In-between duty and hope for recognition, the experience of physiotherapists working in a university hospital during the COVID-19 first wave in Switzerland: a qualitative study based on focus groups.
Claude Pichonnaz, Rose-Anna Foley
PMID 37592333WHAT IT FOUND
Physiotherapists felt proud of their adaptability but feared it made them look interchangeable.
Solidarity with colleagues helped manage stress, while poor communication and lack of protective equipment caused anxiety. They want recognition of specific clinical skills, not just generic flexibility.
Key findings
01Physiotherapists experienced a tension between professional pride in their adaptability and fear that this flexibility undermined the recognition of their specific clinical expertise.
02Solidarity among staff and the ability to take action were key mechanisms for coping with high stress and uncertainty during the crisis.
03Participants identified communication failures and lack of access to protective equipment as major sources of anxiety, while valuing direct contact with field managers who understood clinical realities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a single university hospital in Switzerland, so findings may not apply to other healthcare systems or countries with different pandemic impacts. The sample size was small (12 participants) and consisted only of volunteers, which may introduce selection bias towards those with strong opinions or available time. Managers were excluded from the study, so the perspective of hospital leadership on resource allocation and staff flexibility is missing. Focus groups may have inhibited the sharing of more personal or intimate experiences due to group dynamics.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the University of Lausanne. The authors declared no other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reported stress levels as evidence of a specific intervention's efficacy. This is a descriptive study of experiences, not a trial testing a management strategy. Furthermore, the findings reflect a specific Swiss hospital context during the first wave, where triage was not required, and may not apply to settings with different resource constraints or pandemic phases.