Practice and Challenges of Bangladeshi Occupational Therapists during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Md Mohsiur Rahman; Arifa Jahan Ema; Md Julker Nayan; Kazi Tasmia Rahman; Adiba Tafhim Anisa

doi:10.1080/07380577.2022.2099039

Practice and Challenges of Bangladeshi Occupational Therapists during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Occup Ther Health Care. 2022 Jul 14:1-11. doi: 10.1080/07380577.2022.2099039. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Md Mohsiur Rahman¹, Arifa Jahan Ema¹, Md Julker Nayan², Kazi Tasmia Rahman², Adiba Tafhim Anisa²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational Therapy, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute (BHPI), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
² Occupational Therapy Department, Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

PMID: 35834426
DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2022.2099039

Abstract

This descriptive study describes the practice and challenges of occupational therapists in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic using an online survey. Eighty-four participants who are practising in both clinical and community settings anonymously participated in the study between January - March 2021. About a third (38.5%) of participants continued hands-on service, 29.5% started working from home, 19.2% worked in both methods, and 12.8% stopped working and almost 12% commenced telerehabilitation service as a new practice. This paper describes the practice as well as the different challenges. Implications of the results are explored as well as future needs.

Keywords: Bangladesh; COVID-19; challenges; occupational therapy; practice.