The Experience of Physical Therapy Burnout (PTB) - A Qualitative Investigation

Location

Atrium

Session Format

Poster Presentation

Research Area Topic:

Qualitative Research

Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors

Dr. Daniel R. Czech

Abstract

With healthcare in the United States being in a constant state of change and reform, it is now more important than ever to consider the stresses and other conflicts the work environment can have on healthcare professionals. The physical therapy profession in particular is a field with growing demands, and has become notorious for its rates of job stress, burnout, and job turnover in PT school and in the field after graduation (Donohoe et al. 1993; Campo, Weiser, & Koenig, 2009). Extant literature has shown correlations between excessive workloads, role ambiguity, and other role stresses which can eventually lead to burnout (Deckard & Present, 1989). Burnout, in turn can lead to depersonalization of patients, job turnover, and emotional exhaustion. Burnout has shown to be conducive of unhealthy work environments that can have important negative implications for both health care practitioners and patients receiving care (Donohoe et al. 1993; Fischer et al., 2013). In addition, it has been found that that conflicting demands and role stress in the workplace were found to be significantly related to emotional, exhaustion, patient depersonalization, and psychological and somatic tension (Deckard & Present, 1989). Although many studies have used scales and scoring methods to analyze the causes and degree of burnout in groups of physical therapy populations, little research has been found which has focused on the experiences of the individual during various stages of the career span. Thus the purpose of this study is to qualitatively examine experiential factors associated with burnout among physical therapists in the southeastern United States. The use of semi-structured interviews will be used to gather the burnout experiences of sixteen physical therapists with various experiences. Subjects will be asked to recall personal experiences as well as emotional responses related to their job and overall quality of life while working in the field. Potential solutions and preventative techniques for burnout syndrome will be discussed.

Keywords

Burnout, Emotional exhaustion, Patient depersonalization, Role stress, Role ambiguity

Presentation Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

Start Date

4-24-2015 2:45 PM

End Date

4-24-2015 4:00 PM

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 24th, 2:45 PM Apr 24th, 4:00 PM

The Experience of Physical Therapy Burnout (PTB) - A Qualitative Investigation

Atrium

With healthcare in the United States being in a constant state of change and reform, it is now more important than ever to consider the stresses and other conflicts the work environment can have on healthcare professionals. The physical therapy profession in particular is a field with growing demands, and has become notorious for its rates of job stress, burnout, and job turnover in PT school and in the field after graduation (Donohoe et al. 1993; Campo, Weiser, & Koenig, 2009). Extant literature has shown correlations between excessive workloads, role ambiguity, and other role stresses which can eventually lead to burnout (Deckard & Present, 1989). Burnout, in turn can lead to depersonalization of patients, job turnover, and emotional exhaustion. Burnout has shown to be conducive of unhealthy work environments that can have important negative implications for both health care practitioners and patients receiving care (Donohoe et al. 1993; Fischer et al., 2013). In addition, it has been found that that conflicting demands and role stress in the workplace were found to be significantly related to emotional, exhaustion, patient depersonalization, and psychological and somatic tension (Deckard & Present, 1989). Although many studies have used scales and scoring methods to analyze the causes and degree of burnout in groups of physical therapy populations, little research has been found which has focused on the experiences of the individual during various stages of the career span. Thus the purpose of this study is to qualitatively examine experiential factors associated with burnout among physical therapists in the southeastern United States. The use of semi-structured interviews will be used to gather the burnout experiences of sixteen physical therapists with various experiences. Subjects will be asked to recall personal experiences as well as emotional responses related to their job and overall quality of life while working in the field. Potential solutions and preventative techniques for burnout syndrome will be discussed.