Percepciones sobre la rehabilitación durante la pandemia por COVID-19 de las personas con discapacidad motora

Background and objective

The World Health Organization declared COrona VIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) a pandemic and recommended social distancing as a preventive measure. This affected all medical–clinical treatments, including those related to the physical rehabilitation process. The objective was to describe the perceptions about the rehabilitation process due to the modifications experienced by people with motor disabilities in a rehabilitation hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients and methods

Qualitative design. The sample chosen was for convenience and the data analysis was by thematic analysis, which allows to identify, analyze and report themes. The interviews were conducted with patients seen in the physiotherapy división of the hospital. Inclusion criteria: adults >18 years old, diagnosis of motor disability, undergoing physical treatment ≥1 month on an outpatient basis, with early discharge from hospitalization or hospitalization at the time of the study and signing of the informed consent. Exclusion criteria: physical discharge for reasons other than COVID-19 and diagnosis of psychiatric illness.

Results

The sample consisted of 16 participants. 31.2% were female. Twelve presented various neurological alterations and 4 amputation effects. Four main themes were identified: importance of rehabilitation, treatment modifications/interruption, activities of daily living and tele-rehabilitation.

Conclusions

Perceptions about the rehabilitation process and the impact on the modifications experienced in people with motor disabilities were described. We highlight the importance of tele-rehabilitation as an alternative resource.