The Influencing Factors of Gender Differences on Mental Burdens in Young Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapist

From Crisis to Opportunity: A Qualitative Study on Rehabilitation Therapists' Experiences and Post-Pandemic Perspectives

Rehabilitation therapists (RTs) have developed substantial mental health problems since the pandemic. Our study aimed to understand the experience of COVID-19 on occupational therapists and physiotherapists practicing in Canada, how the pandemic may have affected care delivery, and to identify new learnings articulated by RTs. A qualitative descriptive study design guided data collection through one-on-one interviews, dyadic interviews, and focus groups. We recruited active RTs across Canada, advertising on professional practice networks and social media platforms and using snowball sampling. Forty-nine RTs representing seven Canadian provinces participated. The four overarching themes developed using thematic analysis were (1) navigating uncertainty along with ever-changing practices, policies, and attitudes, (2) morphing roles within a constrained system, (3) witnessing patients suffering and experiencing moral distress, and (4) recognizing the personal toll of the pandemic on self and others, as well as lessons learned. Our study demonstrated that many RTs suffered moral distress, poor mental health, and some from challenging financial situations, especially those in the private sector. They also expressed a resilient attitude in response to these stressors. Implications in the future include identifying promising communication strategies that could act as protective factors, addressing workforce constraints and diminishing resources through innovative models of care.

Burnout and perceived stress among Italian physical therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

High levels of burnout and psychological distress have been reported for healthcare workers, with seemingly worse outcomes after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to date, scarce evidence has been gathered about the condition of physical therapists. This cross-sectional study investigated the three burnout dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and assessed perceived stress with the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in a sample of Italian physical therapists with the aim of examining the relationships between these variables and demographic and work-related factors. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 671 professionals from the whole nation and associations between burnout, perceived stress, and work-related variables were investigated with descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Overall, 25% of the participants showed high burnout risk (40% scored high on emotional exhaustion, 36% scored high on depersonalization, and 19% scored low on personal accomplishment), whereas 50% reported high levels of perceived stress. Having been exposed to verbal or physical aggressive behaviors at work (OR = 4.06) was associated with high burnout risk, and participants at risk were significantly younger than those showing no burnout risk (d = 0.27). Having a partner (OR = 0.54) and having children (OR = 0.56) were associated on the other hand with reduced burnout risk. Regression models identified weekly working hours (β = 0.16), exposure to aggressive behaviors at work (β = 0.12), and perceived stress (β = 0.66) as significant predictors of emotional exhaustion, gender (β = 0.18), exposure to aggressive behaviors (β = 0.09), and perceived stress (β = 0.37) as predictors of depersonalization, and gender (β=-0.1) and perceived stress (β=-0.35) as predictors of personal accomplishment.In summary, this study found high rates of burnout and psychological distress among Italian physical therapists a year after the outbreak of COVID-19. Significant relations were found between burnout, psychological distress, and both socio-demographic and work-related variables.

Prevalence and associated factors of burnout among working adults in Southeast Asia: results from a public health assessment

The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the mental health crisis among employees worldwide. However, burnout research is often industry- or occupation-specific, and limited knowledge currently exists on the prevalence of burnout in the general working population of Southeast Asia. This study aims to examine the prevalence of employee burnout and its associated factors among working adults in Southeast Asia using secondary data. 4,338 full-time employees aged 18-65 years old living in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia were assessed for burnout, depression, anxiety, stress, and sociodemographic characteristics as part of an online public health assessment in October 2022. The prevalence of burnout in the region was 62.91%. Burnout was highest among employees in the Philippines (70.71%) and lowest in Malaysia (58.13%). Experiencing burnout was associated with severe or extremely severe depression (AOR = 6.48 [95% CI = 5.06-8.33]), anxiety (AOR = 2.22 [1.74-2.85]), and stress (AOR = 5.51 [4.13-7.39]). Working more than 50 hours a week (AOR = 1.38 [1.04-1.82]) and being very dissatisfied with the job led to higher odds of burnout (AOR = 16.46 [8.99-30.53]). Alarmingly, more than half of working adults in the region are reporting increased levels of burnout, and improving employee mental health and work conditions may be key to improving employee burnout in the region. Findings contribute to existing research on burnout prevalence in the region and provide more comprehensive insights into understanding the factors driving employee burnout in the working population of Southeast Asia 2 years after the onset of the pandemic.

Perceptions and experiences of burnout: A survey of physical therapists across practice settings and patient populations

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of burnout in physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, examine differences in burnout between demographic groups, and explore circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey consisting of demographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and open-ended questions was conducted within two health systems. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze responses to close-ended questions and to examine differences between groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyze open-ended questions.

RESULTS

In total, 202 individuals participated in the study; 146 participants responded to at least one open-ended question (72.3%). Participants, regardless of demographic characteristic, demonstrated at least some degree of burnout on each subscale. Ten major themes emerged from analysis of circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout: 1) workload; 2) schedule; 3) work-life balance; 4) care continuum; 5) coping/morale; 6) team dynamics and resources; 7) psychological or emotional burden; 8) compensation and recognition; 9) physical therapy as a profession; and 10) COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Burnout is present within physical therapists regardless of demographic group. Understanding circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout is an important first step to develop and research strategies to address these circumstances to positively impact the provider, patient, and the healthcare system.

Job Satisfaction and Burnout in Croatian Physiotherapists

BACKGROUND

Physiotherapists are important healthcare professionals in modern and multidisciplinary health forces. However, they are exposed to a high risk of occupational burnout, which is associated with reduced job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is essential for medical professionals because it directly influences patient safety and the quality of medical care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic variables of Croatian physiotherapists, job satisfaction, and occupational burnout.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed among 404 physiotherapists using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Job Descriptive Index (JDI), and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI).

RESULTS

The study group of Croatian physiotherapists was marked by a high level of job satisfaction and occupational burnout. However, a higher level of occupational burnout is associated with lower job satisfaction. The main determinants of job satisfaction were younger age, female gender, less work experience, and married or partnership. At the same time, a higher level of occupational burnout was associated with working in government institutions and being single.

CONCLUSIONS

As a reaction to psychological stress at work with the main components of exhaustion and disengagement, occupational burnout is negatively associated with job satisfaction. Therefore, assessing the factors influencing job satisfaction and burnout in the workplace can help develop physiotherapists' mental health prevention strategies.

Gender Differences in Burnout Among Endocrinologists in China

Objective

To survey the prevalence of burnout in a national sample of endocrinologists in China and to examine its correlates, with a special focus on gender differences.

Methods

An anonymous online survey was conducted among endocrinologists in 31 provincial government-owned “People’s Hospitals” of each province in mainland China. Demographic and work-related factors were collected from participants. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was used to assess burnout, including emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA).

Results

A total of 711 endocrinologists (72.1% were female and mean age was 39.63 ± 8.51 years old) completed the survey. Burnout was reported by 32.8% of the participants. There were no significant gender differences in the overall prevalence of burnout or EE, DP, and PA (all p > 0.05). A multi-level linear regression revealed: (1) In male participants, PA was significantly associated with age (β = 0.03, p = 0.003), DP was inversely associated with age (β = −0.06, p = 0.005), EE was significantly associated with shorter sleep duration (β = −0.25, p = 0.006), and longer work hours (β = 0.01, p = 0.016). (2) In females, PA was significantly associated with age (β = 0.01, p = 0.038), EE and DP were both significantly associated with shorter sleep duration (β = −0.19, p = 0.001; and β = −0.15, p = 0.011, respectively). EE and DP were also associated with work hours (β = 0.02, p < 0.001; and β = 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Nearly one-third of endocrinologists in China experienced burnout. Although there were no significant gender differences in the prevalence of overall burnout or EE, DP, and PA scores, male and female participants differed in factors associated with EE, DP, and PA. Interventions need to be tailored to target different aspects in male and female endocrinologists and target different subgroups.

Burnout: A Review of Theory and Measurement

A growing body of empirical evidence shows that occupational health is now more relevant than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This review focuses on burnout, an occupational phenomenon that results from chronic stress in the workplace. After analyzing how burnout occurs and its different dimensions, the following aspects are discussed: (1) Description of the factors that can trigger burnout and the individual factors that have been proposed to modulate it, (2) identification of the effects that burnout generates at both individual and organizational levels, (3) presentation of the main actions that can be used to prevent and/or reduce burnout, and (4) recapitulation of the main tools that have been developed so far to measure burnout, both from a generic perspective or applied to specific occupations. Furthermore, this review summarizes the main contributions of the papers that comprise the Special Issue on “Occupational Stress and Health: Psychological Burden and Burnout”, which represent an advance in the theoretical and practical understanding of burnout.

Analysis of the Sense of Occupational Stress and Burnout Syndrome among Working Physiotherapists-A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: As medical service employees, physiotherapists are prone to suffer from job-related stress and are at great risk of experiencing occupational burnout. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the level of generalized stress, occupational burnout syndrome and occupational stress in a group of professionally active physiotherapists and to answer the question: which psychosocial and physical factors (work characteristics) present at the given workplace were perceived as the most stress-inducing in the study group and in various subgroups? Materials and Methods: This study included 70 physiotherapists, mean age 40.1 ± 11.6, employed in sanatoria and outpatient clinics. An authorial survey, the Subjective Assessment Work Questionnaire, the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Inventory to Measure Coping Strategies with Stress Mini-COPE were used. Results: The study group of physiotherapists was characterized by a moderate level of stress, a high level of occupational stress and a moderate level of occupational burnout. The most common stressors reported by the participants included the lack of rewards at work, the sense of uncertainty resulting from workplace organization, the sense of threat, social interaction, and the lack of control. Conclusions: The knowledge of the level of occupational stress among health care professionals (including physiotherapists) and, most importantly, the assessment of stress-inducing psychosocial and physical factors present at the given workplace may prove useful while designing a prevention and health protection strategy.

Gender Differences in the Quality of Life of Formal Workers

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to assess the quality of life associated with gender inequalities in formal workers and to determine the effect of sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral factors on the quality of life (QOL).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved 1270 workers. Quality of life was measured using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-Item and assessed in terms of psychological, environmental, social, and physical domains, while demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and clinical variables served as explanatory variables. Analyses were performed using an ordinal logistic regression model whose significance level was 5%.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 80.2% were men, and 19.8% were women; the mean age was 34 (standard deviation: ±10) and 32 (±9) years, respectively. In all prediction scenarios, men were more likely to have a higher quality of life, especially in the physical (odds ratio: 2.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.60-2.93) and psychological (odds ratio: 2.09; 95% confidence interval: 1.51-2.91) domains.

CONCLUSIONS

Men and women had significantly different levels of quality of life, and sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral variables partially clarified these differences, which were possibly established by a socio-historical process of construction of the work role determined by gender issues.