Physiotherapist´s intervention and academic training needs during the pandemic in Mexico

Abstract

Introduction: During the confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems had to reorganize quickly and efficiently to care for these patients. Likewise, the participation of physiotherapists was essential in the treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19, however, there are few physiotherapists in Mexico specializing in respiratory therapy.

Objective: To describe the body systems that were focused on the interventions in the management of patients with COVID-19 by Mexican physiotherapists, as well as their training needs.

Method: A survey was carried out on physiotherapists with a degree and who worked in the public and private spheres in the period of confinement between June and September 2021. The physiotherapists were invited through Facebook and the official website of the bachelor in Physiotherapy. To know the internal consistency of the survey, we calculated Cronbach’s alpha, which was 0.76 based on standardized elements. The survey included questions related to the body systems they targeted and training needs to treat patients with COVID-19.

Results: A total of 312 physiotherapists participated in the survey, of which 112 participated in the care of patients with COVID-19 whose interventions focused on the musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems. The patient’s home and the intensive care unit were the places where patients were most frequently attended; 76.2% of the participants reported the need for specialized knowledge and more than half based their treatment on clinical practice guidelines.

Conclusions: Mexican physiotherapists focus mainly on the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems during the care of patients with COVID-19 and express the need for specialized training in the respiratory area.