Prevalence of Stress and Burnout in Physical Therapist Clinical Instructors.

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the prevalence of stress and burnout among Physical Therapy Clinical Instructors (PT CIs) using the Perceived Stress Scale - 10 (PSS-10) and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) surveys. Given the critical role of PT CIs in student education, understanding their stress and burnout levels is essential.

Review of literature: The, PSS-10, a 10-item self-report survey, measures perceived stress with scores ranging from 0 to 40. It has demonstrated good psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability (r = 0.77) and criterion validity (r = -0.70 with short form-36). The OLBI, a 16-item survey, assesses burnout through disengagement and exhaustion subscales, showing strong reliability (r = 0.85) and validity.

Subjects: The study included 494 PT CIs who met the inclusion criteria of having supervised a student physical therapist within the past 12 months and working full time. Participants were nationally recruited via emails and social media.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. Participants completed an electronic survey consisting of a demographic form and the PSS-10 and OLBI measures. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, with one-way ANOVAs conducted to assess differences between demographic groups. This study was conducted midway through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The mean PSS-10 score was 15, indicating moderate stress for 56.1% of participants. The mean OLBI score was 36.95, indicating moderate burnout for 65.4% of participants. Significant differences between groups in both stress and burnout were found across age and marital status variables. Notably, women reported higher burnout levels than men.

Discussion and conclusion: Physical Therapy Clinical Instructors exhibit moderate stress and burnout levels, similar to general PT populations. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions supporting PT CIs, particularly considering the COVID-19 pandemic impact. Future research should explore additional factors influencing PT CI stress and burnout and develop strategies of mitigation.