Abstract
Objective: This study described the burnout experienced by physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic and analysed the role of possible factors of this occupational phenomenon.
Methods: Cross-sectional study based on a web-based survey applied to physiotherapists living in Portugal. The survey included sociodemographic, health status and clinical practice questions. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (personal, work- and patient-related burnout), the Resilience Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used.
Results: A total of 511 physiotherapists (median 33 years old, 82% females) completed the survey. The participants worked mainly in private practice (50%) and wards (35%). During COVID-19, 52% were working directly with patients, but only 18% were working with COVID-19 patients. Personal (42%), work- (42%) and patient-related burnout (25%) was observed. Three significant models explained personal- (R 2 = 51%), work- (R 2 = 31%) and patient-related burnout (R 2 = 16%). Lower levels of resilience and higher levels of depression and stress were significantly associated with personal, work- and patient-related burnout. Being female and working directly with patients were additionally associated with both personal and work-related burnout. Having health problems and working with COVID-19 patients were only associated with personal burnout.
Conclusions: More than 40% of physiotherapists experienced personal and work-related burnout and 25% patient-related burnout, with resilience, depression and stress having a relevant role in the three burnout dimensions. Early detection and management strategies need to be implemented to address physiotherapists’ physical and psychological fatigue and exhaustion.
Keywords: burnout; healthcare workers; rehabilitation; resilience; stress.
【저자키워드】 Resilience, Burnout, Healthcare workers, Stress, rehabilitation, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, Resilience, Burnout, Depression, Stress, fatigue, COVID-19 pandemic, rehabilitation, Health, cross-sectional study, management, healthcare, Early detection, female, Patient, Exhaustion, Health status, Psychological, scale, Portugal, patients, Satisfaction, COVID-19 patients, Clinical practice, life, Physiotherapist, Factor, participant, physiotherapists, problem, Stress Scale, dimensions, Sociodemographic, Lower, being, females, physical, inventory, described, significantly, applied, analysed, median, were used, explained, R 2, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 Physiotherapist,