Home Health Physical Therapists' Perceptions in Clinical Management of the Patient Following Post-Onset of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitative care in the home notably declined in the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been suggested to have greatly affected patient health¬care. PURPOSE: To examine the perspectives of home health physical therapists (PTs) on the impact of COVID-19 on patient management and fall risk assessment. METH¬ODS: The study utilized a 42-question internet-based survey to collect data from home health PTs. RESULTS: A total of 116 responses were analyzed. Most PTs (68.1%) reported the belief that their patients were more impaired than prior to COVID-19, but the referral rate for physical therapy decreased (50%). PT fearfulness did not increase when in close contact with patients (62.1%) or in the home (72.4%). Patients expressed fear in engaging in close contact with PTs (49.1%) and receiving physical therapy in the home (52.6%). PTs (45.8%) believe patients experienced an increased incidence of falls, but PTs did not change their fall risk assessment methods (62.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients would benefit from education by PTs to allay their fears while participating in physical therapy in the home setting. This was relevant since patients were reported by many PTs to have an increase in fall risk but may not have sought medical care due to fear of contracting COVID-19.

Relationships Between Burnout and Resilience: Experiences of Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Research on burnout among physical therapists and occupational therapists in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is limited. Resilience may be important for reducing burnout and promoting well-being among rehabilitation specialists, especially during periods of elevated occupational demand and stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate experiences of burnout, COVID-19 pandemic-related distress, and resilience among physical therapists and occupational therapists during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Physical therapists and occupational therapists working in a university-affiliated health system were invited to complete an online survey assessing burnout, COVID-19 pandemic-related distress, state- and trait-like resilience, physical activity, sleep disturbance, and financial concerns. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine variables associated with burnout as well as the contribution of specific aspects of resilience to burnout. RESULTS: Greater COVID-19 pandemic-related distress was associated with greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas state-like resilience at work was associated with lower emotional exhaustion, greater personal accomplishment, and lower depersonalization. Analyses examining the impact of specific components of resilience at work suggested that several components are associated with less burnout, with finding one's calling being particularly relevant for all 3 domains of burnout. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of burnout were reported by many physical therapists and occupational therapists. COVID-19-related distress and state-like resilience at work, particularly the perception of finding one's calling, emerged as consistently being associated with burnout in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. IMPACT: These findings can inform the development of interventions to reduce burnout among physical therapists and occupational therapists amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis of the sense of occupational stress and burnout syndrome among physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nature of physiotherapists' work involves an increased risk of occupational stress and burnout, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyse the level of perceived generalised stress, the occupational stress and the occupational burnout syndrome among physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. One hundred seventy professionally active physiotherapists participated in the study: 100-during the pandemic and 70 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was carried out using the authors' survey, the Subjective Work Assessment Questionnaire (SWAQ), the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Mini-COPE) inventory. The physiotherapists examined prior to the pandemic exhibited a higher level of generalised stress and higher level of occupational stress and occupational burnout (p = 0.0342; p < 0.00001; p < 0.00001, respectively). The key factors which caused intensified occupational stress in both groups included the lack of rewards at work, social interaction, and the lack of support. The results suggest that healthcare professionals including physiotherapists are exposed to occupational stress and a high risk of occupational burnout, not only during the COVID-19 pandemic. Occupational stress prevention programmes should be based on the identification and elimination of all occupational risks.

UK physiotherapists delivering physical activity advice: what are the challenges and possible solutions? A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the known health benefits of physical activity (PA), PA levels are in decline. Healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists, have been identified as ideal conduits to promote PA, yet their knowledge and awareness of PA guidelines are poor. The aims of this study were to explore current knowledge of PA guidelines among UK physiotherapists and identify barriers and possible solutions to delivering PA advice. DESIGN: A qualitative approach using semistructured interviews that took place between March and May 2021. Data were analysed with a thematic approach using Braun and Clarke's six steps. SETTING: Various inpatient and outpatient clinical settings across six UK regions. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen UK-based physiotherapists managing National Health Service patients were recruited through volunteer sampling in March 2021. RESULTS: Five themes and 16 subthemes (shown in parenthesis) were identified as barriers and solutions to delivering PA advice: physiotherapist intrinsic barriers (knowledge, fear/confidence); a lack of emphasis and priority given to PA (time constraints, minimal educational and staff training); patient barriers (compliance, expectations and fear of doing PA); increasing awareness of the PA guidelines (staff training, signposting awareness, use of social media and television campaigns); and optimising delivery (use of visual resources, good communication and approaches involving being individualised and gradual for patients with chronic conditions). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, physiotherapist participants seemed to have limited awareness of the PA guidelines despite recent updates and were faced with similar barriers to those previously reported in the literature. The solutions suggested could guide strategies to support physiotherapists being able to deliver PA advice. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficiency of any implemented solutions supporting the delivery of PA advice.

A comprehensive survey on the beliefs, perceptions, and clinical manifestations of pre and post Covid-19 vaccinations among physiotherapy students in the United Arab Emirates.

The World Health Organization has defined Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) as an infectious pandemic, caused by a newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 virus. Students relied heavily on the internet, social media, parents, and friends, in addition to medical advice for information on its presentation, complications, prevention, and management. It is evident from the literature that healthcare professionals including students who play an important role in the healthcare system may be lacking important information on COVID-19 vaccinations. Thus, the study aims to identify and compare the pre-post covid-19 vaccination-related essential information among Physical Therapy university students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among physiotherapy university students in the United Arab Emirates using a self-administrated structured questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised three sections covering beliefs, perceptions, and clinical manifestations of the pre- and post-COVID- 19 vaccination. The survey was shared with more than 300 students through email and social platforms during the time between January 2022 till December 2022. Most of the physiotherapy students believed the vaccines to be safe (71.3%) due to multiple reasons while others did not believe in the effectiveness of the vaccine (28.7%). Some students did report unusual symptoms (painful periods, hair loss, forgetfulness) after the vaccine (10%). Similar findings were reported for family members as well (14%). Students had a positive perception of the vaccine and reported willingness to take it even if not mandatory (68%). Some students did believe in the safety of the vaccine due to multiple reasons while some did not due to fear of long-term side effects and personal choices. The finding of the study could be useful to create confidence as well as awareness among physiotherapy students as they are often invited to aid during medical pandemics such as Covid 19. Also, higher rates of vaccination among healthcare professionals will impart higher acceptance in the medical organization due to safety guidelines. This could also help to counsel other students against fear and apprehension towards the vaccination of such kind in the future.

Performance of the intensivist physiotherapist during the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges and improvements in clinical practice / Atuação do fisioterapeuta intensivista durante a pandemia de COVID-19: desafios e modificações na prática clínica

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença causada pelo Novo Coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2), gerou um fluxo crescente de pacientes infectados que necessitaram de atenção especializada em terapia intensiva, impactando sobremaneira o Sistema de Saúde, repercutindo de forma direta na experiência de Fisioterapeutas Intensivistas, profissionais fundamentais nessa assistência. OBJETIVO: Verificar modificações na prática clínica do fisioterapeuta intensivista durante a Pandemia de COVID-19 e identificar desafios enfrentados durante assistência aos pacientes infectados. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de campo, exploratório, transversal e quantitativo, realizado de fevereiro a abril de 2021, com fisioterapeutas intensivistas de dois hospitais públicos (um municipal e outro estadual) da cidade de Fortaleza. Foi realizado um cálculo do fluxo de fisioterapeutas atuantes nessas unidades, estimando-se uma amostra de 71 profissionais para compor o estudo. Participaram da pesquisa os Fisioterapeutas Intensivistas que realizaram assistência a pacientes com COVID-19 e que possuíam vínculo com os referidos hospitais. Foram excluídos os fisioterapeutas na função de residentes, estagiários e preceptores presentes. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se formulário on-line viabilizado pela plataforma Google Forms, composto por perguntas objetivas relacionadas aos dados do profissional, infecção destes por COVID-19, presença de fatores de risco, modificações na prática clínica durante assistência, desafios enfrentados, situações vivenciadas e segurança durante atendimento ao paciente crítico com COVID-19. Os dados foram tabulados através do Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), versão 20.0. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva com frequências absolutas e relativas. RESULTADOS: Participaram do estudo 59 fisioterapeutas intensivistas atuantes na linha de frente contra a COVID-19; destes, 40,6% foram infectados pelo vírus SARS-CoV-2. As principais modificações relatadas foram melhora no manejo da ventilação mecânica (86,4%) e melhor integração com equipe multidisciplinar (62,7%). Dentre os desafios enfrentados durante a assistência, o contexto completamente novo (89,9%) e o testemunho de experiências dolorosas de pacientes (76,3%) foram os mais marcantes. CONCLUSÃO: A pandemia proporcionou aos fisioterapeutas intensivistas novos desafios e modificações na prática clínica, requerendo atualização, implantação de novas práticas e maior interação em equipe multidisciplinar.

INTRODUCTION: The disease caused by the New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) generated a growing flow of infected patients who needed specialized care in intensive care, greatly impacting the Health System, directly impacting the experience of Intensive Care Physiotherapists fundamental professionals in this assistance. OBJECTIVE: To verify changes in the clinical practice of the intensive care physical therapist during the COVID-19 Pandemic and to identify challenges faced during the care of infected patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: That is an exploratory, transversal, and quantitative field research carried out from February to April 2021, with intensive care physical therapists from two public hospitals (one municipal and one state) in the city of Fortaleza. A calculation of the flow of physiotherapists working in these units was performed, estimating a sample of 71 professionals to compose the study. The Intensivist Physiotherapists who helped patients with COVID-19 and linked with the hospitals participated in the research. Physiotherapists in the role of residents, trainees, and preceptors present were excluded. For data collection, an online form made possible by the Google Forms platform was used, composed of objective questions related to the professional's data, their infection by COVID-19, presence of risk factors, changes in clinical practice during care, challenges faced, situations experienced and safety during critical patient care with COVID-19. Data were tabulated using the Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0. Descriptive statistics with absolute and relative frequencies were used. RESULTS: 59 intensive care physical therapists working on the front line against COVID-19 participated in the study; of these, 40.6% were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Improvement in the management of mechanical ventilation (86.4%) and better integration with the multidisciplinary team (62.7%) were the main changes reported. Among the challenges faced during care, the completely new context (89.9%) and witnessing painful experiences of patients (76.3%) were the most striking. CONCLUSION: The Pandemic provided intensive care physical therapists with new challenges and changes in clinical practice, requiring updating, implementation of new practices, and greater interaction in a multidisciplinary team.

Common mental disorder and related factors to the work of physiotherapists in the COVID-19 pandemic / Transtorno mental comum e fatores relacionados ao trabalho de fisioterapeutas na pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract Introduction The physiotherapists were one of the health professional categories on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic front line, however little is known how the pandemic has affected the mental health of these professionals. Objective To analyze the relation-ship between the presence of common mental disorder (CMD) and elements related to the work of physiotherapists who have been assisting patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey study composed by physiotherapists from four states of Brazil: Alagoas, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte. Working conditions evaluated were type of contract, weekly worked hours, time working, job satisfaction, and psychosocial aspects related to work. The CMD assessment was performed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20). Results A total of 288 physiotherapists answered the electronic form, out of which 76.2% had CMD. Fear of reinfection (OR 2.75, 95%CI: 1.35-5.63) and previous infection by COVID-19 (OR: 2.03, 95%CI: 1.09-3.78) were factors related to a higher chance of risk of CMD. However, those who reported being satisfied with the work (OR: 0.28, 95%CI 0.11-0.72) and being more than 30 years old (OR: 0.46, 95%CI 0.24-0.88) had a lower chance of CMD risk. Conclusion Physiotherapists showed a higher prevalence of CMD. Fear of reinfection and previous infection by COVID-19 were risk factors to CMD, while satisfaction with the work and being more than 30 years old were protective factors to CMD.

Resumo Introdução Os fisioterapeutas foram uma das categorias profissionais da linha de frente do combate à pandemia do coronavírus (COVID-19), todavia, pouco se sabe como esta pandemia afetou a saúde mental destes profissionais. Objetivo Analisar a relação entre a presença de transtorno mental comum (TMC) e elementos relacionados ao trabalho de fisioterapeutas que assistiram pacientes com COVID-19. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo transversal composto por fisioterapeutas de quatro estados do Brasil: Alagoas, Paraíba, Pernambuco e Rio Grande do Norte. As condições de trabalho avaliadas foram tipo de contrato, jornada semanal, tempo de trabalho, satisfação e aspectos psicossociais relacionados ao trabalho. A avaliação do TMC foi realizada por meio do Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20). Resultados Um total de 288 fisioterapeutas responderam ao formulário eletrônico, dos quais 76,2% tinham TMC. Medo de reinfecção (OR 2,75, IC 95%: 1,35-5,63) e infecção anterior por COVID-19 (OR: 2,03, IC 95%: 1,09-3,78) foram fatores relacionados a uma maior chance de risco de TMC. No entanto aqueles que relataram estarem satisfeitos com o trabalho (OR: 0,28, IC 95% 0,11-0,72) e os que tinham até 30 anos (OR: 0,46, IC 95% 0,24-0,88) tiveram menor chance de risco de TMC. Conclusão Os fisioterapeutas apresentaram maior prevalência de TMC. Medo de reinfecção e infecção prévia por COVID-19 foram considerados fatores de risco para TMC, enquanto a satisfação com o trabalho e ter mais que 30 anos foram fatores protetores ao TMC.

Feasibility of a physiotherapist-led behaviour change intervention to improve physical activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) interventions incorporating behaviour change (BC) theory are needed to improve PA levels in people with rheumatoid arthritis. A pilot feasibility study of a Physiotherapist-led Intervention to Promote PA in Rheumatoid Arthritis (PIPPRA) was undertaken to obtain estimates for recruitment rate, participant retention and protocol adherence. METHODS: Participants were recruited at University Hospital (UH) rheumatology clinics and randomly assigned to control group (physical activity information leaflet) or intervention group (four BC physiotherapy sessions in 8 weeks). Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria), aged 18+ years and classified as insufficiently physically active. Ethical approval was obtained from the UH research ethics committee. Participants were assessed at baseline (T0), 8 weeks (T1) and 24 weeks (T2). Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to analyse the data with SPSS v22. RESULTS: 320 participants were approached about the study with n=183 (57%) eligible to participate and n=58 (55%) consented to participate (recruitment rate: 6.4 per month; refusal rate 59%). Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the study, n=25 (43%) participants completed the study (n=11 (44%) intervention and n=14 (56%) control). Of the 25, n=23 (92%) were female, mean age was 60 years (s.d. 11.5). Intervention group participants completed 100% of BC sessions 1 and 2, 88% completed session 3 and 81% completed session 4. DISCUSSION: The intervention to promote physical activity was feasible and safe and provides a framework for larger intervention studies. Based on these findings, a fully powered trial is recommended.

'I learnt so much about being active': experiences of people with rheumatoid arthritis on the impact of a physiotherapist-led intervention to encourage physical activity.

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity (PA) is an important component in improving the health of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A Physiotherapist-led Intervention to Promote PA in people with RA (PIPPRA) was undertaken using the Behaviour Change (BC) Wheel. A qualitative study was conducted post intervention involving participants and healthcare professionals who participated in a pilot RCT. METHODS: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with the schedule exploring: experience and views of the intervention; experience and suitability of outcome measures used; and perceptions of BC and PA. Thematic analysis was used as an analytical approach. The COREQ checklist provided guidance throughout. RESULTS: Fourteen participants and eight healthcare staff participated. Three main themes were generated from participants: (1) positive experience of intervention - 'I found it very knowledgeable to help me get stronger'; (2) improvement in self-management - '… motivate me maybe to go back to doing a little bit more exercise'; and (3) negative impact of COVID-19 - 'I don't think doing it online again would be really good at all'. Two main themes were generated from healthcare professionals: (1) positive learning experience of delivery - 'Really made me realise the importance of discussing physical activity with patients'; and (2) positive approach to recruitment - 'Very professional team showing the importance of having a study member on site'. DISCUSSION: Participants had a positive experience of being involved in a BC intervention in order to improve their PA and found it acceptable as an intervention. Healthcare professionals also had a positive experience, in particular the importance of recommending PA in empowering patients.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Acceptance of eHealth Interventions by Dutch Pediatric Physical Therapists in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for eHealth as the relevance of infection control and social distancing continues. Evidence describing the acceptability of implementing eHealth into pediatric physical therapy services is limited. PURPOSE: To investigate the determinants of eHealth acceptance by Dutch pediatric physical therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was used. It included a quantitative exploratory questionnaire of 154 pediatric physical therapists and qualitative in-depth interviews of 16 pediatric physical therapists. RESULTS: The eHealth interventions were beneficial for collaboration between health care professionals and in addition to face-to-face therapy. eHealth interventions were, however, found to be unsuitable especially in the diagnostic phase. Barriers to more extensive application include costs, technical difficulties, and a perceived negative attitude of children. CONCLUSION: Pediatric physical therapists used eHealth interventions extensively in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the acceptance of eHealth interventions is dependent on the pediatric physical therapist's perception of usefulness in private practice, rehabilitation setting, or clinical hospital.

Resilience and its impact on the mental health of physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic in São Paulo, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether resilience modulates the levels of depression, anxiety, stress and the impact of events in physiotherapists who work with COVID-19 patients with those who do not. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2020 up to October 2020. A total of 519 physiotherapists were enrolled and divided according to resilience and whether they worked with COVID-19 patients. Volunteers answered sociodemographic questionnaires, rating their depression, anxiety, and stress on a scale (DASS-21). The impact of event scale revised (IES-R) and 14-item resilience scale (14-RS) were also used. RESULTS: Physiotherapists with low resilience present scores significantly high of depression, anxiety, stress and impact of event compared to the high resilience group (P < .001). Additionally, working with COVID-19 patients also resulted in increased levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and impact of event compared with the NO COVID-19 group (P < .001). These responses were modulated by age, sex, number of absences from work, whether or not personal protective equipment was received, host leadership, and the practice and maintenance of regular physical activity. LIMITATIONS: The responses to the questionnaires were anonymous and self-administered. We cannot assess whether these people had a previous diagnosis of depression, anxiety and stress. CONCLUSIONS: Low resilience and work with COVID-19 patients were associated with high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and worse psychological impacts of events. Several aspects modulate these responses and can contribute to improving the resilience and mental health of physiotherapists who are responsible for the care of COVID-19 patients.

Pilot study of physiotherapist-led versus music therapist-led breathing control exercises for young adults living with breathing pattern disorder: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Breathing pattern disorder (BPD) is an abnormal breathing pattern associated with biochemical, biomechanical and psychophysiological changes. While physiotherapy is often offered, limited evidence-based therapies for BPD are available. Music therapy-based singing exercises have been shown to improve quality of life for individuals with respiratory conditions and may also be beneficial for individuals living with BPD. No study has previously compared these participatory interventions in the treatment of people living with BPD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a study protocol for an assessor blinded 1:1 randomised controlled trial and qualitative interview study. Forty participants aged 18-40 years who score at least 19 on the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ) and do not have any underlying respiratory conditions will be recruited. Participants will be randomised to receive either physiotherapy-led or music therapy-led breathing exercises for 6 weeks. The primary outcome will be between-group difference in NQ post-intervention. Semistructured interviews with a purposive sample of participants will be performed. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis to better understand participants' intervention and trial experiences. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received ethical approval by Brunel University London College of Health, Medicine and Life Science's Research Ethics Committee (32483-MHR-Mar/2022-38624-3). The anonymised completed dataset will be made available as an open-access file via Brunel University London Figshare and the manuscript containing anonymised patient data will be published in an open-access journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This trial is registered on the Open Science Framework Registry (https://osf.io/u3ncw).

Relationship between physical activity levels of Portuguese physical therapists and mental health during a COVID-19 pandemic: Being active is the key.

Introduction: Physical activity is essential for a healthy life and quality of life, representing a fundamental role in individuals' physical and mental health. Concomitantly, the physical therapist, through the promotion of physical activity and exercise, can improve mental health, an essential factor in the current pandemic, triggering anxiety, fear, and depression crisis. Objective: To verify physical activity among Portuguese physical therapists and its association with mental health during pandemic times. Methods: An online questionnaire was applied through social media to all Portuguese physical therapists between October 21, 2021, and January 14, 2022. It contained general characterization questions of the sample, the IPAQ-SF questionnaire to assess physical activity levels, the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), which assesses the levels of mental health and the WHO Well-Being Index (WHO-5) to assess the subjective wellbeing. Results: The sample totaled 286 respondents (82% female), with a mean age of 33. Of the total answers, 82% practiced physical activity, 45% had moderate levels of physical activity, and 19% vigorous. Physical therapists in these categories had lower values in the GHQ-28 and higher in the WHO-5. Those with better mental health also showed better subjective wellbeing (r = -0.571, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The data obtained showed that physical therapists mostly have moderate and vigorous levels of physical activity and that physical activity positively influences individuals' mental health and wellbeing, which proved to be a key factor due to the pandemic situation.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and depression among physical therapists in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUNDS: A physical therapist may become infected while treating a patient since they are in direct contact with them or within a two-meter radius. In addition, physical therapists may feel that they are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection when applying rehabilitation practices, which often involve direct contact with patients. The physical therapist were surveyed on their level of anxiety and depression due to the Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). METHODS: The physical therapists were asked to complete two reliable and validated scales, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), to identify the presence of anxiety and depression in the participants. In addition, logistic regression models were used to determine the general characteristics of anxiety or depression. RESULTS: Among the 117 physical therapists who completed and participated in the study, 74 (63%) and 65 (55.5%) physical therapists reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. The prevalence of overall anxiety levels was higher; mild (OR = 2.09; P = 0.08), moderate (OR = 2.26; P = 0.15), and severe levels six times as high (OR = 6.28; P = 0.1) in females compared to male physical therapists. Females, younger age, unmarried individuals, not having children, and not living with family showed a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression. Binary logistic regression analysis also revealed that the female gender, a single individual, and having no children were associated with anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of physical therapists reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially among females, younger age, single individuals, not having children, and not living with family. Thus, the mental health of physical therapists is suggested to be constantly and cautiously monitored, especially for those at high risk of developing psychological symptoms.

Knowledge, attitude, practices and perceived job stress among physical therapists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) and perceived job stress among physical therapists (PTs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adopted; 300 PTs working within the KSA were randomly selected, and the KAP questionnaire was distributed through email using a Google form during the first quarter of 2022. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information, KAP, and perceived stress level at the job. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: Most PTs are knowledgeable about the management of COVID-19 patients, where their overall correct response to the items of the knowledge-related questionnaire was 87%. Most PTs had positive attitudes toward successful control of COVID-19 (83%) and took necessary precautions, such as frequent handwashing (97.2%) and adherence to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines (91.5%) during practice. The overall job stress level of the PTs was 'Moderate' (76.5%). This study showed a significant association between the level of job stress experienced by the PTs and selected demographic variables. CONCLUSION: PTs have adequate knowledge, exhibit a positive attitude and adhere to CDC guidelines while managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most PTs are prone to moderate job stress while managing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and appropriate strategies must be devised to alleviate their job stress and improve their efficiency.

Physiotherapy practices when treating patients with COVID-19 during a pandemic: A survey study.

Background Specific details pertaining to the clinical and other challenges faced by physiotherapists managing patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic are still largely unknown. Objectives To determine how physiotherapists clinically managed patients with COVID-19 in a hospital-based setting during the pandemic and to identify the personal and professional effects of working as a physiotherapist at this time. Methods Self-administered electronic cross-sectional survey. Participants included physiotherapists from around the world involved in the clinical management of patients with COVID-19. Results Of the 204 participants who returned the questionnaire, 39% worked as senior physiotherapists, 29% as consultant or specialist physiotherapists, 23% as general physiotherapists and 4% as graduate physiotherapists. Seventy-two percent of participants worked in the intensive care unit. The largest barrier to treating patients with COVID-19 was a lack of intensive care trained physiotherapists (70%). Eighty-three percent of participants reported performing activities outside of their typical work duties, including proning patients (55%), tutoring and advising other staff in the intensive care unit (55%) and adjusting or changing ventilator settings (52%). Almost all participants (90%) reported being aware of physiotherapy specific guidelines for treating patients with COVID-19, yet most participants performed techniques that were not recommended. Conclusions The experience of the pandemic highlighted the need for specialist training and availability of experienced cardiorespiratory physiotherapists to manage patients with COVID-19, specifically in intensive care. Furthermore, clear guidelines on the management of patients with COVID-19 should be established to ensure optimal management of patients and ensure the safety of physiotherapy staff.

Association between physiotherapist burnout and working environment during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan: A multicenter observational study.

Burnout among physiotherapists has been reported worldwide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, no information was found on the prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physiotherapists directly providing physiotherapy to patients with COVID-19 in the red zone of 487 medical facilities were evaluated for the prevalence of burnout using the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). The association between the presence or absence of burnout and the working environment was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Among the 566 physiotherapists analyzed, 99 (17.5%) satisfied the MBI-GS criteria for burnout. Multivariate analysis showed that burnout was associated with the year of physiotherapy experiences [odds ratio (OR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-0.99], feeling slight burden with infection control (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.87), not feeling too burdened with infection control (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.06-0.83), establishment of staffing standards for physiotherapy according to the number of beds (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.09-2.96), and relaxation time (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30-0.82). Moreover, the OR increased as the self-improvement time decreased (OR 38.3, 95% CI 6.64-731). In Japan, the prevalence of burnout among physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic was an intermediate value between the prevalence of burnout among physicians and nurses reported in previous studies. This study found the need to establish appropriate staffing standards for physiotherapy and support systems including secure self-improvement time and appropriate training according to physiotherapy experiences and each medical facility.