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A. Reinmann1, B. Rau2, A.-S. Desarzens1, A.-V. Bruyneel1
1Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Physiotherapy, Geneva, Switzerland, 2Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, International Relations, Geneva, Switzerland
Background: Geneva School of Health (GSoH) hosts five programs that currently train 921 students, 108 of whom in physiotherapy. In March 2020, this well organised physiotherapy pre graduated training and the research institute were suddenly hit by COVID-19 leading to many adaptations.
Purpose: Highlight the main achievements despite limited preparation for digital transformation and quick turnarounds and show the impact of the sanitary crisis on research projects.
Methods: Descriptive analysis of the March-July 2020 innovative practices.
Results: Further to the decisions of the Swiss Government, face to face programs were interrupted within a week and educators had to adapt them to a digital format. The practical courses were postponed to June with lower attendance, social distancing and including masks, while the theoretical courses were modified as such:
- creation of audio presentations followed by a forum;
- delivery of lectures by live teleconference;
- development of flipped classrooms.
This set up allowed some students to volunteer to help the COVID-19 units of the Geneva University Hospital.
Solutions also had to be found for the examinations: cancellation of the practical parts, postponement to August or modification of the exam towards a clinical reasoning practice based on a video taped case-study.
Some internships had to be stopped prematurely because of the reorganization of services for COVID-19. In case of shortened trainings, additional theoretical work was requested to get the required ECTS. Several students chose to interrupt their practicum for medical or personal reasons.
Internships abroad were cancelled by the educational authorities and because of border’s closure.
Three research projects, one in oncology and two in neurology were put on hold for three months due to decisions of the Swiss relevant instances. In the hospitals, physiotherapists have been assigned to COVID-19 units. In addition, oncology and neurology patients were considered as an at-risk population due to treatment side-effects and age. It was therefore not possible to carry out the tests by non-hospital staff members to guarantee blinding. The impact of COVID-19 on these projects was: the exclusion of several subjects (untested follow-up), the delay in the global planning, the negotiation of deadlines with the funding agencies and an increase in costs. During this period, the researchers were also involved in monitoring the physiotherapy literature about COVID-19 and writing articles on this exceptional situation.
- creation of audio presentations followed by a forum;
- delivery of lectures by live teleconference;
- development of flipped classrooms.
This set up allowed some students to volunteer to help the COVID-19 units of the Geneva University Hospital.
Solutions also had to be found for the examinations: cancellation of the practical parts, postponement to August or modification of the exam towards a clinical reasoning practice based on a video taped case-study.
Some internships had to be stopped prematurely because of the reorganization of services for COVID-19. In case of shortened trainings, additional theoretical work was requested to get the required ECTS. Several students chose to interrupt their practicum for medical or personal reasons.
Internships abroad were cancelled by the educational authorities and because of border’s closure.
Three research projects, one in oncology and two in neurology were put on hold for three months due to decisions of the Swiss relevant instances. In the hospitals, physiotherapists have been assigned to COVID-19 units. In addition, oncology and neurology patients were considered as an at-risk population due to treatment side-effects and age. It was therefore not possible to carry out the tests by non-hospital staff members to guarantee blinding. The impact of COVID-19 on these projects was: the exclusion of several subjects (untested follow-up), the delay in the global planning, the negotiation of deadlines with the funding agencies and an increase in costs. During this period, the researchers were also involved in monitoring the physiotherapy literature about COVID-19 and writing articles on this exceptional situation.
Conclusion(s): Beyond the “COVID-19 fatigue”, the GSoH program has provided ongoing quality training and research for the benefit of the population of Geneva.
Implications: COVID-19 has demonstrated the surprisingly fast adaptation of educators and students to digital tools. New initiatives have emerged, accompanied by a reflection on sustainability. Nevertheless, exclusive digital training seems unlikely given the essential value of face-to-face teaching and hands-on training for physiotherapy.
For research, this crisis has led to additional difficulties in carrying out projects in accordance with good methodological practice. On the other hand, some approaches to telerehabilitation have emerged in Switzerland and will certainly be followed by research or clinical projects.
For research, this crisis has led to additional difficulties in carrying out projects in accordance with good methodological practice. On the other hand, some approaches to telerehabilitation have emerged in Switzerland and will certainly be followed by research or clinical projects.
Funding, acknowledgements: No funding
Keywords: COVID-19, Educational, Digital tools
Topic: COVID-19
Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: N/A
Committee: N/A
Reason: This abstract is a descriptive analysis, there is no need for ethic committee.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
