The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on occupational balance: A mixed method study of the experience of Australian occupational therapists

Abstract

Introduction COVID‐19 has seen unprecedented changes to the daily occupational lives of citizens across the globe as a result social and physical restrictions. Frontline healthcare workers health and wellbeing have been impacted but what of occupational balance? The aim of this study was to investigate if there was a change in the occupational balance of occupational therapists working in a metropolitan hospital during a COVID‐19 lockdown. Methods All occupational therapists working in a metropolitan hospital were invited to participate in an online survey. Occupational Balance was measured using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire‐11 (OBQ11). Participants retrospectively rated their occupational balance before COVID‐19 restrictions were in place and again rated their current status during the restrictions. Participants were also asked to comment on strategies used to help them during the COVID‐19 restrictions. Results Forty‐two occupational therapists completed the survey. The mean total score prior to the COVID‐19 restrictions was 19.4 and during restrictions was 19.0 (Z = −0.4, p = 0.68). There was a significant decrease in having sufficient to do during the COVID‐19 restrictions (Z = −3.6, p < 0.001). Satisfaction with how time was spent in rest, recovery and sleep significantly increased during the restrictions (Z = −3.3, p = 0.001). Strategies used included engaging in valued activities, finding alternate ways of doing and showing gratitude. Conclusion Occupational balance of occupational therapists remained high and satisfaction in how time was spent improved during COVID‐19 restrictions. Occupational therapists implemented their own theoretical approach of adaptation to cope with the COVID‐19 restrictions.

Politics, policies, and patient care: Rehabilitation therapists’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Hence, the stressors and buffers identified here were not mutually exclusive and sometimes posed contradictions within our socioecological framework in a similar manner to previous work that identified both negative and positive critical events among physical therapists (Palacios-Ceña et al , 2021 a). Our findings therefore resonate with past work employing quantitative (Hoel et al , 2021 ; Yang et al , 2020 ), qualitative (Palacios-Ceña et al , 2021 a; Palacios- Ceña et al , 2021b), and mixed-methods (Tse et al , 2021 ) approaches by expanding on and bridging their respective findings.…”

“…Some studies reported elevated anxiety, depression, and reduced morale across therapist participants (Hoel et al , 2021 ; Yang et al , 2020 ) . Others reported minimal adverse effects (Tse et al 2021 ) or the occurrence of positive feelings related to personal and professional growth embedded in an “emotional roller coaster” (Palacios-Ceña et al , 2021 a). This study contributes a unique angle to this discussion.…”

“…A recent study employing a mixed-methods approach towards understanding the impact of COVID-19 on occupational balance ( i.e. , the balance of participation across a variety of valued activities) among occupational therapists (n=42) suggested minimal adverse effects of the pandemic on occupational balance, potentially reflecting resilience and effective coping strategies across the cohort (Tse et al 2021 ). Lastly, two qualitative studies involving 30 physical therapists representing 11 national public hospitals in Spain examined therapists’ emotions and feelings (Palacios-Ceña et al , 2021a ) and experiences (Palacios- Ceña et al , 2021b) of working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic from March to May, 2020.…”

A Comparison of Occupational Balance, Fatigue, Depression, and Anxiety in Hospital-Discharged COVID-19 Survivors with Healthy Individuals: A Cross-sectional Study

“…These results can justify the increase in an occupational imbalance during one to three months after hospitalization in the present study, while occupational balance did not decrease in healthy individuals. Therefore, the activity patterns and the balance between them were related to individuals' mental and physical health (34).…”

“…For example, the energy-saving technique, which means prioritizing tasks during the day, is a method to control fatigue. Furthermore, improving mental health and maintaining the occupational balance after hospitalization due to COVID-19 can be achieved through increasing social support (39) and emotional support from the family, daily planning, performing valuable personal and social activities, high work activity levels, exercise, and doing regular physical activities (34). Various studies indicate that people who had problems due to their daily activity patterns, could regain their occupational balance only by making changes in daily activity patterns, the way of performing activities, and prioritizing them.…”