The impact of project management and business communication in a rehabilitation department on job satisfaction and preventing team burnout
Abstract
The subject of this research encompasses the intersection of human resources management, organizational psychology, and healthcare administration. It specifically examines how the integration of clinical project management frameworks and structured business communication modalities influences multidimensional job satisfaction and mitigates professional burnout among specialized rehabilitation department personnel. The primary goal is to comprehensively evaluate the complex, multidimensional relationship between the tripartite structural model of occupational burnout and distinct facets of subjective job satisfaction, thereby generating actionable project management and human resources interventions designed to stabilize clinical workforces. The objective is to rigorously test six directional hypotheses concerning the correlational, univariate, multivariate, and predictive relationships between emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced personal accomplishment, and five job satisfaction variables. This empirical evaluation is deeply contextualized within the broader global literature concerning the psychological health of rehabilitation professionals across varying socioeconomic and organizational infrastructures. The methodology employs a cross-sectional correlational research design utilizing a specialized 22-item adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory alongside a targeted 5-item job satisfaction scale. This instrument was distributed to a specialized multidisciplinary rehabilitation cohort (N=24). The rigorous statistical evaluation process includes Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency validation, Shapiro-Wilk distributional normality tests, Pearson and Spearman correlation matrices, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-corrected post-hoc testing, non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis corroboration, MANOVA for multivariate profile differentiation, and simultaneous multiple linear regression. Results: The analysis indicates a severe prevalence of emotional exhaustion, with 33.3% of the cohort classified at high risk. Despite this, depersonalization emerges as the strongest unique negative predictor of overall job satisfaction in multivariate space (β=-0.824, p=.008). MANOVA testing confirms highly significant multivariate profile differentiation across satisfaction groups (Wilks’ Λ=.216, p <.001). A critical anomaly reveals no significant correlation between objective workload appropriateness and any burnout subscale. Conclusions: The conclusions demonstrate that professional burnout is profoundly and inextricably linked to job dissatisfaction, driven primarily by relational and communicative detachment (depersonalization) rather than objective task volume. Effective prevention requires systemic, structural clinical project management interventions, emphasizing communication optimization, leadership development, and the protection of clinical autonomy over individual resilience training.
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Kwiatkowska-Ciotucha, D., Załuska, U., Ślazyk-Sobol, M., et al. (2019). Occupational Burnout in Health Care – Analysis of Systemic and Organisational Risks as Well as Possible Preventive Actions. Econometrics. https://doi.org/10.15611/eada.2019.4.04
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Burri, S. D., Smyrk, K. M., Melegy, M. S., et al. (2022). Risk factors associated with physical therapist burnout: a systematic review. Physiotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2022.01.005
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Tabaj, A., Pastirk, S., Bitenc, Č., Masten, R. (2015). Work-Related Stress, Burnout, Compassion, and Work Satisfaction of Professional Workers in Vocational Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355214537383
Lin, C.-C., & Ni, C. (2021). The Association Between Adaptive Reserve, Burnout, and Stress Among Rehabilitation Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of human services. https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.75389
Bruschini, M., Carli, A., Burla, F. (2018). Burnout and work-related stress in Italian rehabilitation professionals: A comparison of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. Work. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172657
Ehresmann, C., Kockert, S., Schott, T. (2015). Burnout bei Pflegekräften in der medizinischen Rehabilitation – Spezifische Ansatzpunkte für das Betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47264-4_8
Karamushka, T., Karamushka, L., Visich, O. (2024). Features of professional burnout of the staff of rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers. Organization psychology. Economic psychology. https://doi.org/10.31108/2.2024.2.32.5
Connolly, E., Abdallah, I., Mohamed, H. A. I., et al. (2025). Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of burnout among Irish rheumatology consultants, specialists registrars, registrars, advanced nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2025.06.533
Albuquerque, C., Martins, R., Alves, V., Cruz, C. (2013). 1991 – Burnout Syndrome In Nurses Specialists Rehabilitation. European psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(13)76928-1
Mozayan, M., Rezaee, M., Kalantari, M., Tabatabaee, S. (2012). A Survey On Burnout And Related Factors Among Occupational Therapists In Iran. Rehabilitation Medicine. https://doi.org/10.22037/R.M.V1I1.3213
Lu, W., Zhou, P., Zheng, S., Xue, D. (2017). A survey on the current status of rehabilitation services and burnout of rehabilitation professionals in Shanghai. Work. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172496
Nowrouzi-kia, B., King, E., Edwards, B., et al. (2024). Burnout and work participation of home care rehabilitation professionals transitioning out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae023.1096
Inam, A., & Ahmed, M. (2025). From burnout vs bounce-back: risk, protection, and interventions strategies for rehabilitation professionals. Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy. https://doi.org/10.37349/ent.2025.1004117
Kwiatkowska-Ciotucha, D., Załuska, U., Ślazyk-Sobol, M., et al. (2019). Occupational Burnout in Health Care – Analysis of Systemic and Organisational Risks as Well as Possible Preventive Actions. Econometrics. https://doi.org/10.15611/eada.2019.4.04
Steinberg, D., Faurot, K., Thompson, K. L., et al. (2023). Burnout and Wellness Strategies Utilized by Academic Physiatry Programs: An Analysis and Perspective from the AAP Chairs Council. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002245
Rollins, A., Eliacin, J., Russ-Jara, A. L., et al. (2021). Organizational conditions that influence work engagement and burnout: A qualitative study of mental health workers. Psychiatric rehabilitation journal. https://doi.org/10.1037/prj0000472
Chorna, V., Kolomiets, V., Kotsur, L., et al. (2025). Emotional burnout of specialists of multidisciplinary teams of healthcare institutions: analysis of foreign experience. Trauma. https://doi.org/10.22141/1608-1706.3.26.2025.1017
Burri, S. D., Smyrk, K. M., Melegy, M. S., et al. (2022). Risk factors associated with physical therapist burnout: a systematic review. Physiotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2022.01.005
Shin, J., McCarthy, M., Schmidt, C., et al. (2022). Prevalence and Predictors of Burnout Among Occupational Therapy Practitioners in the United States. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.048108
Gudžinskienė, V., & Pozdniakovas, A. (2021). Organizational reasons that cause professional burnout syndrome in social workers. Social work. https://doi.org/10.13165/SD-21-19-1-02
Murphy, K., Tucker, M., Cataldo, L. J., et al. (2025). Assessing and Managing Prevalence of Burnout in Inpatient Occupational and Physical Therapists in an Acute Care Setting. Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1097/JAT.0000000000000252
Landi L, Regoli G, Roversi A, Mitello L. Progetto terapeutico riabilitativo e burnout a confronto: una ricerca quali-quantitativa su un'esperienza del servizio psichiatrico di diagnodi e cura [Therapeutical rehabilitation project and burnout: a experience of quali-quantitative research in a psychiatric department]. Prof Inferm. 2008 Apr-Jun;61(2):112-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18667131
Ferguson, J. J., Fritsch, A., Rentmeester, C., et al. (2023). Feeling exhausted: How outpatient physical therapists perceive and manage job stressors. Musculoskeletal Care. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1761
Tabaj, A., Pastirk, S., Bitenc, Č., Masten, R. (2015). Work-Related Stress, Burnout, Compassion, and Work Satisfaction of Professional Workers in Vocational Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355214537383
Lin, C.-C., & Ni, C. (2021). The Association Between Adaptive Reserve, Burnout, and Stress Among Rehabilitation Counselors During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of human services. https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.75389
Bruschini, M., Carli, A., Burla, F. (2018). Burnout and work-related stress in Italian rehabilitation professionals: A comparison of physiotherapists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. Work. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172657
Ehresmann, C., Kockert, S., Schott, T. (2015). Burnout bei Pflegekräften in der medizinischen Rehabilitation – Spezifische Ansatzpunkte für das Betriebliche Gesundheitsmanagement. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47264-4_8
Karamushka, T., Karamushka, L., Visich, O. (2024). Features of professional burnout of the staff of rehabilitation centers for wounded soldiers. Organization psychology. Economic psychology. https://doi.org/10.31108/2.2024.2.32.5
Connolly, E., Abdallah, I., Mohamed, H. A. I., et al. (2025). Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of burnout among Irish rheumatology consultants, specialists registrars, registrars, advanced nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ard.2025.06.533
Albuquerque, C., Martins, R., Alves, V., Cruz, C. (2013). 1991 – Burnout Syndrome In Nurses Specialists Rehabilitation. European psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(13)76928-1
Mozayan, M., Rezaee, M., Kalantari, M., Tabatabaee, S. (2012). A Survey On Burnout And Related Factors Among Occupational Therapists In Iran. Rehabilitation Medicine. https://doi.org/10.22037/R.M.V1I1.3213
Lu, W., Zhou, P., Zheng, S., Xue, D. (2017). A survey on the current status of rehabilitation services and burnout of rehabilitation professionals in Shanghai. Work. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172496
Nowrouzi-kia, B., King, E., Edwards, B., et al. (2024). Burnout and work participation of home care rehabilitation professionals transitioning out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqae023.1096
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