Mental health patterns of physiotherapists in South Africa during COVID-19
South African Journal of Physiotherapy
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Mental health patterns of physiotherapists in South Africa during COVID-19 | |
| Creator | Bemath, Nabeelah Israel, Nicky Hassem, Tasneem | |
| Description | Background: While attention has been drawn to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers generally, little is known regarding mental health changes over time in frontline and non-frontline physiotherapists during this period.Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate differences in mental health trends among frontline and non-frontline physiotherapists across three time periods during the pandemic.Method: Survey-based data were collected from 366 practising physiotherapists across three time periods during the pandemic (Time 1: n = 171; Time 2: n = 101; Time 3: n = 94). Variations in reported mental health of frontline and non-frontline respondents generally and over time were analysed using comparative statistical techniques and trend analysis.Results: Frontline physiotherapists reported significantly lower levels of general mental well-being and resilience, and significantly higher levels of burnout and maladaptive strategy use. Only frontline physiotherapists’ general mental well-being and resilience decreased over time, whereas depression decreased over time for both groups. Anxiety decreased over time for non-frontline physiotherapists but initially decreased and then increased for frontline physiotherapists. Burnout increased initially and then decreased for non-frontline physiotherapists.Conclusion: Varying mental health trends were found between frontline and non-frontline physiotherapists over time. Nuanced mental health interventions that consider the period of the pandemic and degree of exposure are needed.Clinical implications: Understandings of the mental health trajectories experienced by physiotherapists across the pandemic can inform long-term, targeted interventions that effectively enhance well-being, retention, and sustainability of practitioners, and thus the care delivered, in the healthcare system. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2023-07-06 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajp.v79i1.1881 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Physiotherapy; Vol 79, No 1 (2023); 10 pages 2410-8219 0379-6175 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1881/3260
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1881/3261
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1881/3262
https://sajp.co.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1881/3263
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