Atividade física, qualidade do sono e fatores associados à capacidade para o trabalho de fisioterapeutas da linha de frente contra a COVID-19

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of physical therapy for the control and prevention of pulmonary and musculoskeletal complications, with emphasis on the specialty Respiratory Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy in Intensive Care. However, the physical and mental demands required for work on the front lines, as well as the changes in lifestyle in the face of the pandemic, may have negatively interfered with the physical therapists' ability to work. OBJECTIVE: To associate the level of physical activity, sleep quality, and demographic and occupational factors with the work ability of physical therapists on the front lines against COVID-19. METHODS: Analytical, cross-sectional and quantitative study. Brazilian physiotherapists working on the front lines against COVID-19 answered an online questionnaire that grouped four instruments: a) demographic, occupational and lifestyle data; b) the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); c) the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); d) the Work Ability Index (ICT). Data were analyzed and presented in descriptive statistics (absolute and relative values, mean, standard deviation) and associations between the ICT results and the independent variables, giving significance when p ≤ 0.05. The statistical software R version 4.0.0 was used. RESULTS: Answers were obtained from all regions of Brazil. There was no association between work ability and physical activity level, but inadequate work ability was associated with poor sleep quality (p < 0.001) and ICT and PSQI values showed a significant negative correlation (r = - 0.340; p < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, work ability was associated with female gender (p = 0.018) and with a clinical diagnosis of previous COVID-19 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In times of pandemic, reduced work ability is associated with poor sleep quality but not with physical activity level among frontline physical therapists against COVID-19. The results warn about the potential impact of sleep on the work of professionals who deal with the health of the population, highlighting the need for occupational health support strategies for physical therapists, especially in periods of public health crisis.