Mentorship and self-efficacy are associated with lower burnout in physical therapists in the United States: a cross-sectional survey study

Abstract

Purpose: It aimed to investigate the prevalence of burnout in physical therapists in the United States and determine the relationships between burnout and education, mentorship, and self-efficacy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study. An electronic survey was distributed to practicing physical therapists across the United States over a 6-week period from December 2020 to January 2021. The survey was completed by 2,813 physical therapists from all States. The majority were female (68.72%), white or Caucasian (80.13%), and employed full-time (77.14%). Respondents completed demographics, education, mentorship, self-efficacy, and burnout questions. The Burnout Clinical Subtypes Questionnaire 12 (BCSQ-12) and self-report were used to quantify burnout, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was used to measure self-efficacy. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. Results: Respondents from home health (median BCSQ-12=42.00) and skilled nursing facility settings (median BCSQ-12=42.00) displayed the highest burnout scores across practice settings. Burnout was significantly lower for those who provided formal mentorship (median BCSQ-12=39.00, P=0.0001) compared to no mentorship (median BCSQ-12=41.00). Respondents who received formal mentorship (median BCSQ-12=38.00, P=0.0028) displayed significantly lower burnout than those who received no mentorship (median BCSQ-12=41.00). A moderate negative correlation (rho=-0.49) was observed between the GSES and burnout scores. A strong positive correlation was found between self-reported burnout status and burnout scores (rrb=0.61). Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent in the physical therapy profession, as almost half of respondents (49.34%) reported themselves as burned out. Providing or receiving mentorship and higher self-efficacy were associated with lower burnout. Organizations should consider measuring burnout levels, investing in mentorship programs, and implementing strategies to improve self-efficacy.