Comparison of occupational satisfaction, burnout, musculoskeletal pain and coping strategies of physiotherapists working in different fields: An observational study.

BACKGROUND

The scope of practice for physiotherapists encompasses a range of specialized areas, including orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, general practice, and public health.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to elucidate the influence of occupational preferences among physiotherapists in diverse practice fields on the prevalence of professional satisfaction, burnout, and musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS

The study was designed as an observational study conducted between September 2023 and January 2024. A total of 255 physiotherapists were included and divided into five groups based on their primary areas of practice: general, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, and public health. All participants were evaluated with the Expanded Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Pain Coping Inventory (PCI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS).

RESULTS

Physiotherapists in general and orthopedics had a higher prevalence of low back pain than those in pediatrics and public health. General, neurology, and pediatrics physiotherapists experience a higher prevalence of burnout than those in public health and orthopedics. Neurology and pediatrics physiotherapists have higher emotional exhaustion prevalence than public health physiotherapists, while neurology physiotherapists demonstrate higher depersonalization prevalence than pediatrics and public health physiotherapists. Orthopedics physiotherapists exhibit higher personal achievement prevalence than other physiotherapists. Orthopedic physiotherapists have a higher JSS prevalence compared to other specialties. In PCI, the majority of them utilize active strategies and distancing compared to pediatric physiotherapists.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of job satisfaction, burnout risk, musculoskeletal pain, and coping strategies differ in physiotherapists in diverse fields of practice.