ABSTRACT
Objectives:
In this study, it is aimed to examine in depth the occupational, economic and health effects of physiotherapists in the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Materials and Methods:
In the study, phenomenological study design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The sample group of the study consisted of 40 volunteer physiotherapists, 23 women and 17 men, who were able to participate in the study online and were actively working in different regions of Turkey during the pandemic period. In the study, a sociodemographic questionnaire form and the “Physiotherapist Influence Form in the COVID-19 Pandemic” created by the researchers were used as data collection tools.
Results:
While analyzing the data, descriptive and content analysis methods were used. The data were classified by theme and category method. According to the findings, it was found that physiotherapists had difficulties in fulfilling their professional duties and responsibilities in the institutions where they worked during the pandemic period, they were adversely affected in terms of health because they were exposed to the risk of contamination, and physiotherapists working in the private sector experienced a decrease in their economic welfare.
Conclusion:
When the findings obtained from the study and the literature on related subjects were examined, it was found that physiotherapists had similar problems. Different solutions have been proposed to these problems.
Keywords: COVID-19, physiotherapist, qualitative research
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