Burnout and work-related stress in Italian rehabilitation professionals: A comparison of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists
Affiliations: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Antonella Carli, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Tel.: +390649912550; Fax: +390649912280; E-mail: antonella.carli@uniroma1.it.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Healthcare workers are exposed to work related stresses that significantly increase their risk of burnout. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate and compare burnout and work related stress levels in three categories of health professionals: physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. METHODS:A convenience sample of 391 health professionals participated, including 210 physiotherapists, 101 speech therapists and 80 occupational therapists. We collected general socio-demographic information and administered the standardized Italian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Management Standards Indicator Tool. RESULTS:We found the proportion of professionals with high-risk scores in the three dimensions of the MBI to be as follows: Emotional Exhaustion 32%, Depersonalisation 13% and Personal Accomplishment 9%. Overall, 14% of participants were at high risk of burnout. No significant differences were found between the three professional categories. Five subscales of the HSE were associated with burnout: Control (p < 0.01), Management support (p < 0.01), Relationship (p < 0.05), Role (p < 0.01), and Change (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Like all health care workers, rehabilitation professionals are at a high risk of burnout. There are common mechanisms underlying burnout in the different professional groups investigated. Further research in occupational health in rehabilitation settings is needed to prevent burnout.
