AUTHOR=Wang Jun , Yang Jiachun , Duan Zhiyong , Huang Yue , Deng Na 

TITLE=Investigation and analysis of rehabilitation therapists' current situation in Hunan province after the COVID-19 epidemic: a cross-sectional study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2025.1614160

DOI=10.3389/fresc.2025.1614160

ISSN=2673-6861

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThis study examines the current status of rehabilitation therapists in Hunan Province after the COVID-19 outbreak and identifies factors affecting their job satisfaction.ObjectiveThe purpose of this article is to understand the post-pandemic conditions of rehabilitation therapists in Hunan Province.MethodAfter expert review, a cross-sectional questionnaire was disseminated via WeChat using the Wenjuanxing platform. Of 809 questionnaires collected, 769 valid responses were included in the final analysis after excluding incomplete or inconsistent data.ResultsThis study analyzed the relationships between demographic factors and job satisfaction among rehabilitation therapists. Significant differences were found in age, work experience, job title, and monthly salary level (P < 0.001). Notably, lower income was strongly associated with greater job dissatisfaction; each one-category increase in monthly income was associated with 51% lower odds of being in a higher (more dissatisfied) category of job satisfaction (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.42–0.57; P < 0.001), underscoring income as a key predictor of job satisfaction.ConclusionsOur investigation reveals that rehabilitation therapists' roles in Hunan have become more specialized, with monthly income emerging as a critical driver of job satisfaction. These findings underscore the need for competitive compensation and wider professional support to maintain workforce stability. By focusing on the post-pandemic landscape in Hunan Province, this study offers valuable insights that may guide policy and practice for rehabilitation therapists across China.