https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2023.10823
Politics, policies, and patient care: Rehabilitation therapists’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
Submitted: 30 August 2022
Accepted: 18 January 2023
Published: 27 April 2023
Accepted: 18 January 2023
Abstract Views: 1528
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
The year 2020 represents a historically turbulent period for the United States marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, a contentious political season, and heightened awareness of racism among citizens. This intersection of medicine, politics, and social unrest generated a demanding clinical environment for healthcare workers, including understudied groups such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. This descriptive qualitative study focused on experiences and perspectives of clinical rehabilitation therapists working in inpatient rehabilitation and acute-care units from September to November, 2020. Thirteen participants completed individual, semi-structured interviews focused on clinical practice and coping strategies. The analysis included a multi-step, inductive process. Four interconnecting factors chronicling participants’ experiences emerged: sociopolitical, institutional, hospital unit, and personal. Stressors and buffers were noted that further shaped individual experiences. Utilization of an ecological framework provided a way to recognize the impact of a complex range of social and environmental factors affecting participants’ experiences on personal and professional levels. Awareness of rehabilitation therapists’ experiences enriches understanding of the pandemic’s effect on healthcare workers and presents clinical implications for healthcare systems to promote therapist well-being.
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How to Cite
Vaughn, Rachel M., Nancy Bagatell, Heather McGovern, Raiya Feinberg, Katherine Hendry, Ramis Chowdhury, and Jessica M. Cassidy. 2023. “Politics, Policies, and Patient Care: Rehabilitation therapists’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 7 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2023.10823.
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