Educational Effects of a Webinar about COVID-19 Prevention by a Regional Core Hospital for Therapists Working in Local Facilities

<p>Background: A new role of a regional core hospital for educating medical personnel through a regional therapy association has been previously reported in the COVID-19 crisis. In the present study, physical (PT), occupational (OT), and speech language hearing therapist (ST) and physiatrists, who have been providing COVID-19 rehabilitation in a regional core hospital, were instructed how to control infection via a webinar. The purpose of this report was to investigate the effects of webinars on therapists working in local facilities. Methods: The webinar was sponsored by the Wakayama Physical Therapy Association. A PT, OT, ST, and physiatrist from Wakayama Medical University Kihoku Hospital, who had been providing rehabilitation for mildly and/or moderately infected COVID-19 patients. All participants answered the 18-item online questionnaire after the webinar to assess the educational effects. Results: There were 41 participants in this region and 30 participants from 19 facilities responded the questionnaire (valid responses ratio was 73%) and 30% of the respondents had experienced COVID-19 rehabilitation. Most responders (83%) felt that difficulty level of the contents was appropriate and 80% of the respondents replied that rehabilitation was necessary for the patients. 70% of the respondents replied that got confidence after this webinar, even 7 of the 13 respondents (43%), who attended the webinar about infection control of COVID-19 for the first time, were involved. Conclusion: A webinar from therapists and physiatrists in a regional core hospital, who had experiences to provide COVID-19 rehabilitation, were satisfactory and effective for the education of regional therapists.</p>