Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, Iran
3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Background: Most physiotherapy treatments require direct contact with patients, which could predispose physical therapists to the transmission of infection. The present study aimed to investigate the depression, anxiety, and stress of physical therapists during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Method: A cross-sectional, web-based survey was applied during the pandemic. The survey was completed by 135 physical therapists working in Iran. The depression-anxiety and stress scale 21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate their depression, anxiety, and stress statuses. A multiple regression analysis was used to identify the demographic characteristics factors related to depression, anxiety, and stress.
Results: The results showed that 43.7%, 43.8%, and 54.8% of physical therapists had severe and very severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. In addition, female physical therapists had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The level of anxiety was higher in physical therapists working in hospitals and those with more work experience.
Conclusion: Our findings indicated that COVID-19 resulted in high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Iranian physical therapists. Therefore, the mental health of physical therapists should be regularly monitored, and the proper support and training in coping strategies should be provided for them.
Keywords
- Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. The lancet. 2020;395(10223):497-506.
- Dehesh P. Risk Management of COVID-19 Infection in Physiotherapy: Recommendations. Journal of Biology and Today's World. 2020;9(7):1-2.
- Temsah M-H, Al-Sohime F, Alamro N, Al-Eyadhy A, Al-Hasan K, Jamal A, et al. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers in a MERS-CoV endemic country. Journal of infection and public health. 2020;13(6):877-82.
- Xiang Y-T, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Cheung T, et al. Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. The lancet psychiatry. 2020;7(3):228-9.
- Liu S, Yang L, Zhang C, Xiang Y-T, Liu Z, Hu S, et al. Online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2020;7(4):e17-e8.
- Xiang Y-T, Jin Y, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Zhang L, Cheung T. Tribute to health workers in China: A group of respectable population during the outbreak of the COVID-19. International journal of biological sciences. 2020;16(10):1739.
- An Y, Yang Y, Wang A, Li Y, Zhang Q, Cheung T, et al. Prevalence of depression and its impact on quality of life among frontline nurses in emergency departments during the COVID-19 outbreak. Journal of affective disorders. 2020;276:312-5.
- Duarte H, Daros Vieira R, Cardozo Rocon P, Andrade ACDS, Wittmer VL, Capellini VK, et al. Factors associated with Brazilian physical therapists’ perception of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey. Psychology, Health & Medicine. 2022;27(1):42-53.
- Maunder R, Hunter J, Vincent L, Bennett J, Peladeau N, Leszcz M, et al. The immediate psychological and occupational impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak in a teaching hospital. Cmaj. 2003;168(10):1245-51.
- Portnoy D. Burnout and compassion fatigue: watch for the signs. Health Progress (Saint Louis, Mo). 2011;92(4):46-50.
- Vahey DC, Aiken LH, Sloane DM, Clarke SP, Vargas D. Nurse burnout and patient satisfaction. Medical care. 2004;42(2 Suppl):II57.
- Yang S, Kwak SG, Ko EJ, Chang MC. The mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical therapists. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(10):3723.
- Burke RM, Midgley CM, Dratch A, Fenstersheib M, Haupt T, Holshue M, et al. Active monitoring of persons exposed to patients with confirmed COVID-19—United States, January–February 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2020;69(9):245.
- Chu DK, Akl EA, Duda S, Solo K, Yaacoub S, Schünemann HJ, et al. Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The lancet. 2020;395(10242):1973-87.
- Rothan HA, Byrareddy SN. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Journal of autoimmunity. 2020;109:102433.
- Thomas P, Baldwin C, Bissett B, Boden I, Gosselink R, Granger CL, et al. Physiotherapy management for COVID-19 in the acute hospital setting: clinical practice recommendations. Journal of physiotherapy. 2020;66(2):73-82.
- Zhu Y, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Onoda K, Maruyama H, Hu C, et al. Summary of respiratory rehabilitation and physical therapy guidelines for patients with COVID-19 based on recommendations of World Confederation for Physical Therapy and National Association of Physical Therapy. Journal of physical therapy science. 2020;32(8):545-9.
- Park S-J, Jeong H-J, Kim B-G. Anxiety and Depression in Physical Therapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Survey in Gwangju, South Korea. Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine. 2021;16(2):23-30.
- Nautiyal A, Gupta M, Bhatt S. Prevalence of stress level in physiotherapy working profession during covid-19 pandemic. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2021;12(4):19.
- Jácome C, Seixas A, Serrão C, Teixeira A, Castro L, Duarte I. Burnout in Portuguese physical therapists during COVID‐19 pandemic. Physiotherapy Research International. 2021;26(3):e1915.
- Aly HM, Nemr NA, Kishk RM, bakr Elsaid NMA. Stress, anxiety and depression among healthcare workers facing COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt: a cross-sectional online-based study. BMJ open. 2021;11(4):e045281.
- Asghari A, Saed F, Dibajnia P. Psychometric properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) in a non-clinical Iranian sample. Int J psychol. 2008;2(2):82-102.
- Badahdah AM, Khamis F, Al Mahyijari N. The psychological well-being of physicians during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oman. Psychiatry research. 2020;289:113053.
- Lai J, Ma S, Wang Y, Cai Z, Hu J, Wei N, et al. Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA network open. 2020;3(3):e203976-e.
- Gębska M, Kołodziej Ł, Dalewski B, Pałka Ł, Sobolewska E. The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Stress Levels and Occurrence of Stomatoghnatic System Disorders (SSDs) among Physiotherapy Students in Poland. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2021;10(17):3872.
- Aiyer A, Surani S, Ratnani I, Surani S. Mental health impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in the USA: a cross-sectional web-based survey. Journal of Depression and Anxiety. 2020;9(4):1-8.
- Wang Y, Di Y, Ye J, Wei W. Study on the public psychological states and its related factors during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in some regions of China. Psychology, health & medicine. 2021;26(1):13-22.
- Hassannia L, Taghizadeh F, Moosazadeh M, Zarghami M, Taghizadeh H, Dooki AF, et al. Anxiety and depression in health workers and general population during COVID‐19 in IRAN: a cross‐sectional study. Neuropsychopharmacology reports. 2021;41(1):40-9.
- Abadi TSH, Askari M, Miri K, Nia MN. Depression, stress and anxiety of nurses in COVID-19 pandemic in Nohe-Dey Hospital in Torbat-e-Heydariyeh city, Iran. Journal of Military Medicine. 2020;22(6):526-33.
- Nemati M, Ebrahimi B, Nemati F. Assessment of Iranian nurses’ knowledge and anxiety toward COVID-19 during the current outbreak in Iran. Arch Clin Infect Dis. 2020;15(COVID-19):e102848.
)