Methods: Twelve hundred PTs were sent a survey packet including the 20-item Ethics Environment Questionnaire (EEQ) and additional items inquiring about contemporary practice factors. Returned packets (n = 340) were analyzed utilizing correlational and regression analyses to determine relationships between ethical environment, burnout, intent-to-leave, productivity standards, billing and coding requirements and ability to provide pro-bono services.
Results: There was a strong correlation between PTs' view of organizational ethics and burnout (Tb = -0.55), and a moderate correlation between organizational ethics and intent-to-leave (Tb = -0.43). There was also a strong relationship between burnout/intent-to-leave and practice factors such as productivity standards, billing/coding policy, and organizational provision of pro-bono services (p ≤ 0.01). Finally, there was a moderate correlation between PTs' view of organizational ethics and practice factors such as productivity standards (Tb = 0.46) and billing and coding policy (Tb = -0.45).
Conclusions: Contemporary practice factors such as productivity standards and billing/coding practices are related PT's perception of ethical workplace environment and both are related to PT burnout and intent-to-leave. Factors identified in this study related to burnout are all under organizational control.
Keywords: Burnout; ethics; ethics environment; intent-to-leave; physical therapists.