Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Physical Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Front Public Health. 2022 Apr 25;10:891276. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.891276. eCollection 2022.
The purpose of the study was to examine the level of generalized anxiety disorder among occupational and physical therapists during treatment sessions and its association with somatic symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study. Data were collected during the month of April 2021, and the study included occupational and physical therapists who practiced during COVID-19 from March 2020 to March 2021. The generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) and a modified patient health questionnaire (mPHQ-15) were used to examine self-reported anxiety and somatic symptoms among the study participants. The independent -test was used to determine differences between groups based on GAD-7 and mPHQ-15 results. Spearman's correlation test and chi-squared test were used to find the relationships between different variables such as anxiety and somatic symptoms.
The study ( = 98 participants) included 56 occupational and 42 physical therapists. An 84% response rate was achieved. GAD-7 final score was μ = 9.21 ± 5.63 with 27% reporting no anxiety, 14% mild, 38% moderate, and 21% severe. Independent -tests on GAD-7 scores showed significant differences between therapist specializations [ = -2.256; = 0.026] and between therapists residing with or without their parents [ = -2.536; = 0.013]. The mPHQ-15 final score was μ = 9.52 ± 5.54 with 13% reporting no symptoms ( = 13), 20% mild ( = 20), 38% moderate ( = 37), and 29% severe ( = 28). GAD-7 and mPHQ-15 scores were moderately positively correlated [ = 0.569; <0.000]. The chi-squared test showed a significant association between GAD-7 levels of anxiety and mPHQ-15 levels of somatic symptoms [ = 70.62 <0.000]. Therapists reported that the quality (76%) and effectiveness (20%) of their rehabilitation services were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of study participants experienced moderate to severe anxiety and associated somatic symptoms. During COVID-19, ongoing psychological counseling of healthcare professionals such as occupational and physical therapists is required to maintain positive mental health. Implications for practice are presented.
本研究旨在探讨职业治疗师和物理治疗师在治疗过程中广泛性焦虑障碍的水平，以及其与 COVID-19 大流行期间躯体症状的关系。
本研究采用描述性的横断面设计。数据收集于 2021 年 4 月，研究对象为 2020 年 3 月至 2021 年 3 月期间从事 COVID-19 治疗的职业治疗师和物理治疗师。采用广泛性焦虑障碍量表（GAD-7）和改良患者健康问卷（mPHQ-15）评估研究参与者的自我报告焦虑和躯体症状。采用独立样本 t 检验根据 GAD-7 和 mPHQ-15 的结果确定组间差异。采用 Spearman 相关检验和卡方检验分析焦虑和躯体症状等不同变量之间的关系。
本研究（n=98 名参与者）包括 56 名职业治疗师和 42 名物理治疗师，应答率为 84%。GAD-7 最终得分为 μ=9.21±5.63，其中 27%报告无焦虑，14%轻度，38%中度，21%重度。GAD-7 评分的独立样本 t 检验显示治疗师专业之间[ = -2.256; = 0.026]和与父母同住或不同住之间[ = -2.536; = 0.013]存在显著差异。mPHQ-15 最终得分为 μ=9.52±5.54，其中 13%报告无症状（ = 13），20%轻度（ = 20），38%中度（ = 37），29%重度（ = 28）。GAD-7 和 mPHQ-15 评分呈中度正相关[ = 0.569; <0.000]。卡方检验显示 GAD-7 焦虑水平与 mPHQ-15 躯体症状水平之间存在显著关联[ = 70.62 <0.000]。治疗师报告 COVID-19 大流行对其康复服务的质量（76%）和效果（20%）产生负面影响。
大多数研究参与者经历了中度至重度的焦虑和相关的躯体症状。在 COVID-19 期间，需要对职业治疗师和物理治疗师等医护人员进行持续的心理咨询，以保持积极的心理健康。本文提出了实践意义。
