Perceptions and experiences of burnout: A survey of physical therapists across practice settings and patient populations.

Introduction/objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the presence of burnout in physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, examine differences in burnout between demographic groups, and explore circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey consisting of demographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and open-ended questions was conducted within two health systems. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to analyze responses to close-ended questions and to examine differences between groups. Thematic analysis was used to analyze open-ended questions.

Results: In total, 202 individuals participated in the study; 146 participants responded to at least one open-ended question (72.3%). Participants, regardless of demographic characteristic, demonstrated at least some degree of burnout on each subscale. Ten major themes emerged from analysis of circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout: 1) workload; 2) schedule; 3) work-life balance; 4) care continuum; 5) coping/morale; 6) team dynamics and resources; 7) psychological or emotional burden; 8) compensation and recognition; 9) physical therapy as a profession; and 10) COVID-19.

Conclusion: Burnout is present within physical therapists regardless of demographic group. Understanding circumstances that contribute to and alleviate burnout is an important first step to develop and research strategies to address these circumstances to positively impact the provider, patient, and the healthcare system.