2023 Asia Occupational Therapy Associations Exchange Meeting

The Impact of COVID-19 on

the Occupational Therapy in Korea

Miyeong Gang, OT, PhD.
Dept. Occupational Therapy, Woosong University

COVID-19 Situations in Republic of Korea• 2020. 01. 20, First confirmed case

• In Korea (2023.08.31),• Confirmed cases: 34,571,873• Cumulative number of deaths: 35,934• 2022. 05, Social distnacing lifted• 2022. 09, Mask wearing in outdoors lifted• 2022. 10, PCR testing after entry lifted• 2023. 03. 20, Mask wearing indoor also lifted• 2023. 05. 05, WHO announced the lifting of the COVID19 “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”

Reference: Central Disease Control Headquaters (2022.05.09) http://ncov.mohw.go.kr

New COVID-19 cases in Korea
700,000

2020. 02 - In Daegu, Kyungbuk
600,000

500,000• Case incidence peaked on February 29th, 2020, Daegu and Cheongdo were declared“special disaster regions”

400,000

300,000• Mainly affecting and spread by the shincheonji religious group based• Designated and operated as a dedicated hospital for COVID-19• Support for health care workers in Daegu/Gyeongbuk region to prevent the spread of

200,000

COVID-19

100,0000

Reference: Central Disease Control Headquaters (2023.08.31) http://ncov.mohw.go.kr

Special disaster regions in 2020: Daegu & Gyungbuk• Occupational Therapists under the COVID-19• Were member of management support team at COVID-19 infectious disease hospital• Had to work infection control at infectious disease hospital• Condunct an initial interview for confirmed patients in an ambulance• Delivery some food and croceries for patients and medical staff

Reference: Pictures from the Magazine of Korean Association of Occupational Therapists (2020.6)

Change and Challenges of KAOT
• Related COVID-19 Support Project• Hand out to encouraging package gift (vitamins, snacks,drinks)• Diverse group meeting for organize the COVID-19

protocol and alternative clinical training program• Conduct virtual seminars for related COVID-19• Held a meeting to support and care for the disabled

Reference: Pictures from the Magazine of Korean Association of Occupational Therapists (KAOT) (2020.6)

Prolonged the COVID-19• Impacted not only the physical but also psychological health1• Resulted in significant deterioration of mental well-being among thegeneral population1• Anxiety, fear, depression, insomnia• Occupational therapists are typically classified as second-line medicalworkers and do not directly care for people with COVID-19 2• Increase their infection risk and have a negative impact on their mentalhealth
1. Kim J. H. et al. Social Psychoogical and Personality Science. 2022. 2. Ishioka T. et al. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2021

COVID-19 pandemic impact on rehabilitation staffs• Impacted to occupational therapists in Japan 1• Increased in anxiety, depression, insomnia• Affected to physical therapists in Korea2• Reported having symptoms of anxiety and depression 2• Showed fatigue, occupational burnout and occupational stress 3
It has not been reported how COVID-19 impacts
the mental health of Korean occupational therapists• Moreover, therapists were forced to layoff or their employment status was
unstable in Korea
1. Ishioka T. et al. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2021
3. Lee S.Y. et al. PNF and Movement. 2021

2. Yang S.Y. et al. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020

Research of the impact on OT in Korea

To investigate the mental health and employment impact ofthe COVID-19 outbreak on occupational therapists in Korea

Survey
700,000

600,000• Online survey for study: Google forms• Survey peoriods: 2022. 03. 10 – 2022. 05. 27.

500,000• Survey items
400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000• Sociodemographics• Lifestyle• Psychological symptoms• Employment conditions•

Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS-K)•Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS-K)•Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K)

0Reference: Central Disease Control Headquaters (2022.05.08) http://ncov.mohw.go.kr

Survey items• Designated as a dedicated hospital for the COVID-19?
• Is there any COVID-19 quarantine quidelines?
• Regulary check about the COVID-19 information?

• Changes related to commuting due to impact of COVID-19• Commuting hours, transportation ways, ect• Changes in work resulting from COVID-19• Working hours, workload, day off, layoff, job transition, ect• Salary reduction or change, employment instabilities• Provided protective equipments• Influences on attitude towards intervention of patients• Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia

Results• Participants features – general information
Features (n=1,014)
GenderAge(Mean = 32.5 yrs)

Level of education

Marital status

No. (%)
Female685 (67.6)

Male

329 (32.4)

20’s

314 (30.9)

30’s

577 (56.9)

40’s

118 (11.6)

50’s

5 (0.6)< Bachelor’s

242 (23.8)

Bachelor’s576 (56.8)

M.S

173 (17.0)

Ph.D

23 (2.4)

Married376 (37.0)

Unmarried

638 (63.0)

Results• Psychological status
Presence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia

Cutoff score

No. (%)

Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS-K)≥40479 (48.5)

Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS-K)≥50272 (27.58)

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K)≥10581 (58.9)

MeanRange

Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS-K)

40.8

22-79

Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS-K)

44.5

21-80

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K)

10.3

0-28

Mean score of anxiety, depression, and insomnia

Results• Participants features – employment condition
Features (n=1,014)

Clinical experences(mean 6.4 yrs)

Employment status

Job title

Dedicated hospital for COVID-19

Number (%)<1 year18 (1.8)

1–5 years

512 (51.9)

6–10 years

212 (21.5)

10-20 years

222 (22.5)>20 years

22 (2.3)

Full-time803 (79.2)

Part-time211 (20.8)

Head of department

40 (3.9)

Team leader

190 (18.7)

General therapist

762 (75.1)

Internship, freelancer, ect.

22 (2.3)

Yes

199 (19.6)

No816 (80.4)

Results• Effects of COVID-19 on work life (multiple checks)
None
Changes in work content
Voluntary retirement
Forced retirement

Untact treatment or patient education
Paid leave
Unpaid leave
Do related COVID-19 quarantine work
Decreased work load
Increased work load
Work from home
Short-time work
Overtime work
050100150200

250300350400

Results• Effects of COVID-19 on work life - changes in work content
Change work time orprocedure 3%
Replacement work ofinfected therapists 3%
Vaccination center
supportTransport of3%
protective
equipments 4%
Change treatment
methods or places
4%
Treatment hold 6%

Temperature checking
8%
Support to otherdepartment
8%

COVID-19 response
work 17%

Ect. 12%COVID-19 ward
support13%

Related thePCR test
work 11%
Epidemiologicalsurvey 8%Results• Effects on employment / Effects of COVID-19 on work
Features (n=1,014)
Reduced annual salary
Provided protective equipments
Employment instability
Instability about occupational therapist
work
Turnover intention
Affected by the attitude toward patientstreatment or motivation for treatment
Decreased communication with patients

Number (%)
Yes

162 (16.0)No

852 (84.0)

Yes

663 (65.4)

No

351 (34.6)

Yes

449 (44.3)

No

565 (55.7)

Yes

569 (56.1)

No

445 (43.9)

Yes

413 (40.7)

No601 (59.3)

Yes

635 (62.6)

No379 (37.4)

Yes

518 (51.1)

No496 (48.9)

Results• Provided protect equipments
COVID-19 self-test kit
2%

Disinfectant
4%
Protective gown
10%

Etc.2%

Mask (dental,medical, KF-AD)
34%

Protectiveclothing
10%

Protective
gloves16%

Face shield
22%

Results• Effect of the COVID-19 on daily lifestyle (multiple checks)
Increased SNS usage

Increased mask wearing

Increased handwashing and gargling

Attempt to maintain social distancing during conversation

Avoiding direct conversations

Decreased outing0100200300400500600700800900

Take Home Message• The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused lots of serious emerging challenge forthe general public and health professionals worldwide• Occupational therapists may continue to suffer from psychological symptoms,
occupational burnout and employment instability.
• Necessary to make an effort to protect OTs, and need to research
regarding the mental health and QoL of OTs in Korea• For the future, it is necessary to discuss the OT work system and policy
preparation for next pandemic or disasterThank you for listening !