Investigation of the relationship between occupational musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue and burnout levels in physiotherapists working in different departments

Because of the basic element of the physiotherapy profession is human causes physiotherapists to carry out their working lives under intense stress. In this direction, we aimed to examine the relationship between occupational musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue and burnout levels in physiotherapists working in different departments. Our study was carried out with physiotherapists affiliated to the Turkish Physiotherapists Association (TPA) on a voluntary basis. We analyzed it in three groups: state hospital (n=43), private hospital (n=54), and special education and rehabilitation centers (n=53). In our study; the presence and region of injury were asked on the sociodemographic form, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) was used for fatigue and the Maslach Burnout Scale (MBS) was used for burnout levels. We conducted our study with 150 physiotherapists. The mean age of the participants was 28.15 ± 3.883, and the average working year was 4.54 ± 2.980. The mean presence of musculoskeletal injury of the participants was 42.1%. The mean of the FSS was 40.47 ± 9.9854 and the mean of the MBS subsection was, Emotional Exhaustion (EE) 19.11 ± 5.687, Depersonalisation (DP) 6.69 ± 3.951, and Personal Accomplishme (PA) 22.25 ± 4.340. No significant correlation was found between the presence of musculoskeletal injury and the FSS and MBS. A weak positive correlation was found between the FSS and MBS subsection EE (r=0.339) and DP (r=0.355). A weak negative correlation was found between MBS subsection PA (r=-0.269). MBS subsections EE and DP (r=0.437) were found to have a weak positive relationship. A weak negative correlation was found between Maslach Burnout Scale sub sections DP and PA (r=-0.318) (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the musculoskeletal injury and fatigue severity scale. It was determined that there was a difference in D in the sub-sections of the Maslach Burnout Scale. (p<0.05). As a result of our study; while fatigue increased in physiotherapists, burnout was also increasing. There is no relationship between musculoskeletal injuries and fatigue and burnout. Considering these factors, the importance of improving strategies for the working conditions of physiotherapists was emphasized.