Evaluation of musculoskeletal injuries, fatigue, and job satisfaction of physiotherapists in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate work related musculoskeletal problems of the physical therapists working in different fields and find out if there was a difference between injury percentages, fatigue severity, job satisfaction among different profession fields. Material and methods: Physiotherapists had at least one year of experience and belonged to four profession fields which were children (N=152), general (N=99), orthopedic (N=27) and neurology (N=21). Injury percentages, fatigue severity, job satisfaction, number of injuries and patient contact time were assessed. Results: In general physiotherapy, 74% of therapists had more than one injury. In orthopedics, 30% had only one injury. Patient contact time was maximum in the general physiotherapy (33 hrs). Fatigue severity score was 38 and maximum in general physiotherapy and job satisfaction score was 7 and maximum in orthopedics (p<0.05). Conclusion: The highest injury rates were seen in the therapists working in general physiotherapy and neurology. Therapists working in orthopedics had lowest degree of fatigue whereas therapists working in the general area had the maximum. When we evaluate the job satisfaction results among these groups, therapists working in orthopedic area had the maximum values and therapists working in the general area had the lowest values. 

Keywords

• Physiotherapists
• Turkey
• Job satisfaction
• Fatigue

Türkiye’deki fizyoterapistlerde kas iskelet sistemi yaralanmaları, yorgunluk ve mesleki memnuniyetin değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, farklı alanlarda çalışan fizyoterapistlerde mesleğe bağlı kas iskelet sistemi yaralanmalarının değerlendirilerek; yorgunluk şiddeti ve mesleki memnuniyet gibi alanlarda fark olup olmadığını araştırmaktı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, meslekteki en az bir yılını doldurmuş, çocuk alanından 152, genel fizyoterapi alanından 99, ortopedi alanından 27 ve nöroloji alanından 21, toplamda 299 fizyoterapist katıldı. Fizyoterapistlerde mesleğe bağlı gelişen yaralanma anketi kullanıldı. Yorgunluk, mesleki memnuniyet, yaralanma sayısı ve hastayla temas süresi değerlendirildi. Sonuç: Genel fizyoterapi alanında birden fazla yaralanma geçirenler % 74 ve ortopedi alanında bir kere yaralanma geçirenler % 30 oranları ile ilk sıralarda yer almaktaydı. Hasta temas saati haftada 33 saat ile en fazla genel fizyoterapi alanında bulundu. Yorgunluk şiddeti skorları 38 ile genel fizyoterapi, mesleki memnuniyet skorunun değeri ise 7 ile en fazla ortopedi alanlarında bulundu (p<0.05). Tartışma: Genel ve nöroloji alanlarında en fazla yaralanma oranları tespit edildi. Ortopedi alanında çalışan fizyoterapistlerin yorgunluk şiddetinin en az bulunduğu grup, genel alanda çalışan fizyoterapistlerin ise en fazla bulunduğu grup olduğu belirlendi. Ortopedi alanında çalışan fizyoterapistlerin mesleki memnuniyet düzeylerinin daha yüksek olduğu, genel alanda çalışan fizyoterapistlerin ise mesleki memnuniyet düzeylerinin daha düşük olduğu bulundu.

Keywords

• Fizyoterapist
• Türkiye
• Mesleki memnuniyet
• Yorgunluk

References

1. Beynon C, Reilly T. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal disorders in a sample of British nurses and physiotherapists. In: Reilly T, ed. Musculoskeletal Disorders in Health-Related Occupations. Amsterdam: IOS Press. 2002;63-85.
2. Bölükbaşı N. Sağlık Çalışanlarında bel ve üst ekstremiteye ilişkin kas iskelet sistemi sorunları. Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sağlığı I. Ulusal Kongresi Kitapçığı, [Panel], Ankara, Kasım 1999;1-5.
3. Cromie JE, Robertson VJ, Best MO. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in physical therapists: prevalence, severity, risks and responses. Phys Ther. 2000;80:336-351.
4. Bork BE, Cook TM, Rosecrance JC, et al. Work- related musculoskeletal disorders among physical therapists. Phys Ther. 1996;76:827-835.
5. Holder NL, Holly A, Clark HA, et al. Cause, prevalence, and response to occupational musculoskeletal injuries reported by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Phys Ther. 1999;79:642-652.
6. West DJ, Gardner D. Occupational injuries of physiotherapists in North and Central Queensland. Aust J Physiother. 2001;47:179-186.
7. Nyland LJ, Grimmer KA. Is undergraduate physiotherapy study a risk factor for low back pain? A prevelance study of LBP in physiotherapy students. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003;4:1471- 1474.
8. Caragianis S. The prevalence of occupational injuries among hand therapists in Australia and New Zealand. J Hand Ther. 2002;15:234-241.

9. Galinsky T, Waters T, Malit B. Overexertion injuries home health care workers and the need for ergonomics. Home Health Care Serv Q. 2001;20:57- 73.
10. Ellis BE. Moving and handling patients: an evaluation of current training for physiotherapy students. Physiotherapy. 1993;79:323-326.
11. Hignett S. Fitting the work to the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy. 1995;81:549-552.
12. Robertson LD, Changsut R, Ramos LS, et al. Influence of job and personal risk factors on safety limits for kinesiotherapists performing a stressful clinical lifting task. Clinical Kinesiology. 1993;Spring:7-16.
13. Kayıhan H. Çalışma yerinin ergonomik analizi ve fizyoterapistlerde risk faktörleri. Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sağlığı I. Ulusal Kongresi Kitapçığı, [Panel], Ankara, Kasım 1999; 1-5.
14. Cromie JE, Robertson VJ, Best MO. Work related musculoskeletal disorders and the culture of physical therapy. Phys Ther. 2002;82:459-472.
15. Ahlberg-Hulten GK, Theorell T, Sigala F. Social support, job strain and musculoskeletal pain among female health care personnel. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1995;21:435-439.
16. Devereux JJ, Vlachonikolis IG, Buckle PW. Epidemiological study to investigate potential interaction between physical and psychosocial factors at work that may increase the risk of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder of the neck and upper limb. Occup Environ Med. 2002;59:269-277.
17. Deckard GJ, Present RM. Impact of role stress on physical therapists’ emotional and physical well- being. Phys Ther. 1989;69:713-718.
18. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory Manuel (3rd ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press. 1996.
19. Bensing J, Hulsman R, Scheurs K. Vermoeidheid: Een chronisch problem [Fatigue: a chronic problem]. Medisch Contact. 1996;51:123-124.
20. Eker L, Tüzün EH, Daşkapan A, et al. Predictors of job satisfaction among physiotherapists in Turkey. J Occup Health. 2004;46:500-505.
21. Bodur S. Job satisfaction of health care staff employed at health centers in Turkey. Occup Med. 2002;52:353-355.
22. Sur HO, Hayran G, Mumcu D, et al. Factors affecting dental job satisfaction: a cross-sectional survey in Turkey. Eval Health Prof. 2004;27:152-164.
23. Hann DM, Jacobsen RB, Azzarello LM. Measurement of fatigue in cancer patients: development and validation of the Fatigue Symptom Inventory. Qual Life Res. 1998;7:301-310.
24. Krupp LB, LaRocca NG, Muir-Nash J. The Fatigue Severity Scale: application to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Arch Neurol. 1989;46:1121-1123.
25. Armutlu K, Korkmaz NÇ, Keser İ, et al. The validity and reliability of the Fatique Severity Scale in Turkish multiple sclerosis patients. Inter J Rehab Res. 2007;30:81-85.
26. Glover W, McGregor A, Sullivan C, et al. Work- related musculoskeletal disorders affecting members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Physiotherapy. 2005;91:138-147.
27. Salik Y, Özcan A. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A survey of physical therapists in İzmir- Turkey. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2004; 5, 27.