Physiotherapists working in different provinces according to socio-economic development level examining professional attitudes, professional satisfaction and job satisfaction

Aim: To investigate the professional attitudes, professional satisfaction and job satisfaction of physiotherapists working in different provinces according to the socio economic development level. Materials and Methods: The study included volunteer physiotherapists working in Denizli and Muş provinces, with at least one year of working experience. In addition to the 20-item questionnaire devised by the researchers, the Attitude Scale Towards Physiotherapy Profession, Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, Job Satisfaction Scale, and Occupational Satisfaction Scale were administered to the participants. Results: A total of 102 physiotherapists from Denizli (mean age 28.36±5.07 years) and 53 physiotherapists from Muş (mean age 29.47 ± 4.65 years) participated in the study. A total of 63.7% of physiotherapists in Denizli and 51% of physiotherapists in Muş indicated that they were satisfied with their profession. The mean occupational satisfaction level of physiotherapists in Denizli was found to be significantly higher than that of physiotherapists in Muş (p=0.027). With regard to job satisfaction, both groups exhibited high levels of job satisfaction. However, the job satisfaction of physiotherapists in Denizli was found to be higher in the areas of physical conditions and control autonomy (p<0.005). The mean scores for physiotherapists in Denizli were significantly higher than those for physiotherapists in Muş across all sub-dimensions and the total score on the Attitude Towards Physiotherapy Profession Scale (p≤0.005). Furthermore, statistically significant correlations were identified between professional attitude, professional satisfaction and job satisfaction (p≤0.005). Furthermore, notable discrepancies were evident between the groups with regard to the working environment and pace, salary satisfaction, and professional development opportunities (p≤0.005). Conclusion: The socio-economic development level of the province in which physiotherapists are employed has been identified as a potential influencing factor on their professional attitudes, job satisfaction and job performance. The physiotherapists in Denizli demonstrated a higher intensity of work, greater access to professional development opportunities, and higher levels of job and occupational satisfaction. In contrast, those working in Muş reported higher income levels. Nevertheless, the observation that both groups reported a relatively low level of satisfaction with regard to remuneration indicates that salary alone is not a sufficient factor in providing job satisfaction. In order to enhance the professional satisfaction of physiotherapists, to guarantee their job satisfaction and to facilitate their development of positive professional attitudes, a comprehensive and holistic approach that takes into account regional differences should be adopted.