Relationship of Covid Anxiety and Exposure Threat with Work During Covid-19 among Physical Therapists

Background: A novel coronavirus is a new pathogenic viral infection that has previously been identified in humans and presents globally as a public health crisis. It is highly transmissible and caused by severe acute respiratory syndromes. This pathogenic virus and its variants are positive-strand RNA viruses that cause severe pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and neurological problems that can range from mild to lethal. Common colds are examples of mild illnesses, but more lethal forms can cause SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. This study explores the relationship between anxiety and exposure threats with work during COVID-19 among physical therapists. Objective: To determine the relationship between anxiety and exposure threats with work during COVID-19 among physical therapists. Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 235 participants, comprising male and female physical therapists. Data collection tools included the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Perceived Threat to Coronavirus Questionnaire (PTCQ), and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess relationships between variables, with significance set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: The sample included 170 women (72.3%) and 65 men (27.7%), with a mean age of 25.3 ± 3.33 years. There was a weak correlation between coronavirus anxiety and work engagement (r = 0.143, p = 0.029). Specifically, correlations were observed in the dimensions of vigor (r = 0.155, p = 0.017) and absorption (r = 0.177, p = 0.006), but not dedication (r = 0.023, p = 0.729). The perceived threat to coronavirus showed a weak correlation with work engagement (r = 0.215, p = 0.001), with significant correlations in the dimensions of vigor (r = 0.232, p = 0.000), dedication (r = 0.160, p = 0.014), and absorption (r = 0.164, p = 0.012). Conclusion: This study concluded that there is a weak correlation between COVID-19 anxiety, exposure threat, and work engagement among physical therapists. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support the mental health and work engagement of physical therapists during pandemics.