Professional Competencies and Job Satisfaction Among Physiotherapists: Validation and Psychometric Analysis of the Multidimensional Scale

TL;DR

This study explores how professional competencies and personal mastery affect job satisfaction among Italian physiotherapists.

Contribution

The study validates a multidimensional scale for assessing physiotherapists' competencies and links them to job satisfaction.

Findings

Job satisfaction is strongly predicted by professional competencies but not by personal mastery.

Five competency domains were identified: technical–clinical, communicative, collaborative, ethical, and educational.

Most physiotherapists reported high job satisfaction and strong professional competencies.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Professional competencies and personal mastery are key dimensions for the well-being of health professionals and the quality of care. In physiotherapy, where organizational complexity is common, job satisfaction depends on both clinical skills and resilience. While these aspects have been explored in nursing, evidence for physiotherapists is limited. This study aimed to (1) assess perceived competencies and personal mastery in Italian physiotherapists; (2) analyze their relationship with job satisfaction; and (3) examine the factorial structure of the Multidimensional Scale of Competences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 481 physiotherapists working in various care settings. Data were collected using the 25-item Multidimensional Scale of Competences, the 7-item Personal Mastery Scale, and a single job satisfaction item, all on a 5-point Likert scale. Analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, logistic regression, and exploratory factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis with five components). Results: Participants had a mean age of 31.1 years (SD = 8.3) and 7.3 years of professional experience (SD = 7.7); gender distribution was balanced. Most held a master’s (44.5%) or bachelor’s degree (36.8%). Job satisfaction was high, with 95% reporting moderate to very high satisfaction. Competencies showed a mean of 4.16 (SD = 0.95; α = 0.86), while Personal Mastery averaged 3.52 (SD = 1.29; α = 0.60). Competencies significantly predicted job satisfaction (OR = 8.37, p = 0.003), whereas Personal Mastery did not. Factor analysis identified five domains—technical–clinical, communicative, collaborative, ethical, and educational—explaining 50.3% of variance. Conclusions: Italian physiotherapists report high competencies and moderate personal mastery. Job satisfaction is strongly linked to competencies, highlighting their central role in professional well-being. Results support the importance of continuous professional development and organizational strategies that enhance competencies and resilience.