Factors related to job turnover in physical therapy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of personal and work-related factors in relation to job turnover in the physical therapy profession. A survey questionnaire was mailed to a nationwide sample of 820 physical therapists, and 567 responses (69%) were used in the data analyses. The two most important reasons for leaving a job were "desire to pursue a different area of physical therapy" and "insufficient salary to meet financial needs." Significant differences were found in the relative importance of job-turnover factors when the sample was stratified according to physical therapy education level, percentage of time in direct patient care, years in the physical therapy profession, and sex. A careful look at the factors contributing to job turnover will help physical therapy administrators retain staff members.