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
Recommended Citation
Lovins, Jessica M., "The Experience of Physical Therapy Burnout (PTB) - A Qualitative Investigation" (2015). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 132.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2015/2015/132
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.
