2002 Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 7-13
Professionals working in human-related services have been found to suffer burnout to an increasing degree, which, in turn, affects their work performance, and the reason for it is often due to excessive work-related pressure. Using the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (JMBI), this study investigated various factors associated with burnout among physiotherapists from the prefecture of Ishikawa in Japan, and the results were analysed to understand the relationship among these factors. Out of 243 practising physiotherapists surveyed throughout the prefecture, 163 met the established criteria for inclusion in the study. The scores for personal accomplishment were significantly lower than those of physiotherapists in the United States, but significantly higher than nurses in Japan (p<0.001). The factor analyses revealed that statements belonging to each factor described the specific concepts. A positive correlation was demonstrated between Factor 4 and age of the therapist and Factor 4 and therapist's number of years of practice (p<0.05), Factors 2 and 4 and the number of years at present employment (p<0.01), and Factor 4 and the therapist's time spent for clients (p<0.01). As for the gender difference for the JMBI, male respondents' scores were high for Factors 2 and 4 (p<0.01). Possible reasons for and implications of these findings are discussed in terms of recognition of the factors which contribute to burnout.