Professionals Serving Individuals With Special Needs and Quality of Life

NCT07234435 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Special Needs and Professional
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In recent years, the number of individuals with special needs (SNIs) requiring care has been increasing both globally and in our country. In line with the principles of a social welfare state, professionals have taken on a growing role in the care, treatment, and education of SNIs. These professionals include physiotherapists, teachers, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Unlike the education and treatment of typically developing individuals, providing services to SNIs can place additional burdens on staff, potentially leading over time to various physical, psychological, and emotional challenges. The demanding nature of working with SNIs, high expectations, environmental conditions, low wages despite intensive labor, lack of job security in the private sector, and the potential risks associated with working with individuals with disabilities can all create significant stress for service providers. This, in turn, may negatively affect both their personal and family lives as well as the quality of the services delivered.

Conditions

Physiotherapist; Teachers

Keywords

Nutrition knowledge level; individuals with special needs; physical activity; burnout; quality of life

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• International Physical Activity Questionnaire

  The physical activity levels of the participants will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In this study, the self-administered short form, which covers the last seven days, will be used. The total score of the questionnaire is calculated by summing the duration (in minutes) and frequency (in days) of walking, moderate, and vigorous activities. The time spent sitting (sedentary behavior) is computed separately as an independent score. By multiplying the duration (minutes), frequency (days), and corresponding MET value (metabolic equivalent of task; the ratio of work metabolic rate to resting metabolic rate), a composite score is obtained and expressed as MET-minutes/week. The MET values are defined as 3.3 METs for walking, 4 METs for moderate-intensity activity, and 8 METs for vigorous-intensity activity. Inactive: \<600 MET-min/week Low physical activity level: 600-3000 MET-min/week Sufficient physical activity level: \>3000 MET-min/week

  4 months

• The Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale

  It is assumed that nutritional knowledge enables individuals to choose healthy foods, prepare them in accordance with healthy eating recommendations, and consume them appropriately, thereby leading to improvements in dietary habits. The Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults, recently developed by Batmaz and Güneş (2018) in Turkey, includes subdomains such as basic nutrition and dietary preferences (Batmaz, H., \& Güneş, E., 2018). The scale was developed to assess adults' nutritional knowledge and consists of items addressing food and nutrient knowledge, food preparation and cooking methods, and the relationship between nutrition and health. The items are rated on a five-point Likert scale, ranging from strongly agree (4 points) to strongly disagree (0 points). Items containing incorrect statements regarding nutrition knowledge are reverse scored.

  4 months

• Maslach Burnout Inventory

  Burnout levels will be assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Developed by Maslach and Jackson (1981), the inventory conceptualizes burnout not as a single-dimensional construct but as a multifaceted phenomenon, allowing each dimension to be evaluated independently rather than by a single overall score. The MBI consists of 22 items grouped under three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. These subscales collectively assess the degree of burnout experienced by individuals in professional settings. Each item of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never, 4 = always). Higher Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization scores indicate greater burnout, while higher Personal Accomplishment scores indicate lower burnout. Burnout is evaluated based on the three subscale scores rather than a total score.

  4 months

• Short Form-36 Health Survey

  Quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). This is a self-report questionnaire that evaluates eight dimensions of health through 36 items: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical and emotional problems, mental health, vitality (energy), bodily pain, and general health perception. Each subscale is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better perceived health status and quality of life.

  4 months

Study Arms (1)

Professionals Serving Individuals with Special Needs

The difficulty and slow progress of programs implemented for individuals with special needs can cause physical and emotional wear and tear on professionals providing services to individuals, change in their eating habits, decrease their quality of life, and affect their general health. * Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers working in a private education and rehabilitation center or any public institution. * Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers who have been working for at least two years, due to professional experience and allowance for attrition.

Behavioral: International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Behavioral: The Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale; Behavioral: Maslach Burnout Inventory; Behavioral: Short Form-36 Health Survey

Interventions

The Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale BEHAVIORAL

It is assumed that nutritional knowledge enables individuals to choose healthy foods, prepare them in accordance with healthy eating recommendations, and consume them appropriately, thereby leading to improvements in dietary habits. The Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale for Adults, recently developed by Batmaz and Güneş (2018) in Turkey, includes subdomains such as basic nutrition and dietary preferences (Batmaz, H., \& Güneş, E., 2018).

Professionals Serving Individuals with Special Needs

Maslach Burnout Inventory BEHAVIORAL

Burnout levels will be assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Developed by Maslach and Jackson (1981), the inventory conceptualizes burnout not as a single-dimensional construct but as a multifaceted phenomenon, allowing each dimension to be evaluated independently rather than by a single overall score. The MBI consists of 22 items grouped under three subscales: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment.

Professionals Serving Individuals with Special Needs

Short Form-36 Health Survey BEHAVIORAL

Quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). This is a self-report questionnaire that evaluates eight dimensions of health through 36 items: physical functioning, social functioning, role limitations due to physical and emotional problems, mental health, vitality (energy), bodily pain, and general health perception.

Professionals Serving Individuals with Special Needs

International Physical Activity Questionnaire BEHAVIORAL

The physical activity levels of the participants will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In this study, the self-administered short form, which covers the last seven days, will be used. The total score of the questionnaire is calculated by summing the duration (in minutes) and frequency (in days) of walking, moderate, and vigorous activities. .

Professionals Serving Individuals with Special Needs

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Professionals who work with individuals with special needs: Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers

You may qualify if:

• years old
• Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers working in a private education and rehabilitation center or any public institution.
• Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers who have been working for at least two years due to professional experience and attrition.

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who do not volunteer to participate in the study.
• Retired physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and teachers.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nigde Omer Halisdemir University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

Niğde, Merkez, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Öztürk, M. (2005). A research on reliability and validity of international physical activity questionnaire and determination of physical activity level in university students. Hacettepe University Health Science Institute an Unpublished PhD Thesis, Ankara (in Turkish).

  RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Burnout, Psychological

Interventions

Maslach Burnout Inventory

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CROSSOVER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2025
• First Posted: November 18, 2025
• Study Start: October 25, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2026
• Study Completion: January 15, 2026
• Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)