Journal of allied health
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Journal of allied health · Jan 2002
Prevalence and determinants of burnout among physical and occupational therapists.
It is generally speculated that the ongoing changes in the health care system may increase the incidence of burnout among health care providers. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to determine (1) the prevalence of burnout among physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs), (2) sociodemographic and work-related factors associated with emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal achievement (PA) traits of PTs and OTs. In fall 1998, 169 PTs and 138 OTs employed in various clinical settings in New York City completed the survey. ⋯ None of the variables examined accurately predicted DP trait. The EE, DP, and PA scores of the PTs and OTs in this study were higher than the norms reported in previous studies for the general population and other human service professionals, including PTs and OTs. The findings suggest the need for reorganization of the work environment to address the stressors responsible for burnout in this cohort of therapists.