THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE WORK ORGANIZATION AND MENTAL HEALTH OF PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

UVOD: Koronavirusna bolest 2019 (COVID-19) je naziv bolesti uzrokovane novim koronavirusom SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2). Novi koronavirus otkriven je krajem 2019. godine u Wuhanu u Kini, te se globalno nastavio širiti do danas velikom brzinom. Diljem svijeta pandemija COVID-19 je prouzrokovala velike i neočekivane promjene u svakodnevnom životu. Kontinuirano širenje pandemije može imati utjecaj na mentalno zdravlje ljudi i može rezultirati strahom, tjeskobom i drugim psihološkim problemima. CILJ ISTRAŽIVANJA: Cilj ovoga rada je utvrditi utječe li COVID-19 pandemija na organizaciju rada i mentalno zdravlje fizioterapeuta u Hrvatskoj. ISPITANICI I METODE: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 75 fizioterapeuta. Istraživanje je provedeno putem dobrovoljne anonimne ankete dizajnirane isključivo za ovo istraživanje i dva standardizirana upitnika: Upitnik za procjenu razine anksioznosti (od engl. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, GAD-7) i Upitnik za procjenu postraumatskog stresa (od engl. Primary Care - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PC-PTSD-5). REZULTATI: Pearson Chi-square testom dokazano je da postoji statistički značajna povezanost (p=0,017, p=0,09) između stresa, anksioznosti i fleksibilnosti nadređenih za vrijeme pandemije. Pearson Chi-square testom dokazano je da ne postoji statistički značajna povezanost (p=0,69, p=0,145) između stresa, anksioznosti i vremena provedenog na poslu. U ovom istraživanju od 57 ispitanika koji su nisu pokazali simptome PTSP-a, 29 ispitanika je potvrdilo da pati od anksioznosti, od toga njih 17 imalo je blagi oblik anksioznosti, 9 umjereni i 3 ispitanika imali su teški oblik anksioznosti. Od 18 ispitanika koji su pokazali simptome PTSP-a, 15 ispitanika je potvrdilo da pati od anksioznosti, od toga je 4 ispitanika imao blagi oblik anksioznosti, 6 umjereni oblik, a 5 teški oblik anksioznosti. Pearson Chi-square testom dokazano je da postoji statistički značajna povezanost (p=0,014, p=0,006) između stresa i anksioznosti kod fizioterapeuta za vrijeme COVID-19 pandemije. ZAKLJUČAK: Pandemija COVID-19 utjecala je na organizaciju rada fizioterapeuta, ali neznatno. Što se tiče utjecaja pandemije na mentalno zdravlja, 24% fizioterapeuta je pokazalo simptome PTSP-a, a 44% fizioterapeuta pati od anksioznosti. Potrebno je uložiti napore u zaštitu fizioterapeuta koji su i profesionalno izloženi riziku od stjecanja infekcije kako bi se ublažio strah od infekcije novim koronavirusom i smanjile psihološke posljedice.INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the name of a disease caused by a new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2). The new coronavirus was discovered in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has continued to spread globally to this day at high speed. Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major and unexpected changes in daily life. The continuous spread of a pandemic can affect people’s mental health and can result in fear, anxiety and other psychological problems. AIM OF THE RESEARCH: The aim of this paper was to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the organization of work and mental health of physiotherapists in Croatia. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: 75 physiotherapists participated in the study. The study was conducted through a voluntary anonymous survey designed for this study and two standardized questionnaires: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Questionnaire (GAD-7) and the Primary Care Post-Traumatic Stress Assessment Questionnaire. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PC-PTSD-5). RESULTS: Pearson Chi-square test showed that there was a statistically significant correlation (p=0.017, p=0.09) between stress, anxiety and flexibility of superiors during the pandemic. The Pearson Chi-square test revealed that there was no statistically significant correlation (p=0.69, p=0.145) between stress, anxiety and time spent at work. In this study, out of 57 subjects who were negative for PTSD, 29 subjects confirmed that they suffered from anxiety, of which 17 had a mild form of anxiety, 9 moderate and 3 subjects had a severe form of anxiety. Of the 18 subjects who tested positive for PTSD, 15 respondents confirmed that they suffered from anxiety, of which 4 subjects had a mild form of anxiety, 6 a moderate form, and 5 a severe form of anxiety. The Pearson Chi-square test proved that there was a statistically significant association (p=0.014, p=0.006) between stress and anxiety in physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the organization of physiotherapists' work, but only slightly. In terms of mental health, 24% of physiotherapists were positive for PTSD, and 44% of physiotherapists suffered from anxiety. Efforts should be made to protect physiotherapists who are at risk of exposure in order to alleviate the fear of infection with the new coronavirus and reduce psychological effects