Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020

Klamroth-Marganska, Verena; Gemperle, Michael; Ballmer, Thomas Michael; Grylka-Baeschlin, Susanne; Pehlke-Milde, Jessica; Gantschnig, Brigitte E.

doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-22732

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020
Authors:	Klamroth-Marganska, Verena Gemperle, Michael Ballmer, Thomas Michael Grylka-Baeschlin, Susanne Pehlke-Milde, Jessica Gantschnig, Brigitte E.
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9 10.21256/zhaw-22732
Published in:	BMC Health Services Research
Volume(Issue):	21
Issue:	1
Page(s):	578
Issue Date:	15-Jun-2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1472-6963
Language:	English
Subjects:	Midwifery; Occupational therapy; Technology acceptance; Tele-care; Tele-health; Tele-monitoring health professions; Tele-rehabilitation; Videotelephony; Communicable Disease Control; Cross-sectional study; Delivery of health care; Female; Humans; Occupational therapist; Pandemic; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2; Switzerland; Touch; COVID-19; Midwifery
Subject (DDC):	615.8515: Occupational therapy 618: Gynecology, obstetrics and midwifery
Abstract:	Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impedes therapy and care activities. Tele-health, i.e., the provision of health care at a distance (HCD), is a promising way to fill the supply gap. However, facilitators and barriers influence the use and experience of HCD for occupational therapists (OTs) and midwives. We identified use of services and appraisal of experiences of Switzerland-based OTs and midwives regarding the provision of HCD during the lockdown as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. 1. Hypothesis: Profession, age in years, and area of work have a significant and meaningful influence over whether HCD is provided. 2. Hypothesis: Profession, age in years, area of work, possibility of reimbursement by health insurance, and application used have a significant and meaningful influence on the experience of HCD. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, 5755 OTs and midwives were contacted to fill out an online questionnaire with 13 questions regarding demographic information, use of HCD, and experiences while providing the service. Eleven potential facilitators and barriers and areas where there was desire for support were identified. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 1269 health professionals (response rate 22.5%). 73.4% of responding OTs (n= 431) and midwives (n= 501) provided HCD during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Profession and area of work had a significant influence on whether HCD was provided. Age only had a significant influence on the use of videotelephony, SMS, and chat services. OTs experienced HCD significantly more positively than midwives (log odds = 1.3;p≤.01). Video-telephony (logodds = 1.1;p≤.01) and use of phone (log odds = 0.8;p= .01) were positive predictors for positive experience, while use of SMS (log odds =−0.33;p= .02) was a negative predictor. Among OTs, 67.5% experienced HCD as positive or mostly positive, while 27.0% experienced it as negative or mostly negative. Among midwives, 39.5% experienced it as positive or mostly positive, while 57.5% experienced it as negative or mostly negative. Most respondents desired support concerning reimbursement by health insurance (70.8%), followed by law and data protection (60.4%). Conclusions: HCD during the early COVID-19 pandemic was generally perceived as positive by OTs and midwives. There is need for training opportunities in connection with HCD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/22732
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Occupational Therapy (IER) Institute of Midwifery and Reproductive Health (IHG)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Chancen und Grenzen bei gesundheitsbezogener Behandlung auf räumlicher Distanz Digitale Technologien in der Geburtshilfe
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Klamroth-Marganska, V., Gemperle, M., Ballmer, T. M., Grylka-Baeschlin, S., Pehlke-Milde, J., & Gantschnig, B. E. (2021). Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 578. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9

Klamroth-Marganska, V. et al. (2021) ‘Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020’, BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), p. 578. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9.

V. Klamroth-Marganska, M. Gemperle, T. M. Ballmer, S. Grylka-Baeschlin, J. Pehlke-Milde, and B. E. Gantschnig, “Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020,” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 578, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9.

KLAMROTH-MARGANSKA, Verena, Michael GEMPERLE, Thomas Michael BALLMER, Susanne GRYLKA-BAESCHLIN, Jessica PEHLKE-MILDE und Brigitte E. GANTSCHNIG, 2021. Does therapy always need touch? : a cross-sectional study among Switzerland-based occupational therapists and midwives regarding their experience with health care at a distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. BMC Health Services Research. 15 Juni 2021. Bd. 21, Nr. 1, S. 578. DOI 10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9

Klamroth-Marganska, Verena, Michael Gemperle, Thomas Michael Ballmer, Susanne Grylka-Baeschlin, Jessica Pehlke-Milde, and Brigitte E. Gantschnig. 2021. “Does Therapy Always Need Touch? : A Cross-Sectional Study among Switzerland-Based Occupational Therapists and Midwives Regarding Their Experience with Health Care at a Distance during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spring 2020.” BMC Health Services Research 21 (1): 578. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9.

Klamroth-Marganska, Verena, et al. “Does Therapy Always Need Touch? : A Cross-Sectional Study among Switzerland-Based Occupational Therapists and Midwives Regarding Their Experience with Health Care at a Distance during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spring 2020.” BMC Health Services Research, vol. 21, no. 1, June 2021, p. 578, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06527-9.