Burnout among physical therapist assistant program directors: a nationwide survey and analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess burnout in directors of physical therapist assistant (PTA) programs and to analyze the relationship between individual and institutional variables and burnout.

Methods: Surveys were completed by 120 directors from accredited PTA programs. The surveys consisted of demographic information and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES). The MBI-ES assesses burnout in the areas of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.

Results: PTA program directors showed moderate levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalization, and high levels of personal accomplishment. Gender, the number of faculty in a department, and length of academic contract had no correlation with participant burnout levels. Significantly lower levels of emotional exhaustion were found in participants who were in their current position for more than 11 years and those who planned to remain in their current position or within higher education for at least 5 additional years. A significant negative correlation was found between participant age and depersonalization.

Conclusions: PTA program directors and their institutions should develop strategies to minimize the effects of burnout in younger program directors and those in the early years of their position.