The impact of recent physiotherapy graduates in the workforce: a study of Curtin University entry-level physiotherapists 2000 - 2004

Abstract

Physiotherapy is the largest healthcare contributor after nursing and medicine and it is important to understand its employment characteristics. This study aimed to explore workforce trends for recent physiotherapy graduates, including satisfaction and motivating factors, and future career intentions. A self-administered questionnaire was provided to contactable entry-level physiotherapy graduates (2000-2004) from Curtin University. Of 256 respondents (62.9%), 76.5% were employed full-time. A total of 45% of physiotherapists worked in the public health system; 79.3% worked in cities; 92.2% were clinicians. Top salaries were earned by those completing more continuing professional development hours, working privately, in rural locations and males. A total of 65% (n = 118) of respondents believed they would leave physiotherapy within 10 years. The best aspects of working in physiotherapy were 'helping people', 'flexibility' and 'working in a healthcare team'. Major areas for improvement were 'remuneration', 'skill recognition' and 'marketing'. This study suggests serious implications for the future of the health; planning to avert shortages is essential.

A qualitative exploration of the factors influencing the job satisfaction and career development of physiotherapists in private practice

“…Previous studies have reported that the majority of physiotherapists in this demographic expect to have short-term careers of 10 years or less (2,3). When participants in all three focus groups reflected on the attrition rate of early career physiotherapists they identified a lack of peer support and mentoring as a key factor in driving colleagues away from private practice.…”

“…Increasingly, graduates are being employed into private practice positions yet recent studies indicate that physiotherapy graduates predict short careers (2,3). Only 23% of physiotherapy graduates from Curtin University in Western Australia predicted a career of greater than 20 years, with 65% predicting a career of 10 years or less (3).…”

“…Despite increasing graduate workforce numbers, attrition rates in private physiotherapy practice remain high and job satisfaction appears to be an important component of this phenomenon (2,3). Peer support and mentoring has been cited in the literature as a strong contributing factor to job satisfaction for physiotherapists (2,3).…”

“…Peer support and mentoring has been cited in the literature as a strong contributing factor to job satisfaction for physiotherapists (2,3). Additional factors identified to increase job satisfaction in physiotherapists include: access to career development opportunities, fair wage, noticeable positive progress of patients, positive relationships with co-workers, job autonomy, supervising students and a pleasant working environment (2-6).…”

Identifying the factors that affect the job satisfaction of early career Notre Dame graduate physiotherapists

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Finding work adequately challenging has been identified as a factor that exists on a continuum with perceived lack of or extreme challenge being negative influences. 5,10,12,13 The opportunity to perform additional workplace duties and extend workplace roles, has also been recognised as an influential factor on job satisfaction. 14 This may be related to the challenge provided by these extra duties.…”