Original Research Article
Year: 2021 | Month: March | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 1-8
Changes in Clinical Practice in Physiotherapy as Repercussions of COVID-19 Pandemic
Mohit Vyas1, Megha Sheth2
1Intern, SBB College of Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
2Lecturer, SBB College of Physiotherapy, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Corresponding Author: Mohit vyas
ABSTRACT
Background: World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This led to change in the health care facilities and steps were taken to make the system safe. Physiotherapy profession faced many challenges to provide clinical care to patients and making their setup safe. This study aimed to view how this pandemic had changed physiotherapy clinical practices in Ahmedabad.
Method: An observational study was conducted among 52 physiotherapists who owned or worked in private clinics. They were asked to fill a self-developed questionnaire containing 20 questions on the clinical setup, Tele-rehabilitation, Therapist and patient related question. Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft Excel2013.
Results: After COVID-19 there is a decrease in the number of patients visiting clinics for treatment. The patients were apprehensive about clinical visit. There was decrease in income. There is increase in number of cases of Tele-rehabilitation with increase in the cost of video conference software. There is increase in cost of protective equipment and sanitization of clinics, used to protect patients and therapist. There was fear among the therapist of being infected from virus and both patients and therapist suffered from anxiety, depression, stress.
Conclusion: After COVID-19 pandemic physiotherapy clinical practice experienced many challenges. There is decrease in number of patients and average time spent on each patient. There is increase in use of tele-rehabilitation, cost for protective equipment and software technology. Therapist spent long time working in PPE kit and had fear of getting infected thus experiencing anxiety, stress, pain, and fatigue.
Key words: Clinical practice, physiotherapy, covid-19 pandemic.