Association between physiotherapist burnout and working environment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan: A multicenter observational study

Abstract

Burnout among physiotherapists has been reported worldwide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, no information was found on the prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physiotherapists directly providing physiotherapy to patients with COVID-19 in the red zone of 487 medical facilities were evaluated for the prevalence of burnout using the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). The association between the presence or absence of burnout and the working environment was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Among the 566 physiotherapists analyzed, 99 (17.5%) satisfied the MBI-GS criteria for burnout. Multivariate analysis showed that burnout was associated with the year of physiotherapy experiences [odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93–0.99], feeling slight burden with infection control (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32–0.87), not feeling too burdened with infection control (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.06–0.83), establishment of staffing standards for physiotherapy according to the number of beds (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09–2.96), and relaxation time (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30–0.82). Moreover, the OR increased as the self-improvement time decreased (OR 38.3, 95% CI 6.64–731). In Japan, the prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic was an intermediate value between the prevalence of burnout among physicians and nurses reported in previous studies. This study found the need to establish appropriate staffing standards for physiotherapy and support systems including secure self-improvement time and appropriate training according to physiotherapy experiences and each medical facility.

Association between physiotherapist sleep duration and working environment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan: A secondary retrospective analysis study

“…In our previous study, we found that physiotherapists had an average sleep duration of 6 h during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 27 ], which was similar to the that for other HCPs [ 25 , 26 ], and that some physiotherapists had experienced decreased sleep duration and increased overtime hours. We hypothesized that working environment would be associated with sleep duration in physiotherapists as they provide physiotherapy and conduct daily work in an environment they had never experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome in Healthcare Workers in North and South America, and Asia From 2018 to 2022

“…A multicenter observational study was performed in Japan in physiotherapists (n=566) during the COVID-19 pandemic [35]. 17,5% of respondents hit the criteria for burnout (MBI-GS); furthermore, burnout syndrome was associated with a feeling of slight burden by infection control, the year of experience of physiotherapy, relaxation time, and staffing standards for physiotherapy that might be established in accordance with the number of beds [35]. Similar results were found out in another cross-sectional study among attending physicians (n=1061) of Japan that showed the prevalence (17,2%) of burnout syndrome (the MBI-GS) and its associated factors [36 p226].…”

Physiotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in global terms – limitations, therapeutic challenges, remedial actions

“…Istotnym problemem obnażonym przez pandemię były również niedobory kadrowe fizjoterapeutów [6,7], pogłębiające się za sprawą zaburzeń w systemie edukacji osób kształcących się w tym zawodzie, będących efektem trudności w organizacji zajęć praktycznych i klinicznych dla studentów fizjoterapii [8]. Kolejnym ograniczeniem zgłaszanym przez wielu fizjoterapeutów na świecie było pojawianie się w ich grupie wypalenia zawodowego oraz problemów psychologicznych w następstwie stresu oraz wysiłku związanego z pracą w warunkach pandemii [1,9].…”

“…Inne badania z tego kraju wskazują, że w trakcie pandemii usługi rehabilitacyjne były wspierane narzędziami telezdrowia [1]. W Japonii w celu usprawnienia procedur rehabilitacyjnych wobec pacjentów w czasie trwania pandemii ustanowiono standardy kadrowe dla fizjoterapii wg liczby łóżek [9]. W Australii kładziono silny nacisk na przeciwdziałanie zaburzeniom pandemicznym w obszarze kształcenia praktycznego fizjoterapeutów, poprzez wdrażanie innowacyjnych rozwiązań w zakresie monitorowania procesów kształcenia oraz pozwalających na dynamiczne reagowanie na zmiany w systemie edukacji [8].…”

“…W Kenii natomiast zostały opracowane i opublikowane wytyczne dotyczące zarządzania i rekomendacji w zakresie usług fizjoterapeutycznych w trakcie pandemii [20]. W wymiarze globalnym do koniecznych działań zaradczych w obszarze usług fizjoterapeutycznych w trakcie pandemii zalicza się również intensywne doszkalanie fizjoterapeutów, szczególnie w zakresie rehabilitacji oddechowej oraz krążeniowej [1,7,9]. Podejmowane działania zaradcze na skutek doświadczeń pandemicznych, przyczyniły się znacząco do lepszego przygotowania podsektora usług fizjoterapeutycznych na ewentualne przyszłe kryzysy zdrowotne o charakterze pandemii [16].…”