Coping strategies for the prevention of burnout among occupational therapists: A literature review
Author: Andrew O'Leary
Supervisors: Jackie Herkt, Yvonne Thomas
O'Leary, A. (2023). Coping strategies for the prevention of burnout among occupational therapists: A literature review. (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Occupational Therapy). Otago Polytechnic | Te Pūkenga, New Zealand. https://doi.org/10.34074/thes.6189
Abstract
The risk for occupational therapists of burnout in the workplace appears to be increasing. By identifying and implementing effective coping strategies for the prevention of burnout, occupational therapists can maintain their own overall health and well-being.
The aim of this study was to identify the coping strategies for reducing the risk and potentially preventing burnout among occupational therapists.
A review of the occupational therapy literature from 2010 to 2022 was conducted. A PICO framework was used to develop a research question, a search of online databases was conducted. Relevant literature was identified and screened prior to data extraction and thematic analysis.
A total of 20 papers were identified. The two main themes of external and internal strategies were identified as potential coping strategies for the prevention of burnout. Sub-themes included: Professional identity, job satisfaction, supervision, colleagues support, resilience, and mindfulness.
The review suggests internal and external coping strategies potentially reduce the risk of burnout for occupational therapists. Minimal evidence was found to demonstrate the effectiveness of coping strategies in clinical practice. Further research is recommended into the longitudinal impact of the identified coping strategies for burnout prevention.
Keywords: burnout, coping strategies, prevention, occupational therapists
Licence
A copy of the thesis is publicly available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International
