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Date and Time: Thursday, April 23 @ 6:30PM
Chairperson(s): Lisa Boyajian, OTA, MS, COTA, CPRP
Kylie Brenneman, OTA, COTA
Location: Zoom - to be sent out day before the event
Title: Burnout among Occupational Therapy Assistants
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify at least three common signs and contributing factors of burnout among occupational therapy assistants, including workplace and individual risk factors.
2. Examine the impact of burnout on occupational therapy practice, including effects on job satisfaction, quality of care, and workforce retention.
3. Apply at least two evidence-based strategies to reduce burnout risk, including approaches that support professional engagement, work–life balance, and supportive work environments.
Bio/Focus: Burnout among occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) is a concern within the healthcare workforce. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, decreased motivation, and reduced personal accomplishment. This often results from chronic workplace stressors (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2024).
Occupational therapy assistants experience similar job demands of other healthcare workers, including high productivity expectations, emotional labor, and role ambiguity, which contribute to an increased risk of burnout.
Recent studies indicate that burnout is prevalent among occupational therapy practitioners and is associated with negative outcomes such as decreased job satisfaction, increased turnover, and reduced quality of care
(Dopp et al., 2022; Khan et al., 2023).
Factors that contribute to burnout among occupational therapy assistants include excessive workload, limited autonomy, insufficient organizational support, budgetary restraints, and challenges related to work–life balance.
Evidence suggests that workplace characteristics such as long hours, high job demands, and low perceived value are positively associated with burnout. Evidence also suggests that strategies such as engagement, professional identity, and supportive environments are protective factors in reducing burn out risk. (Khan et al., 2023). Additionally, research on occupational therapy students highlights that poor life balance and elevated stress levels may begin during training, potentially predisposing individuals to burnout early in their careers (Edwards et al., 2021).
References:
American Occupational Therapy Association. (2024). Burnout among occupational therapy practitioners. OT Practice.
https://www.aota.org/publications/ot-practice/ot-practice-issues/2024/research-update-burnout-among-occupational-therapy-practitioners
Dopp, A. L., Brown, L. M., & Stewart, K. E. (2022). Burnout and work engagement among occupational therapy practitioners: A systematic review.
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 7602205130.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.048123
Edwards, H., Dirette, D., & Shehan, C. (2021). Life balance, stress, and burnout in occupational therapy assistant students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education 5(3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2021.050307
Khan, A., Hussain, R., & Malik, A. (2023). Prevalence and predictors of burnout among rehabilitation professionals: A cross-sectional study. BMC Health Services Research, 23, 1187.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10234-5
This event will be closed at 4 p.m. the day before the event. Please register by April 22, 2026.
MAOT is not responsible for maintaining records for contact hours.