THE THERAPIST (Journal of Therapies & Rehabilitation Sciences)

Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome among Physical Therapy House Officers

Kinza Noor — 2024-06-30

Burnout syndrome is a psychological syndrome that is caused by inter-personnel stressors related to prolonged and hectic working hours in a hospital setting. It is overwhelming exhaustion feelings of cynicism, detachment from the job, and lack of accomplishment. Objective: To find the prevalence of burnout syndrome in physical therapy house officers working in the hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Methods: The selection of participants was done by the purposive method of sampling and data collection from the 161 included participants was done by using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. The analysis of data were done by using IBM Statistics SPSS version 22.0. Results: The means and standard deviation for the three components of burnout were found to be 25.09 ± 9.56 for Emotional Exhaustion (EE), 10.093 ± 5.93 for Depersonalization (DP), and 31.248 ± 9.45 for Personal Accomplishment (PA). The mean values fall in the range of moderate level for Emotional Exhaustion (EE), moderate level for Depersonalization (DP), and low level for Personal Accomplishment (PA). Overall, an average of moderate to high levels of burnout was found in the included participants. Conclusions: It is concluded that physical therapists working in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are at high risk of developing burnout because of hectic routines and because of the reason that they are not being paid for their work

Frequency of Bruxism among Mayofascial Temporomandibular Pain Disorder Patients

Ayesha Shahbaz — 2024-06-30

The connection between bruxism and temporomandibular disorders is complex and not yet well understood. Bruxism is a disorder marked by recurrent jaw movements that result in teeth clenching or grinding. It is frequently regarded as a significant risk factor for temporomandibular problems (TMD). Objective: To determine the frequency of bruxism among myofascial pain disorder in temporomandibular joint patients. Methods: A non-probability convenient sampling strategy was used to conduct a descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample size of 179 patients. Questionnaire was based upon the diagnostic criteria of American Academy of Sleep Medicine for bruxism and data were collected from Lahore Medical and Dental College and Ghurki Teaching Trust Hospital Lahore. Results: Out of the 179 patients 94 (52.5 %) reported symptoms of jaw joint noise and the frequency of bruxism in the participants was 106 (59.2 %). Conclusions: The study concluded that bruxism is more frequent in myofascial pain disorder in temporomandibular joint patients

Frequency of Neck, Shoulder and Back pain due to Heavy Backpacks among Private School Children of Islamabad: A Descriptive Survey

Sidra Hanif — 2024-06-30

School going children carry heavy back pack on daily basis. Heavy backpack can place extra pressure on shoulder, neck and back that can lead to pain in these regions of body. Objective: To explore the occurrence of neck, shoulder and back pain in school going children because of carrying heavy bag. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted amongst school children of Islamabad from April 2023 to July 2023. A total of 274 school going children from various private schools of Islamabad region were the part of this study. School going children aging from 10 to 17 years of age of either gender with no history of musculoskeletal problems were included in the study. Data collection questionnaire incorporated standard Nordic Musculoskeletal disorder tool. Data were analyzed on SPSS version 25.0. Results: Children who carry back pack weight more than 10% showed more musculoskeletal symptoms in neck, shoulder and back. Results showed that frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms such as back pain was 171 (62.4%) and 97 (35.4%) students out of 100 who claimed no pain in back due to heavy backpack. In addition, the frequency of neck pain was 184 (67.2%) and 84 (30.7%) students who responded no neck pain due to heavy backpack. The frequency of shoulder pain was 86 (31.3%). Conclusions: Students with heavy back pack are more prone to develop musculoskeletal disorders including neck, shoulder and back pain.

Practice, and Barriers to Spirometry Usage among Healthcare Professionals in Karachi

Zoha Soomar Patoli — 2024-06-30

A spirometer is the most suitable technique for primary care because it is very convenient for healthcare professionals to use because it is very low cost, performs in a short time, and also it is a non-invasive technique patients can easily understand and perform. The usage of a spirometer is very beneficial and important to find out the stage and monitor the pulmonary conditions during performing therapies. Objective: To determine the knowledge, practice, and barriers regarding the usage of spirometry among healthcare professionals in Karachi. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done from Nov 2023 to April 2024 in Karachi on healthcare professionals to explore the usage of spirometry among them. The sample size was 384 and the non-probability convenients sampling was used. Data were evaluated through a validated questionnaire and analization of data were done through SPSS version 23.0. Results: A total number of 384 research participants were included in this study. The results showed that knowledge related to spirometry usage was present in research participants around 319 (83.07%). The practice of spirometry by healthcare professionals was observed in 172 (58.9%) and the most common barrier observed in this study was the rate of unavailability of the equipment around 51 (13.28%) in the hospitals. Conclusion: It was concluded that the knowledge of spirometry was good among healthcare professionals but the practice was poor due to the unavailability of spirometry in the hospitals.

Awareness, Attitude, Belief, and Motivation of Health Care Professionals towards Obstetrics and Gynecological Physical Therapy

Rimsha Hira Taak — 2024-06-30

Physical therapy focuses on various health issues of women like: women with pregnancy, after delivery, pelvic floor dysfunction, uterine prolapse, polycystic ovary, and pelvic floor dysfunction was known as Gynecological physical therapy. Healthcare professionals should be aware of and motivate patients toward the significance of physical therapy in gynecological issues. Objective: To determine the awareness, attitude, belief and motivation of healthcare professionals of Karachi towards gynecological physical therapy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey-based study that was conducted from January to June 2024, the study population was healthcare professionals from seven districts of Karachi and the sample size was 389, the sampling technique was non-probability purposive sampling. The validated questionnaire was used to evaluate the attitude, beliefs, and motivation of healthcare professionals towards gyne PT. The data were analyzed through SPSS version 23.0. Results: There were 389 healthcare professionals recruited from different districts of Karachi. The level of awareness among the research participants was 36.24%, the belief of research participants regarding the gynae physical therapy was good towards the effectiveness of treatment 44.21% believed that pelvic floor exercises were effective in gynecological problems, 39.33% were highly motivated towards the physical therapy treatment. However, 35.21% thought that the training in the gynecological field was limited and the referral system was thought to be limited by 19.28% of research participants. Conclusion: This study concluded the level of awareness and motivation was good enough among healthcare professionals of our study while there was a lack of referral systems and training programs available in this field of physical therapy.

The Future of Speech Therapy for Autism: Bridging Technology and Personalized Care

Fahad Tanveer — 2024-06-30

Researchers have been working on autism since the 1980s [1]. Autism spectrum disorder (AUD) is a complex neurodevelopment condition that affects people's interaction with others, behavior, communication, and social interaction. Although autism may be a lifelong condition, appropriate support, services, and treatments can improve a person's symptoms and daily functioning. Individuals with autism often face challenges with speech and language development are prominent. Speech therapy (ST) plays a role in gaining control over verbal communication. An effective speech therapy can enhance the quality of life by addressing communication difficulties. Traditionally, the treatment of autism has a multidisciplinary approach that aims to address the diverse needs of individuals on the spectrum. Advancements in technology are revolutionizing the field by offering various possibilities for personalized care and improved outcomes. Healthcare professionals diagnose autism by assessing a person's development patterns and behaviors. Currently, speech therapy is delivered through face-to-face interactions with a trained therapist. Because parents of autistic children consistently identify language and social communication skills as a top priority. This approach has limitations, like scheduling conflicts, limited access to geographical constraints, and specialized care [2].

Telepractice platforms and virtual reality systems (VR), offer novel opportunities for accessible, personalized, and engaging therapy experiences. Telepractice is an online therapy service via technology-based platforms that allows long-distance interventions, breaking geographical barriers and expanding access to specialized care. Specifically, telepractice capitalized on communication practices such as video conferencing, and data tracking tools to facilitate effective communications and reduce barriers like distance. It is a very effective and low-cost method for conducting and completing online sessions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder [3].

The use of mobile technology in various countries become a necessity in the lives of people and also makes it a potential medium of intervention for people diagnosed with autism. It also enhances social skills, language development, and communication abilities. Virtual reality is an essential tool for healthcare intervention, offering realistic scenarios for practicing communication strategies and social interaction. Virtual reality interventions can lead to more stable and faster communication skills over time [4].

Advancements in artificial intelligence has enabled therapists to analyze data and identify patterns to meet the unique needs of each individual with autism. Technology is poised to facilitate collaboration and communication among individuals, and promote consistency across various settings. Researchers are involved in creating and training robots to interact with autistic children. We can empower individuals with autism to reach their full communication potential with the help of these latest technologies.