Physical Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, and Quiet Quitting in Physiotherapists

January 5, 2026 updated by: Mahmut Sürmeli, Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Physical Fatigue, Compassion Fatigue, and Quiet Quitting Tendency Among Physiotherapists in Türkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study

Physiotherapists are exposed to both physical and emotional demands due to the nature of their profession. Repetitive physical workload, prolonged standing, patient handling, and continuous interaction with patients may contribute to physical fatigue and compassion fatigue. These factors may negatively affect work engagement and lead to a phenomenon known as quiet quitting, which refers to reduced psychological involvement in work without formally leaving the job.

The aim of this study is to examine levels of physical fatigue and compassion fatigue among physiotherapists working in Türkiye and to investigate their association with quiet quitting tendencies. This observational, cross-sectional study will include physiotherapists actively working in public or private healthcare settings. Data will be collected using validated self-report questionnaires administered online and face-to-face.

Understanding the relationship between occupational fatigue and quiet quitting may help inform strategies to improve well-being, job satisfaction, and sustainability in the physiotherapy workforce.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Physiotherapists perform physically demanding tasks such as repetitive movements, patient transfers, and prolonged standing, while also managing emotional demands related to continuous patient care. These occupational stressors may lead to physical fatigue and compassion fatigue, which can negatively influence professional engagement and work sustainability. In recent years, the concept of quiet quitting has emerged to describe a reduction in psychological commitment to work while remaining formally employed. However, limited evidence exists regarding the relationship between occupational fatigue and quiet quitting among physiotherapists.

This study is designed as an observational, cross-sectional investigation aiming to evaluate physical fatigue, compassion fatigue, and quiet quitting tendencies among physiotherapists working in Türkiye. Eligible participants will be physiotherapists who have graduated from a Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation undergraduate program and are actively working in public or private healthcare institutions. Participation will be voluntary, and informed consent will be obtained electronically prior to data collection.

Data will be collected through face-to-face interviews and online platforms, including electronic survey tools and professional communication channels. Participants will complete a demographic and occupational information form followed by validated measurement instruments assessing compassion fatigue, physical fatigue, work-related musculoskeletal discomfort, and quiet quitting attitudes.

Statistical analyses will be conducted using appropriate descriptive and inferential methods. Relationships between variables will be examined using correlation analyses, and the predictive effects of physical fatigue and compassion fatigue on quiet quitting tendencies will be evaluated using multiple regression analysis. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to a better understanding of occupational well-being among physiotherapists and to provide evidence to support strategies aimed at improving working conditions and professional sustainability in rehabilitation services.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Central
      • Tokat Province, Central, Turkey (Türkiye), 60250
        • Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Faculty of Health Sciences
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of physiotherapists actively working in public or private healthcare institutions in Türkiye.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Graduated from a Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation undergraduate program
  • Actively working as a physiotherapist in Türkiye
  • Voluntary participation and provision of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate in the study
  • Working in a profession other than physiotherapy
  • Incomplete or incorrectly completed questionnaires

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists actively working in public or private healthcare institutions in Türkiye who voluntarily participate in the study.
Other: No Intervention (Observational Study)
This is an observational study. No intervention is administered. Data are collected using self-report questionnaires.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quiet Quitting Tendency
Time Frame: At enrollment (single assessment)
Quiet quitting tendency will be assessed using the Quiet Quitting Attitude Scale, a validated self-report questionnaire measuring reduced psychological engagement with work. Higher scores indicate a greater tendency toward quiet quitting.
At enrollment (single assessment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Fatigue Level
Time Frame: At enrollment (single assessment)
Physical fatigue will be assessed using the Fatigue Assessment Scale, a validated self-report measure evaluating physical and cognitive aspects of fatigue. Higher scores reflect greater fatigue severity.
At enrollment (single assessment)
Compassion Fatigue Level
Time Frame: At enrollment (single assessment)
Compassion fatigue will be measured using the Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, which evaluates emotional and physical exhaustion related to caring for individuals experiencing distress. Higher scores indicate greater compassion fatigue.
At enrollment (single assessment)
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Discomfort
Time Frame: Past 7 days
Work-related musculoskeletal discomfort will be evaluated using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, which assesses the frequency, severity, and work interference of musculoskeletal symptoms experienced during the past week.
Past 7 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

February 22, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 23, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 12, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • GOP-FTR-01-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared due to privacy and confidentiality considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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