N.J. Molina Achury1, I.Q. Caicedo Molina2, Y.P. Rodríguez Herrera3, L.Y. Coy Moreno4, M.A. Rojas5, M. Solorzano Alarcon6
1Colombian Association of Physiotherapy - National University of Colombia, Departamento del Movimiento Corporal Humano, Facultad de Medicina, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Colombian College of Physiotherapists - National University of Colombia, Departamento del Movimiento Corporal Humano, Facultad de Medicina, Bogotá, Colombia, 3Colombian Association of Physiotherapy - Colombian College of Physiotherapists, Management Systems, Bogotá, Colombia, 4Escuela Colombiana de Rehabilitación, Bogotá, Colombia, 5Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Public Health, Bogotá, Colombia, 6Colombian College Physiotherahists - Corporación Universitaria Iberoamericana, Board Member, Bogotá, Colombia
Background: Once health emergency situation was declared by the pandemic COVID19, the union physiotherapy organizations agreed to design, send and systematize information in relation to the situation of work and safety conditions of physiotherapists in the country who act on front line of attention, within of the development of the national strategy COVID-19 Physiotherapy Colombia, in the group of professional well-being, which focuses its actions on promoting conditions of well-being, safety and health at work of physiotherapists, providing guidance, social and political management strategies to guarantee the protection in professional practice.
Purpose: To characterize work and biosafety conditions of physiotherapists who in Colombia are in first line of patient care in context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done between March 24 and April 25, 2020, through a characterization survey, documented the work and biosafety conditions of 369 physiotherapists. Inclusion criteria were accepting the handling of personal data and being in first line of attention for the pandemic.
Results: 66% of the respondents were female gender; 77% of physiotherapists are linked to private companies, and the 23% are linked to public companies; Regarding professional practice, 30% work in intensive care units (ICUs) and 22% work in homecare; Regarding homecare areas, 78% report non-delivery or incomplete delivery of personal protection elements (PPE) and in ICUs with reports, 56.7%. The non-delivery or incomplete delivery of PPEs in relation to type of contract indicates that the professionals who are in the worst conditions are those whose relationship is indirect, in order of service provision (69%) or outsourced (60.7 %).Professionals report that the most scarce elements are the N95 masks, disposable gloves and gowns, these are also purchased with their own resources, some institutions deliver between 4-6 masks and 20 pairs of gloves for each professional per month and face shields facial that are shared between up to 6 professionals per shift.
Conclusion(s): The type of hiring is directly related to the work capacity, protection guarantees and biosecurity of professionals, formal hiring is necessary of physiotherapists in the country, and the disappearance of contracts the provision of services and outsourcing, which leave professionals unprotected and have led to the spread of 78 physiotherapists and the death of one in July 2020.
It´s necessary to carry out a process of enforceability with the national government and occupational risk insurers to guarantee the minimum necessary for professional practice, as well as educate physiotherapists on labor rights and their demand.
It´s necessary to carry out a process of enforceability with the national government and occupational risk insurers to guarantee the minimum necessary for professional practice, as well as educate physiotherapists on labor rights and their demand.
Implications: It´s a priority to generate political and labor reforms that guarantee decent working conditions for physiotherapists, who in pandemic times have proven to be fundamental for managing the outbreak throughout all phases of the disease.
Funding, acknowledgements: None declared by the authors.
Keywords: coronavirus, physiotherapy, health and work.
Topic: COVID-19
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: Colombian Association of Physiotherapy
Committee: No
Reason: Because it was developed as part of a union action that does not imply an investigation as a basis.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
