Objectives. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence, personal- and work-related exposures, and signs and symptoms among physical therapists during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy. Methods. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic and exposure data from physical therapists from April to May 2020. All physical therapists working in inpatient and outpatient care in Italy were eligible. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among all eligible physical therapists to collect (1) demographic characteristics, (2 3) personaland work-related exposures, and (4) signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Factors associated with a COVID-19 positive nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) were explored through logistic regression models and multivariate methods. Results. A total of 15,566 respondents completed the survey, with a response rate of 43.3%, achieving high statistical precision (99% CI, 1% type I error). Among physical therapists who received NPS testing, 13.1% (95% CI=12.1 14.1%) had a positive result, with a peak reached in March 2020 (36%). The top 5 symptoms were fatigue and tiredness (69.1%), loss of smell (64.5%), aches and pains (60.8%), loss of taste (58.3%), and headache (51.1%). No symptoms were reported by 8.9%. Working in a health care institution (odds ratio [OR]=12.0; 95% CI=7.8 18.4), being reallocated to a different unit (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.3 2.7), and changing job tasks (OR=1.6; 95% CI=1.2 2.3) increased the risk of being COVID-19 positive. In therapists with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, comorbidities were associated with male sex and age older than 51 years. Conclusion. During the first wave in Italy, almost 1 out of 7 physical therapists tested positive on the COVID-19 NPS test. Considering personal- andwork-related exposures, health care organizations should adopt preventionmeasures and adequate preparedness to prevent high rate of infections during future pandemics. Impact. This is the largest investigation about the spread of and main risk factors for COVID-19 in the physical therapy field.

Gianola, S., Bargeri, S., Campanini, I., Corbetta, D., Gambazza, S., Innocenti, T., et al. (2021). The Spread of COVID-19 Among 15,000 Physical Therapists in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study. PHYSICAL THERAPY, 101(8) [10.1093/ptj/pzab123].

The Spread of COVID-19 Among 15,000 Physical Therapists in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gianola S.
;
Meroni R.;
2021

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence, personal- and work-related exposures, and signs and symptoms among physical therapists during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Italy. Methods. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic and exposure data from physical therapists from April to May 2020. All physical therapists working in inpatient and outpatient care in Italy were eligible. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among all eligible physical therapists to collect (1) demographic characteristics, (2 3) personaland work-related exposures, and (4) signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Factors associated with a COVID-19 positive nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) were explored through logistic regression models and multivariate methods. Results. A total of 15,566 respondents completed the survey, with a response rate of 43.3%, achieving high statistical precision (99% CI, 1% type I error). Among physical therapists who received NPS testing, 13.1% (95% CI=12.1 14.1%) had a positive result, with a peak reached in March 2020 (36%). The top 5 symptoms were fatigue and tiredness (69.1%), loss of smell (64.5%), aches and pains (60.8%), loss of taste (58.3%), and headache (51.1%). No symptoms were reported by 8.9%. Working in a health care institution (odds ratio [OR]=12.0; 95% CI=7.8 18.4), being reallocated to a different unit (OR=1.9; 95% CI=1.3 2.7), and changing job tasks (OR=1.6; 95% CI=1.2 2.3) increased the risk of being COVID-19 positive. In therapists with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, comorbidities were associated with male sex and age older than 51 years. Conclusion. During the first wave in Italy, almost 1 out of 7 physical therapists tested positive on the COVID-19 NPS test. Considering personal- andwork-related exposures, health care organizations should adopt preventionmeasures and adequate preparedness to prevent high rate of infections during future pandemics. Impact. This is the largest investigation about the spread of and main risk factors for COVID-19 in the physical therapy field.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Coronavirus Infections; Coronavirus, COVID-19; Disease Outbreaks; Pandemics; Physical Therapy; Physiotherapy; Prevention and Control; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transmission;
English
2021
101
8
pzab123
none
Gianola, S., Bargeri, S., Campanini, I., Corbetta, D., Gambazza, S., Innocenti, T., et al. (2021). The Spread of COVID-19 Among 15,000 Physical Therapists in Italy: A Cross-Sectional Study. PHYSICAL THERAPY, 101(8) [10.1093/ptj/pzab123].
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/404697
Citazioni
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 9
Social impact