Efficacy of mHealth-based Workplace Health Promotion Strategy in improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness in a Healthcare Setting: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of a mHealth based workplace health promotion strategy in improving cardiorespiratory fitness in a healthcare setting. METHODS: Seventy-seven female nurses (age: 30-45 years) meeting the inclusion criteria underwent baseline assessment and received either a 12-week mHealth or awareness intervention based on their workplace. Changes in peak oxygen consumption (VO2), fasting blood sugar and physical activity were compared within and between the groups at the end of the intervention. RESULTS: Thirty-seven and 33 participants in the mHealth and awareness arms respectively, completed the 12-week intervention. Peak VO2 (1.6 mL●kg-1●min-1, 7%), physical activity and step counts improved significantly in the mHealth arm. However, between-group differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: mHealth interventions offer unique opportunities to improve physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness among health professionals in their workplace.

Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Patients Visiting the Post-COVID-19 Clinic at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors may continue experiencing diverse symptoms. This study portrays the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19'(PASC) at a tertiary care hospital in India.  Methodology: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients visiting the post-COVID-19 clinic three weeks after their acute COVID-19 illness. Their clinical, serological, and radiological characteristics were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 259 participants (age: 48.02±15.27 years; 62.25% men), 168 had PASC manifestations. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (n=71(42.26%)), breathlessness (n=38(22.61%)), and cough (n=35(20.83%)). Patients with PASC had higher body mass index (28.24±5.02 vs. 26.26±3.65; p=0.002), history of hypertension (52 (30.95%) vs. 17 (18.6%); p=0.039), uncontrolled systolic blood pressure (37 (22.03) vs. 14 (15.38); p=0.042), and persistent chest x-ray abnormalities (34 (20.23) vs. 10 (10.98); p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Fatigue, breathlessness, and cough are common PASC symptoms. Hypertension, obesity, and abnormal chest x-ray findings at follow-up are potential risk factors for developing PASC.

Evidence-based National Consensus: Recommendations for Physiotherapy Management in COVID-19 in Acute Care Indian Setup.

BACKGROUND: With the Wuhan pandemic spread to India, more than lakhs of population were affected with COVID-19 with varying severities. Physiotherapists participated as frontline workers to contribute to management of patients in COVID-19 in reducing morbidity of these patients and aiding them to road to recovery. With infrastructure and patient characteristics different from the West and lack of adequate evidence to existing practices, there was a need to formulate a national consensus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recommendations were formulated with a systematic literature search and feedback of physiotherapist experiences. Expert consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi method. RESULTS: The intraclass coefficient of agreement between the experts was 0.994, significant at p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: This document offers physiotherapy evidence-based consensus and recommendation to planning physiotherapy workforce, assessment, chest physiotherapy, early mobilization, preparation for discharge planning, and safety for patients and therapist in acutec are COVID 19 setup of India. The recommendations have been integrated in the algorithm and are intended to use by all physiotherapists and other stakeholders in management of patients with COVID-19 in acute care settings. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Jiandani MP, Agarwal B, Baxi G, Kale S, Pol T, Bhise A, et al. Evidence-based National Consensus: Recommendations for Physiotherapy Management in COVID-19 in Acute Care Indian Setup. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(10):905-913.

The First Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health: implications and recommendations for the 21st century.

The First Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health was convened at the 2007 World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) Congress to vision practice in the 21st century and, in turn, entry-level education and research, as informed by epidemiological indicators, and consistent with evidence-based noninvasive interventions, the hallmark of physical therapy. The Summit and its findings were informed by WHO data and validated through national databases of the countries of the five WCPT regions. The health priorities based on mortality were examined in relation to proportions of physical therapists practicing in the areas of regional priorities and of the curricula in entry-level programs. As a validation check and to contextualize the findings, input from members of the 800 Summit participants was integrated and international consultants refined the recommendations. Lifestyle-related conditions (ischemic heart disease, smoking-related conditions, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and diabetes) were leading causes of premature death across regions. Contemporary definitions of physical therapy support that the profession has a leading role in preventing, reversing, as well as managing lifestyle-related conditions. The proportions of practitioners practicing primarily in these priority areas and of the entry-level curricula based on these priorities were low. The proportions of practitioners in priority areas and entry-level curricula devoted to lifestyle-related conditions warrant being better aligned with the prevalence of these conditions across regions in the 21st century. A focus on clinical competencies associated with effective health education and health behavior change formulates the basis for The Second Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health.