Rehabilitation Capacity for Long COVID Care in British Columbia

Résumé fourni par la source

Introduction: Many Long COVID symptoms impact daily life and are amenable to rehabilitation. Assessing the rehabilitation system's capacity to care for Long COVID patients is crucial to support care planning. Aim: Explore the capacity of physiotherapists (PTs) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, to provide rehabilitation for adults with Long COVID. Methods: An online survey was distributed to BC PTs, including quantitative and qualitative questions on their skills, confidence, and capacity to care for Long COVID patients. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used. Results: Of 2,281 contacted, 139 PTs responded. Most were women (72%) with a mean of 10 (0–47) years of clinical practice. Participants were geographically well-distributed across the province. Fewer than half had treated Long COVID patients, providing a mean of 10 (3–50) sessions. PTs mainly addressed orthopedic issues (e.g., muscle weakness, balance issues) but had limited experience with prevalent Long COVID symptoms like dyspnea, fatigue, and chest pain. Two-thirds lacked confidence in assessing and treating Long COVID. PTs expressed a need for further training in the assessment and treatment of cardiorespiratory conditions, cognitive and mental health issues, and energy management/fatigue. Nearly half reported having the capacity to accommodate Long COVID patients within a few weeks but highlighted challenges, including funding, staff shortages/burnout, lack of standardized care pathways, equity and access issues, and the need for specialized training. Conclusion: Physiotherapy services in BC have reduced capacity to support Long COVID patients, largely due to PTs’ limited experience and expertise in managing Long COVID-specific symptoms.

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