Prof. Carol McKinstry1, Shinead Borkovic2, Vanessa Commons2
1La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia, 2La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
Biography:
Carol McKinstry is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean of the La Trobe University’s Rural Health School. She is Chair of Academic Board at La Trobe University and lead of the Workforce Stream in the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research. She is also Deputy Chair of Bendigo Health Board and a Board Director of Occupational Therapy Australia.
Abstract:
Demand for Australian occupational therapy services continue to increase. The complexity of workloads and increase in service demand create greater risk of burnout for occupational therapists, particularly graduates. This study explored the understandings and experiences of burnout in Australian occupational therapy graduates within the first two years of practice. Using a mixed-methods research design, a survey involving the Copenhagen Psychological Questionnaire III (middle version) questionnaire and additional qualitative questions explored graduates’ self-perceptions of burnout and whether the Covid-19 pandemic was a contributing factor for burnout. Forty-three graduates responded to the survey with over 77% practicing in the community (n=13) and private practice (n=18) while 22% (n=9) were practicing in a hospital setting. Over 45% reported feeling tense, nearly 26% reported increased tiredness and 10% reported they were unable to relax indicating risk factors for burnout were likely present. Additionally, two key themes emerged from qualitative analysis. Participants perceived work related implications such as feeling less knowledgeable due to learning disruptions and occupational stress because of the pandemic as contributing factors for perceptions of burnout. The second theme, personal impact described physical and mental exhaustion, including being overwhelmed with little left to offer clients and self as major contributors to experiencing burnout. Given the increasingly challenging work environments for graduate occupational therapists, both universities and employers need to consider what supports students and graduates require for them to develop self-management skills, to adequately prepare and enable them to work in face-paced practice settings and reduce the risk of experiencing burnout.