Psychological Distress and Work Environment Perception by Physical Therapists from Southern Italy during COVID-19 Pandemic: The C.A.L.A.B.R.I.A Study

• Main Authors: Alessandro de Sire, Nicola Marotta, Simona Raimo, Lorenzo Lippi, Maria Teresa Inzitari, Anna Tasselli, Alessandra Gimigliano, Liana Palermo, Marco Invernizzi, Antonio Ammendolia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: COVID-19; psychology; physical therapy; rehabilitation; work environment; healthcare
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9676
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

The psychosocial impact of the work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic on health professionals is a growing issue. The present study examined specific psychosocial work environment indicators during the COVID-19 pandemic, through a multiple regression model of a self-administered cross-sectional online survey in a cohort of physical therapists from a region of Southern Italy from March 2020 to May 2021. The questionnaire contained items on work and healthcare issues related to COVID-19. Eighty physical therapists (29 male and 51 female), mean age 32.5 ± 10.1 years, were involved in this survey. The multiple regression analysis showed that “management activity” was significantly correlated to “therapist frustration” during the COVID-19 pandemic (ΔR² = 0.16; <i>p</i> < 0.03). Findings of this study underline the importance of a healthy psychosocial work environment to enhance job satisfaction of all health professionals and to avoid role conflict and burnout syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.