, Interpersonal Capabilities, Personal Attributes, Organisational Acumen, Profession Specific Knowledge and Skills, and Professionally Relevant Experiences.

OBJECTIVE

Using a case study, the aim of this study was to demonstrate the process of curriculum mapping to evaluate the alignment of a university program to the work readiness framework.

METHODS

A retrospective audit of curriculum material for one cohort of Macquarie University's Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) was undertaken. Curriculum was categorized as declared, delivered, or assessed, mapped to the six work readiness domains through qualitative content analysis, and then quantitatively scored and expressed as percentages of maximum possible scores per unit, and average units scores per semester.

RESULTS

Mapping curriculum to a six domain work readiness framework revealed declared, delivered, and assessed curriculum within all six work readiness domains, with varying contributions across the degree. Mapping revealed that the Profession Specific Knowledge and Skills domain had the highest coverage of declared (M = 63%, SD = 12), delivered (M = 88%, SD = 11) and assessed (M = 80%, SD = 7) curriculum, highlighting a strength of the program. The Personal Attributes domain had the lowest coverage of declared (M = 5%, SD = 5), delivered (M = 48%, SD = 24) and assessed (M = 29%, SD = 20) curriculum, highlighting opportunities for development.

CONCLUSION

Mapping curriculum to a work readiness framework allows universities to consider alignment, and the strength and opportunities for the improvement of work readiness within its curriculum.

Exploring burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury among UK physiotherapists: A qualitative study on professional fulfilment and well-being

BACKGROUND

Burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury are prevalent issues among healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists. The demanding nature of the profession, compounded by high workloads, emotional and physical exhaustion, and systemic challenges, has significant implications for the well-being and professional satisfaction of physiotherapists. This study aimed to explore these issues, by providing a qualitative exploration of UK physiotherapists' lived experiences.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the lived experiences of UK physiotherapists regarding burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury, and to develop a comprehensive understanding of the personal and professional impacts of these issues to inform the development of effective support systems and interventions.

METHODS

This qualitative exploratory study involved semi-structured interviews with 12 UK physiotherapists. Framework approach was used to identify key themes and patterns in the data, providing a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by physiotherapists.

RESULTS

Four primary themes emerged: (1) Physiotherapy Under Pressure: Workload, Burnout, and Perfectionism, (2) Interpersonal Dynamics and Support Systems, (3) Professional Fulfilment and Identity, and (4) Work-Life Balance and Well-being. Physiotherapists reported high levels of burnout and exhaustion due to relentless workloads, exacerbated by and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Perfectionism further contributed to emotional exhaustion and feelings of inadequacy. Inconsistent management support, bureaucratic challenges, and a lack of career progression opportunities were significant stressors. Effective team dynamics and support systems were crucial in mitigating stress, yet many faced interpersonal challenges such as criticism and bullying. Achieving work-life balance was a persistent struggle, highlighting the need for organisational changes to support flexibility and well-being.

CONCLUSION

Burnout, perfectionism, and moral injury significantly impact physiotherapists' well-being and professional satisfaction. Addressing these issues requires systemic changes within healthcare organisations to provide robust support systems, flexible working conditions, and opportunities for professional development.

Does adherence to physiotherapy depend on the typologies of patients with back pain and their physiotherapists? A qualitative typology study

BACKGROUND

Patient adherence to physiotherapy is influenced by a multitude of factors including the characteristics and attitudes of patients and physiotherapists. This study aims to identify typologies of patients with back pain and their physiotherapists and attempts to explain how typologies could influence patient adherence.

METHOD

This study was based on a secondary data analysis from focus group interviews to identify barriers and facilitators for adherence. Transcribed interview data were used for a structured content analysis based on deductive and inductive categorization and coding. The Big-five Personality Traits were applied to build deductive categories about the physiotherapists' and the patients' typologies.

RESULTS

Ten patients with low back pain (6 women) and 11 physiotherapists (5 women) were recruited. The four patient types are based on conscientiousness, high activity level (HAL), internal locus of control (ILC), high adherence level (HADL) (= type 1); neuroticism, HAL, ILC, low adherence level (LADL) (= type 2); extraversion, HADL, external locus of control (ELC), HADL (= type 3); agreeableness, active behavior, ELC, HADL (= type 4). The three physiotherapist types are based on conscientiousness, high adherence influence (HADI), use of guidelines (= type 1); agreeableness, acceptance of requests, low adherence influence (= type 2); neuroticism, HADI, preference for active therapy (= type 3).

CONCLUSION

Awareness of typologies of patients with back pain and their physiotherapists may help to facilitate adherence and subsequently treatment effectiveness. Further quantitative research should aim to validate the correlation between the identified typologies and the adherence level of patients with back pain.

Prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Work-related burnout is a significant concern amongst healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists. It can negatively impact on both staff well-being and the quality of care delivered to patients.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and PsycINFO, from inception to February 1st, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION OR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies reporting burnout prevalence among physiotherapists.

DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS

Prevalence of burnout. Sub-analyses were performed grouping studies based on countries where surveys were conducted, classified as developed or developing countries. The risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

32 studies were included in the systematic review and 31 in the meta-analysis, enrolling a total of 5984 physiotherapists from 17 countries. Pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval) of burnout was 8% (4-15). Prevalence figures for Maslach Burnout Inventory dimensions were: (i) emotional exhaustion, 27% (21-34) (ii) depersonalization, 23% (15-32) (iii) low personal accomplishment, 25% (15-40). Both overall and single components prevalence was higher, although not significantly, in studies from developing than in developed countries.

LIMITATIONS

Tools used to assess burnout and cut-off scores chosen to identify the burnout prevalence differed across studies.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS

Prevalence of burnout reported by physiotherapists appears high worldwide, in particular in developing countries, and compares with that reported by nurses and physicians. Substantial heterogeneity in the prevalence of burnout, in its definition and assessment methods across studies, and limited quality of most studies precludes drawing definitive conclusions.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO CRD42022307876 CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.