Prevalence of mistreatment among physiotherapy interns in Nigeria: a preliminary study

Background

Healthcare professionals with the least experience, such as students and interns, are likely to face some form of mistreatments in the world of health professionals. Mistreatment has a negative impact on the victim’s well-being as it results in psychological distress such as burn out, lack of motivation and reduced performance. This study aims to explore mistreatment among physiotherapy interns in Nigeria with a view to protecting the future of the profession.

Result

Most of the participant were male (57.5%) and doing their internship in the northwestern part of the country (42.5%). Forty interns participated in the study, and 2/3 of them had experience of mistreatment. The most common type of mistreatment was yelling or shouting (60%), followed by someone taking credit for what an intern did (55%), humiliation or belittlement (50%), and threat of an extension beyond the 12 months (27.5%). Eighty-seven percent reported that the mistreatment changes their relationship with the perpetrator. Mistreatment led to stress in 70% of the respondent, affected the self-confidence of 62.5%, and led to decreased clinical output in 45% of the participants. Forty percent of the participants acquired depression due to the mistreatment.

Conclusion

Most physiotherapy interns experience mistreatment during the 1-year mandatory clinical internship. Verbal abuse is the most prevalent form of mistreatment, while the least is physical abuse. This study found that mistreatment has adverse effects on the health and work output of physiotherapy interns.

Impact of the corona virus disease 2019 pandemic on physiotherapy services in Nigeria

Purpose

This study aimed to explain the impact of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physiotherapy services in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a commentary piece.

Findings

The pandemic has potential of reducing efficacy of physiotherapy services. It also showed that the mental health of local physiotherapists was badly affected. On the other hand, the pandemic allowed physiotherapists to support infectious disease prevention and control and as well as providing awareness of the role of physiotherapy in the management of respiratory diseases.

Originality/value

It shows the effect of COVID-19 on physiotherapy care.

COVID-19 lockdown may increase cardiovascular disease risk factors

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) and was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020 which is leading to significant morbidity and mortality. In compliance with WHO recommendation of movement restrictions, many countries have imposed compulsory self-quarantine and restricted movements of their citizenries (lockdown/sit at home) and closure of businesses and borders as preventive measures to the fast-spreading virus. Consequently, this decision has made the emergence of behaviors that are detrimental to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) which are the leading cause of the global mortality rate.

Main body

The increase in sedentary lifestyles, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown as a result of personal restrictions in COVID-19 lockdown is linked with the risk of death from chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Conclusion

The lockdown has increased risk factors of CVDs, and as such, there might be an increase in the number of non-communicable disease (NCD)-related mortality rate. The effect does not end during the period of coronavirus pandemic but even after the pandemic.