ABSTRACT
Background: Little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physiotherapists' mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physiotherapists' mental health in Belgium. Method(s): A total of 115 physiotherapists from 12 general hospitals in Brussels, working in COVID-19 care units (CCU) or non-COVID-19 care units (NCCU), participated in an electronic survey including validated measurement tools for PTSD, anxiety, insomnia and burnout. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess differences in mental health outcomes between physiotherapists who worked in a CCU and those who worked in an NCCU. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were also performed to assess risk factors for burnout. Result(s): Results showed significant levels of PTSD (9.6%), anxiety (33.9%), insomnia (40%) and burnout (33.9%) among participants. However, no significant differences were found between the 2 groups. It was also found that being isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic was a risk factor for burnout. Conclusion(s): Although no significant differences were found between the two groups, this study highlights a concerning rate of psychopathological symptoms among participants. Hospitals should therefore invest more time and resources into actions aiming at preserving the mental health of physiotherapists.Copyright © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
ABSTRACT
The internationalisation of higher education institutions is mainly focused on mobility programs. Increasingly programs try to improve the intercultural learning of their students through internationalising their curriculum and assessing their intercultural experiences. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the acquisition of intercultural competence and professional skills of higher education students during a specific short Erasmus+ mobility program. Thirty-two students came from four different countries and fields of study: Spain, Belgium, France, and China. A specific teaching methodology was used to promote the development of intercultural and professional competencies. A mixed methods approach was developed to collect data. The results showed that the students acquired intercultural competence and important professional skills. They improved their awareness of the importance of working in multicultural teams and settings;for 100% of them, this was just the first step in a developmental process. The participants reflected on their intercultural learning experiences and learned how to reflect and learn about intercultural and professional misunderstandings using coping mechanisms to face these issues. © 2022 by author(s).