Psychological Stress among Frontline Physical Therapists during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Japan

• Published in: Physical Therapy Japan Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 620 - 627
• Main Authors: MORISAWA, Tomoyuki, NOJIRI, Shuko, SAWA, Ryuichi, KITAHARA, Eriko, SAITOH, Masakazu, MORISAWA, Fumito, TAKAHASHI, Tetsuya, NISHIZAKI, Yuji, DAIDA, Hiroyuki, TANIGUCHI, Kaori, MINAMINO, Tohru, FUJIWARA, Toshiyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Physical Therapy Association 2021; 公益社団法人日本理学療法士協会
• Subjects: Containment zone; COVID-19; Physical therapists; Psychological stress; ストレス; レッドゾーン; 新型コロナウイルス感染症; 理学療法士
• ISSN: 0289-3770; 2189-602X
• DOI: 10.15063/rigaku.12145

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify psychological stress among physical therapists who provide physical therapy to patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the containment zone.Methods: A survey was conducted using an internet-based questionnaire system. In addition to basic personal information, the content of the physical therapy, the burden of infection control, and psychological stress were surveyed.Results: Of the 584 individuals analyzed, only six physical therapists did not state that they feel “stressed” about physical therapy conducted in the containment zone. In addition to anxiety over the possibility of being infected, social stress – such as being discriminated against due to prejudice from others – were also identified. The most common types of psychological stress were “infection of family members and others” (88.5%) and “infection of oneself” (82.0%).Conclusion: Almost all physical therapists who provide direct physical therapy in the containment zone to patients with COVID-19 showed signs of psychological stress.