Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Physiotherapists in COVID-19 ICUs: A National Survey

Figure 2

(a) Response rate for “did the physiotherapists, including you, receive any special training before you started working in COVID-19 ICU?” (b) Response rate for “if yes, what type of training?” (c) Response rate for “are you aware of the technique and sequence of donning and doffing PPE?” (d) Response rate for “are you familiar with COVID-19 awake repositioning proning (CARP) protocol?” (e) Response rate for “do you think prone positioning for patients with severe ARDS is applicable in COVID patients too?” (f) Response rate for “if yes, then what is the recommended duration per day?” (g) Criteria for closed monitoring during treatment. (h) Response rate for “which of the following categories of patients are indicated for physiotherapy?” (A) Mild symptoms such as dry cough and fever; without significant respiratory compromise, low-level oxygen requirement (e.g., oxygen flow ≤5 L/min for SpO₂ ≥90%), the patient was able to cough effectively. (B) Mild symptoms and/or pneumonia and coexisting respiratory or neuromuscular comorbidity (e.g., cystic fibrosis, neuromuscular comorbidity, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and current or anticipated difficulties with secretion clearance. (C) Mild symptoms and/or pneumonia and evidence of exudative consolidation with difficulty clearing or inability to clear secretion inadequately. (D) Severe symptoms suggesting pneumonia/ lower respiratory tract infection, e.g., increasing oxygen requirements, fever, difficulty breathing, frequent/severe/productive cough, and chest X-ray/ CT scan/ lung ultrasound showing changes consistent with consolidation. (E) Any patient at significant risk of developing or with mild evidence of significant functional limitation, e.g., multiple comorbidities, a patient at risk of ICU-acquired weakness. (i) Response rate for “do you think that strengthening skeletal muscles and recovery of ADL should be contraindicated in patients admitted in COVID ICUs, as they can increase the load on the respiratory system and increase the risk of distress?”

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