Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey
In February 2020 the first COVID-19 case was reported in Italy and afterwards the virus started spreading rapidly, increasing dramatically the number of infected subjects. To face the pandemic outbreak, hospitals converted wards to assure COVID-19 patients’ care and adopted measures to reduce virus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/1762 |
| _version_ | 1818864616191557632 |
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| author | Emilia Privitera Francesco D'Abrosca Giuseppe Gaudiello Marta Lazzeri Angela Bellofiore Pamela Frigerio Martina Santambrogio |
| author_facet | Emilia Privitera Francesco D'Abrosca Giuseppe Gaudiello Marta Lazzeri Angela Bellofiore Pamela Frigerio Martina Santambrogio |
| author_sort | Emilia Privitera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In February 2020 the first COVID-19 case was reported in Italy and afterwards the virus started spreading rapidly, increasing dramatically the number of infected subjects. To face the pandemic outbreak, hospitals converted wards to assure COVID-19 patients’ care and adopted measures to reduce virus diffusion. The aim of this study was to determine how many physiotherapists, in the Lombardy region, worked during pandemic, whether they continued their usual practice or were employed in COVID-19 wards and in which tasks they were involved. The survey was submitted online by the national professional order. The response rate was 11.79%. During the pandemic, 648 (53.9%) respondents interrupted their services. Less than 20% of the physiotherapists that continued working were assigned to COVID-19 wards with the role of physiotherapist. Only a small proportion of respondents had advanced skills in respiratory physiotherapy. Moreover, this study showed a limited involvement of physiotherapists inside the very acute and intense settings. In conclusion, this work revealed that, during COVID-19 pandemic, in the Lombardy region a small percentage of physiotherapists was employed in COVID-19 wards, mainly in post-acute context. Even though the response rate of this survey was very low, this study highlights the need to define and underline the role of physiotherapy in acute setting during emergency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:34:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e820a2c7e444669bcc06ab15bd67f68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1122-0643 2532-5264 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:34:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e820a2c7e444669bcc06ab15bd67f682022-12-21T20:25:40ZengPAGEPress PublicationsMonaldi Archives for Chest Disease1122-06432532-52642021-05-0110.4081/monaldi.2021.1762Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region surveyEmilia Privitera0Francesco D'Abrosca1Giuseppe Gaudiello2Marta Lazzeri3Angela Bellofiore4Pamela Frigerio5Martina Santambrogio6Health Professions Department Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan; Italian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR)Italian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR)Italian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR)Italian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR); Cardio-Thoracic Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, MilanHealth Professions Department Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, MilanMother-Child Department, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, MilanItalian Association of Respiratory Physiotherapists (ARIR); Respiratory Unit and Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, MilanIn February 2020 the first COVID-19 case was reported in Italy and afterwards the virus started spreading rapidly, increasing dramatically the number of infected subjects. To face the pandemic outbreak, hospitals converted wards to assure COVID-19 patients’ care and adopted measures to reduce virus diffusion. The aim of this study was to determine how many physiotherapists, in the Lombardy region, worked during pandemic, whether they continued their usual practice or were employed in COVID-19 wards and in which tasks they were involved. The survey was submitted online by the national professional order. The response rate was 11.79%. During the pandemic, 648 (53.9%) respondents interrupted their services. Less than 20% of the physiotherapists that continued working were assigned to COVID-19 wards with the role of physiotherapist. Only a small proportion of respondents had advanced skills in respiratory physiotherapy. Moreover, this study showed a limited involvement of physiotherapists inside the very acute and intense settings. In conclusion, this work revealed that, during COVID-19 pandemic, in the Lombardy region a small percentage of physiotherapists was employed in COVID-19 wards, mainly in post-acute context. Even though the response rate of this survey was very low, this study highlights the need to define and underline the role of physiotherapy in acute setting during emergency.https://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/1762PhysiotherapistCOVID-19 pandemichealth care professionalswork organization |
| spellingShingle | Emilia Privitera Francesco D'Abrosca Giuseppe Gaudiello Marta Lazzeri Angela Bellofiore Pamela Frigerio Martina Santambrogio Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease Physiotherapist COVID-19 pandemic health care professionals work organization |
| title | Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey |
| title_full | Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey |
| title_fullStr | Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey |
| title_short | Physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era: a Lombardy region survey |
| title_sort | physiotherapist involvement in the pandemic era a lombardy region survey |
| topic | Physiotherapist COVID-19 pandemic health care professionals work organization |
| url | https://www.monaldi-archives.org/index.php/macd/article/view/1762 |
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