000008050 001__ 8050 000008050 005__ 20240819142617.0 000008050 022__ $$a2057-0082 000008050 0247_ $$2DOI$$a10.1186/s40945-021-00112-3 000008050 037__ $$aARTICLE 000008050 039_9 $$a2024-08-19 14:26:17$$b1$$c2023-09-05 15:24:27$$d1$$c2021-12-17 15:25:23$$d0$$c2021-11-17 11:26:18$$d1001252$$c2021-07-12 23:31:01$$d0$$c2021-07-12 11:10:06$$d1000069$$c2021-07-12 09:52:29$$d0$$y2021-07-12 09:52:22$$z1000092 000008050 041__ $$aeng 000008050 245__ $$aPhysiotherapists’ use and perceptions of digital remote physiotherapy during COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland :$$ban online cross-sectional survey 000008050 269__ $$a2021-07 000008050 300__ $$a10 p. 000008050 506__ $$avisible 000008050 520__ $$9eng$$aBackground : The Swiss containment strategy for the COVID-19 pandemic during the first wave in spring 2020 resulted in a moratorium on non-urgent physiotherapy via regular direct patient contact. Consequently, such physiotherapy sessions declined by 84%. This study investigates the impact of this moratorium on the use of digital remote physiotherapy in Switzerland during this period and the perceptions of its use by Swiss physiotherapists (PTs). Methods: A cross-sectional online questionnaire was distributed between June and August of 2020 via the Swiss Physiotherapy Association (physioswiss) and various associations of physiotherapy specialists (e.g., sport, pediatric) working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The questionnaire was designed to capture the demographics of participants and the perceptions of PTs using 33 questions in the following domains: Demography; Attitudes towards digital technology; Private and professional use of digital technology; Use of digital technology during therapy; and, Support requirements. Closed and open-ended questions were included and the frequency of answers was analyzed. Non-parametric inferential statistics were used to identify differences, where appropriate. The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) was adopted. Results: Participants in the survey were 742 PTs (23.5% male, mean age of 43 years, mean working experience of 18 years) from the German-speaking (75.5%), French-speaking (15.1%), and Italian-speaking (9.4%) regions of Switzerland. The percentage of PTs using digital remote therapy increased from 4.9% prior to the lockdown to 44.6% during the lockdown period. The majority of PTs did not consider that digital remote therapy could complement usual physiotherapy practice and did not plan to continue with digital remote therapy after the pandemic. Conclusions: During the lockdown, Swiss PTs adopted various low-cost and easily accessible digital technologies. However, several barriers hampered further implementation of this modality. Specific education and training programs need to be provided among PTs, appropriate digital technologies should be introduced, and a correct reimbursement scheme should be developed. Trial registration: COVIDPhysio Registry of World Physiotherapy, registered 15th June 2020 (https://world.physio/covid-19-information-hub/covid-19-covidphysio-registry). 000008050 540__ $$acorrect 000008050 592__ $$aHESAV 000008050 592__ $$bUnité de recherche en santé, HESAV 000008050 592__ $$cSanté 000008050 592__ $$dPhysiothérapie 000008050 6531_ $$9eng$$apandemic 000008050 6531_ $$9eng$$aphysical therapy modalities 000008050 6531_ $$9eng$$aSARS-CoV-2 000008050 6531_ $$9eng$$atelerehabilitation 000008050 655__ $$ascientifique 000008050 700__ $$aRausch, Anne-Kathrin$$uZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Research & Development, Winterthur, Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aBaur, Heiner$$uDepartment of Health Professions, Physiotherapy, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aReicherzer, Leah$$uZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Research & Development, Winterthur, Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aWirz, Markus$$uZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Physiotherapy, Research & Development, Winterthur, Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aKeller, Fabienne$$uHESAV School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aOpsommer, Emmanuelle$$uHESAV School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aSchoeb, Veronika$$uHESAV School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aVercelli, Stefano$$uDepartment of Business Economics, Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Stabile Piazzetta, Manno/Landquart, Switzerland 000008050 700__ $$aBarbero, Marco$$uDepartment of Business Economics, Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Stabile Piazzetta, Manno/Landquart, Switzerland 000008050 773__ $$j2021, vol. 11, article 18$$tArchives of physiotherapy 000008050 8564_ $$s188571$$uhttps://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/8050/files/Additional%20file%201.pdf$$957b6d75a-49d5-4f01-b727-dffb4a547af5 000008050 8564_ $$s179376$$uhttps://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/8050/files/Additional%20file%202.pdf$$918236d2f-fd7c-4d68-b180-efcbbe998606 000008050 8564_ $$s934161$$uhttps://arodes.hes-so.ch/record/8050/files/published%20version.pdf$$91651cb03-40b2-4f15-a2e4-2059e370e2f7 000008050 906__ $$aGOLD 000008050 909CO $$ooai:hesso.tind.io:8050$$pGLOBAL_SET 000008050 950__ $$aSan2 000008050 980__ $$ascientifique 000008050 981__ $$ascientifique