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Quantitative Literature Review: The Experience of Burnout of Rehabilitation Therapists in Long-Term Care Settings

Sadikshya Shrestha

East Central University, School of Nursing

NRSG 3883-01 Nursing Research

10/31/2025

Quantitative Literature Review: The Experience of Burnout of Rehabilitation Therapists in Long-Term Care Settings

The principle of this quantitative literature review is to look at the experience of burnout among rehabilitation therapists working in long-term care (LTC) settings. Rehabilitation therapists, including occupational and physical therapists, play a very important role in helping older adults maintain independence and their quality of life. However, long standing exposure to emotional and physical stressors in LTC back ground often leads to burnout—a many-sided condition involving emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and drop off sense of accomplishment.

In progress evidence indicates that burnout among healthcare providers is influenced by various work-related and psychological factors such as too much workload, lack of recognition, low engagement, and emotional strain. The studies reread in this paper are organized by the chain of command of evidence, beginning with a meta-analysis (highest level), followed by a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and a descriptive correlational study (lower level). This organization provides a widespread understanding of both the scope and depth of research evidence related to burnout among rehabilitation professionals.

Background and Significance

Burnout is explained as a psychological comeback to chronic occupational stress, marked by fatigue, distrust, and reduced professional value. In LTC settings, rehabilitation therapists cope with a combination of high caseloads, administrative demands, and the emotional challenges of caring for residents with chronic or terminal illnesses. These stressors can lead to the diminished inspiration, increased turnover, and compromised care outcomes.

From a nursing and rehabilitation point of view, understanding burnout is critical because it affects not only the well-being of the professional but also patient safety, satisfaction, and overall quality of care. Distinguishing the work-related and psychological factors that contribute to burnout can bring up-to-date organizational and educational strategies targeted at prevention. By addressing such issues, healthcare leaders can improve retention, promote staff resilience, and make sure consistent delivery of high-quality rehabilitation care in LTC circumstances.

Research Question

For rehabilitation therapists in long-term care settings, what work-related and psychological factors are associated with burnout, and how can evidence-based interventions reduce its impact?

Systematic Review or Meta-analysis Review

A meta-analysis conducted by Park (2021) explored the main factors associated with burnout among occupational therapists and provides a strong foundation for understanding burnout in rehabilitation settings. Using databases such as ProQuest, PubMed, CINAHL, EBSCOhost, and ScienceDirect, Park reviewed seventeen quantitative studies involving a total of 2,430 occupational therapists. The main purpose of this analysis was to identify and quantify the key contributors to burnout within the profession. The outcome indicated that long working hours, high workloads, and job demands were significantly related to burnout, whereas engagement, job satisfaction, organizational rewards, and feeling valued acted as protective factors. The study’s strengths included a comprehensive literature search and the use of demanding meta-analytic statistical methods; however, variations in cultural context and work environments across studies limited the generalizability of the findings. Overall, the meta-analysis provides strong evidence that both personal and organizational factors contribute to burnout, highlighting the importance of promoting engagement and recognition within LTC facilities to enhance therapist well-being and retention.

Randomized Controlled Trial (Experimental Study) or Quasi-Experimental Study

A randomized controlled trial by Jeong and Kim (2025) investigated the impact of client-centered occupational therapy on mental health outcomes in older adults with depression, providing indirect insights relevant to burnout prevention among rehabilitation professionals. The study, retrieved from the Wiley Online Library using the keywords “client-centered therapy,” “occupational therapy,” and “depression,” included 30 older adults randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group received individualized, client-centered occupational therapy based on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), delivered twice weekly for eight weeks, while the control group received standard exercise-based care. Results showed that the intervention group had significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress levels and demonstrated improved community participation compared to the control group (Jeong & Kim, 2025). Although this study was conducted on patients rather than therapists, its implications for LTC rehabilitation staff are meaningful—demonstrating that individualized, goal-oriented approaches can improve emotional engagement and satisfaction in therapeutic practice. The study’s randomized design strengthened its validity, though its small sample size and limited geographic scope restricted its generalizability. These findings support the integration of client-centered, engagement-based strategies into LTC rehabilitation practice to enhance emotional fulfillment and reduce therapist burnout.

Descriptive Correlational, Predictive Correlational, or Cohort Study

El-Fatah et al. (2025) conducted a descriptive correlational study exploring the relationship between burnout and psychological distress among pediatric oncology nurses, offering additional insight applicable to burnout in LTC rehabilitation contexts. Using PubMed-indexed BMC Nursing as the data source and the search terms “burnout,” “psychological distress,” and “nurses,” the researchers collected data from 188 nurses working in inpatient and intensive care settings. Burnout was measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), while psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Results revealed that over half of the participants experienced low burnout, whereas 12.8% reported high levels. Importantly, burnout and psychological distress were strongly positively correlated (r = 0.59, p < .001), indicating that emotional strain substantially increases burnout risk (El-Fatah et al., 2025). The study was strengthened by its large sample and use of validated tools but limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data. These findings suggest that emotional distress plays a major role in burnout, reinforcing the need for mental health interventions and resilience training for rehabilitation therapists facing similar psychological pressures in LTC facilities.

Findings

The evidence across these quantitative studies illustrates that burnout among rehabilitation therapists is shaped by both organizational and psychological influences. Park (2021) demonstrated that heavy workloads and low recognition are primary predictors of burnout, while engagement and job satisfaction serve as protective factors. Jeong and Kim (2025) highlighted how client-centered interventions enhance emotional well-being and engagement, indirectly supporting burnout prevention. Similarly, El-Fatah et al. (2025) confirmed a strong association between burnout and psychological distress, indicating the emotional burden that healthcare providers experience in demanding care environments.

Collectively, the findings suggest that effective burnout reduction requires systemic and individual strategies—balancing workloads, providing recognition, and promoting mental health support. Common themes include the importance of emotional resilience, organizational support, and engagement-focused care. However, gaps remain regarding research specific to rehabilitation therapists in LTC settings, particularly in longitudinal intervention studies evaluating the sustainability of burnout reduction programs.

Conclusion

Burnout among rehabilitation therapists in long-term care settings poses a serious challenge to staff well-being, patient safety, and care quality. Quantitative evidence consistently shows that burnout arises from work-related stressors such as excessive workloads, insufficient recognition, and emotional strain. At the same time, engagement, client-centered practice, and supportive environments can mitigate these effects.

For nursing and rehabilitation practice, these findings emphasize the need for institutional policies that prioritize staff mental health, workload balance, and professional recognition. Implementing wellness programs, resilience training, and client-centered care models may reduce burnout and improve satisfaction among rehabilitation therapists. Future research should continue exploring targeted interventions within LTC settings to identify sustainable, evidence-based strategies that promote both caregiver and patient well-being.

References

Jeong, H., & Kim, D. (2025). Effects of client‐centered occupational therapy intervention in older adults with depression: A randomized controlled trial. Occupational Therapy International, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/oti/5559899

Osman, W., Mohamed, T., Abdallah, N., Ahmed, H. M., & Ramadan, S. (2025b). Analyzing the nexus between burnout and psychological distress in pediatric oncology nurses: a descriptive correlational investigation. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03061-5

Park, E.-Y. (2021). Meta-Analysis of Factors Associated with Occupational Therapist Burnout. Occupational Therapy International, 2021(1226841), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1226841