Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation: Perception and Experience of Austrian Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy Students

Barbara Scheiber, Claudia Spiegl, Claudia Wiederin, Erika Schifferegger and Natalia Schiefermeier-Mach
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Barbara Scheiber: Department of Physiotherapy, FH Gesundheit Tirol/Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Claudia Spiegl: Department of Physiotherapy, FH Gesundheit Tirol/Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Claudia Wiederin: Department of Physiotherapy, FH Gesundheit Tirol/Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Erika Schifferegger: Department of Physiotherapy, FH Gesundheit Tirol/Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Natalia Schiefermeier-Mach: FH Gesundheit Tirol/Health University of Applied Sciences Tyrol, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: The rehabilitation needs of COVID-19 survivors are increasingly recognized, with a focus on combating respiratory and neuromuscular dysfunctions. The aim here was to explore the perception of Austrian physiotherapists and physiotherapy students on post-COVID-19 rehabilitation care and to identify barriers for the application of sufficient rehabilitation. We analysed current knowledge and practical skills in respiratory physiotherapy, performing a cross-sectional national survey among physiotherapists working in outpatient settings and physiotherapy students in their last academic year of bachelor-level education in Austria. Out of 255 survey participants, one-third already had inquiries to treat post-COVID-19 patients, and the majority of respondents expected a further increased inflow of patients with rehabilitation needs (64.2%). Only 11.2% of respondents reported feeling sufficiently informed about post-COVID-19 rehabilitation. A total of 68.2% of students and up to 48.1% of physiotherapists favoured a COVID-19-specific adaptation already in the basic academic education, and 74.1% of survey participants indicated interest in attending specific training. Concerning respiratory physiotherapy, our data showed discrepancies between the estimation of the importance of specific examination and treatment techniques and the level of current experience. There is a clear lack of experience in implementing effective device-based respiratory therapy. Our data indicate an urgent need to develop new education and training programs with a focus on the interdisciplinary rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Keywords: post-acute COVID-19 syndrome; long COVID-19; physical therapy specialty; respiratory therapy; survey; physical and rehabilitation medicine; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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