Background: Physical therapists provide treatment with patient counseling. Therefore, communication with the patient is essential. There was insufficient research on the relationship between communication competence and job satisfaction of physical therapists. Objectives: To examine the relationship between communication ability and job satisfaction of physical therapists. Design: Descriptive surveys. Methods: The subjects were 89 physical therapists who working in hospitals and clinics. Communication competence were measured using global interpersonal communication competence scale (GICC-45). Job satisfaction were measured with the job satisfaction questionnaire used by Park. Results: As a result of comparison by employment status, there was a significant difference (P<.05). In comparison between working positions, there was a significant difference between staff and manager compared to assistant manager (P<.05). In comparison between working hours, there was a significant difference between more than 40 hours per week compared to less than 40 hours per week (P<.05). Communication competence and job satisfaction was found to have a significant positive correlation (P<.05). Specifically, communication ability were found to have a significant positive correlation with job pride, organization factor, autonomy and payment, working condition, welfare and stability (P<.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the higher the communication competence of the physical therapist, their job satisfaction was higher.

Background: Pregnancy-related low back pain (PLBP) has fewer systematic guidelines than pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, previous studies have not evaluated physical therapy for this ailment in Korea. Objects: We aimed to provide a detailed account of clinical decision making by Korean physiotherapists while treating PLBP. Methods: In total, 955 questionnaires were distributed mainly in places of continuing education held by the Korean Physical Therapy Association from April to July 2019. The same questionnaire was posted on a website used by physiotherapists. We collected subject information, a specific Vignette typically represent symptoms of PLBP, and responses to multiple questions about decision making, subjective recognition and interest level in the field of women’s health physiotherapy (WHPT). Results: The overall response rate was 56% (n = 537); of these, responses to 520 questionnaires were analyzed. Most respondents chose various combinations of physical therapy methods. There were significant differences in subjective recognition levels of WHPT according to gender (p < 0.05), age (p < 0.01), education level (p < 0.01), and clinical experience (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in interest according to gender (p < 0.01) and education level (p < 0.01). With respect to the types of treatment, significant differences were noted in selective rates for “manual therapy”, “pain control”, and “supportive devices” based on gender. Manual therapy tended to be chosen more with increasing age and clinical experience. With increased education level, there were fewer choices for the use of pain control. Conclusion: This is the first data on how Korean physiotherapists manage PLBP patients using the vignette method. We were able to recognize the Korean physical therapist's decision on PLBP patients, and observed statistically significant correlations. This may aid in developing future research and education plans in the WHPT field.

Stress and fatigue are general physical aspects of our daily lives. It has been shown that physical therapists have different levels of job stress and fatigue according to the type A/B behavior patterns. This study collected data from 212 physical therapists between October 28 and November 23, 2016 using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The study results showed the proportion of physical therapists with the Type A behavior patterns(TABP) was 18% greater than that of physical therapists with the Type B behavior patterns(TBBP). In this study, physical therapists with TABP were compared with physical therapists with TBBP. The results indicated that physical therapists with TABP were more inclined to experience higher levels of overall job stress and fatigue from the following stress factors: physical environment, job requirement, and job autonomy. Therefore, the stronger the tendency toward TABP, the stronger the feeling of job stress and fatigue from physical environment, job requirement, and job autonomy. Those with a tendency toward TBBP showed positive correlations between job requirement and the total job stress score; thus, the stronger the tendency toward TBBP, the stronger the feeling of overall job stress and fatigue from job requirement. This study suggests that it is necessary to manage the job stress and fatigue of physical therapists with both TABP and TBBP and to manage the job stress and fatigue of physical therapists with the type A behavioral pattern.

Importance of the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) has been increasing in the hospital industry such as health care industry and financial industry. This study investigated in order to identify the factors like general, occupational and ergonomically characteristics of the subjects related to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of physical therapists (PTs). Ergonomic tools of rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) were used for evaluation workload of the tasks. Prevalence of MSDs were 13 PTs (26.0%) for neck, 31 PTs (62.0%) for shoulder, 9 PTs (18.0%) for arm/elbow, 27 PTs (54.0%) for hand/wrist, 28 PTs (56.0%) for back, 14 PTs (28.0%) for leg/foot. The analysis of the rate of the pain intensity showed that 53.5% subjects experience moderate pain and 14.0% subjects experience severe pain. Factors which were general characteristics, for example, height, ergonomically characteristics such as 'Posture Score A' were related musculoskeletal subjective symptoms in logistic analysis (p<.05). Among physical therapists, action level of RULA were action level 2 (6.0%), action level 3 (52.0%), action level 4 (42.0%). Physical therapists were estimated one of the highest risk factor in this study. This study suggested that the need of preventive education and program for PTs (physical therapists). Comprehensive and systematic management plans should be established to include both ergonomic and sociopsychological aspects.

목적 : 본 연구는 작업·물리치료사들의 근골격계질환 유해인자를 확인하고 이에 따른 근골격계질환 예방프로그램의 적용이 통증 및 직무스트레스에 미치는 효과에 대해 알아보고자 하였다.연구방법 : 2010년 5월부터 동년 7월까지 경남 창원에 위치하는 C병원에 근무하는 21명의 작업·물리치료사들을 대상으로 근골격계질환 유해인자를 Quick Exposure Checklist(QEC)를 통해 확인한 후, 이에 따른 근골격계질환 예방프로그램을 8주간 적용하였다. 대상자들의 중재 전·후의 통증과 스트레스 변화를 측정하기 위해 시각적 상사척도(Visual Analogue Scale; VAS)와 한국인 직무스트레스 측정도구를 각각 사용하였다.결과 : QEC를 통해 작업·물리치료사들의 업무환경은 개선이 필요한 수준임을 알 수 있었고, 중재를 적용 후 중재 전에 비해 VAS와 한국인 직무스트레스 측정도구의 결과가 유의하게 감소함을 알 수 있었다(p<.05). 또한 VAS와 한국인 직무스트레스 측정도구의 상관관계 분석을 통해 통증변화와 직무스트레스변화 간에 양의 상관관계가 있음을 확인하였다(p<.05). 결론 : 본 연구는 작업·물리치료사의 업무환경 분석을 통한 근골격계질환 예방프로그램을 적용함으로써 근골격계질환 예방활동이 작업·물리치료사의 통증 및 직무스트레스 감소에 긍정적인 효과가 있음을 제시하였다.

This study purposed to analyze difference in the perception of service quality between physical therapy patients and physical therapists and to provide basic materials for maintaining high service quality that meets patients' expectation in each service area. For this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey with physical therapy patients and physical therapists in Jeju from the 6 to 30 of January, 2010. In the survey, we received 133 questionnaires from patients and 125 from physical therapists, and used them in analysis. The instrument used in this study to measure service quality was prepared by the researcher through adapting and supplementing the SERVQUAL model developed by Parasuraman et al (1991). For our physical therapy environment, and it consisted of a total of 23 questions in five areas, namely, tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Patients' perception of service quality was high in order of reliability, assurance, empathy, responsiveness, and tangibility. In four areas with exception of reliability, quality perceived by patients was lower than that perceived by physical therapists, and particularly in responsiveness(t=2.82, p=.00) and empathy(t=2.02, p=.04), the difference between patients and physical therapists was statistically significant. In order to reduce the difference in the perception of service quality between patients and physical therapists, it is considered necessary to enhance physical therapists' perception of service quality and to prepare measures for improving service equality so that services would be provided through respectful communication with maintaining the dignity of patients, rather than focusing on disease.

This study investigated the relationships between Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), contributing factors, and the occupational stress of physical therapists. Self-reported questionnaires were given to 180 physical therapists in Gangwon Province. Variables examined included the prevalence of pain sites related to WMSDs; pain intensity; pain pattern; and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Among physical therapists, work-related musculoskeletal pain commonly affected the low back (30.1%), shoulder (29.3%), and wrist (12.2%). The sites of work-related musculoskeletal pain treated medically were the low back (22.8%), shoulder (19.8%), neck (12.7%), and wrist (12.1%). "Repeating the same work constantly" was suggested to be the major cause of the pain. The younger therapists were significantly more likely to feel high job stress due to the physical environment (p<.05), job demand (p<.05), and organizational system (p<.01). Women were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job demand, insufficient job control, the organization system, and job rewards. Men were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job insecurity. Weak positive relationships were observed between work-related musculoskeletal pain and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Physical therapists appear to be at higher risk of WMSDs because 80.1% of the physical therapists studied experienced work-related musculoskeletal pain. To reduce the risk, we need intervention strategies such as preventive education, ergonomically designed medical equipment, a psychosocial approach to work conditions, improved mechanical conditions related to therapeutic patterns, and an institutional infrastructure with sufficient personnel and scheduling.

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between empowerment, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment among physical therapists. Currently, healthcare is changing very rapidly with developments in science and technology. In response to these rapid and uncontrollable changes, organizational members are often empowered. Through the empowerment process, feelings of powerlessness and frustration can be reduced and factors promoting work performance, such as job satisfaction and organizational commitment could be enhanced. One said this term popularly, there was a lack of study. There have been few studies on physical therapy administration. Data was collected from 352 therapists from many hospitals from February 1 to February 28, 2008, and analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, etc., were performed. The results were as follows: Of all the characteristics of empowered subjects, gender (p<.05) and age were observed to be significantly different (p<.01). Educational background, working pattern, marriage status, and the period of duty were observed to be different among empowered therapists (p<.001). The degree of empowerment as perceived by therapists was 58.72. Empowerment was correlated with job satisfaction and organizational commitment (p<.01). The study on empowerment was significant from the aspect of strategies to increase work performance. To elucidate the optimal strategy to effectuate empowerment in clinical practice, we studied various aspects of empowerment. Further studies on the relationship between empowerment and organizational commitment are warranted.

The driving capacity screening test for the people with physical disabilities has been heavily criticized due to the following reasons. First, the passing scores have been set based on phys-ical power that is much higher than the power actually required for driving. Second, there is a lack of scientific data for the criteria of the passing scores. Third, it does not test persons who might have cognitive and visuo-perceptual deficits which affect safe driving greatly. The current traffic and transportation law warrants that the people with bilateral upper extremity disabilities are allowed to apply for a driver’s license examination if he/she can drive an individually modi-fied vehicle safely. It means that the focus of the driver licensing system for the people with physical disabilities has to be shifted from restricting the driving rights to enabling the potential drivers. In order to protect the individual’s rights and public safety, the driver rehabilitation spe-cialist system which emphasizes comprehensive evaluation and training for the people with physical disabilities has to be introduced. This article presents the critical roles the occupational therapists may play as driver rehabilitation specialists and generalists in the rehabilitation of drivers with physical disabilities.

This study analysed national data of manpower supply for physical therapists in Korea. Based on the comparative analysis results of the future demand and supply, as of May 1998, it is estimated that there was already an oversupply of physical therapists in Korea. This oversupply is expected to continue even though there would be an increase in hospital beds, rehabilitation facilities for the elderly, and nursing homes. Thus it would be desirable to cut down the number of students admitted to physical therapy schools each year. Our estimation shows that the Ministry of Health and Welfare must take measures to reduce the supply of physical therapist as soon as possible.