Health aspects and lifestyle of licensed manual therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden: The CAMP cohort study

Abstract

Background This study assessed health and change in lifestyle factors in Swedish manual therapists during one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential differences with regards to age, sex, and business constellation. Further, therapists’ strategies for health promotion during the pandemic were explored. Methods In this cohort study, 816 clinically active manual therapists were followed with web-based surveys during a year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, measuring physical activity, sedentary time, COVID-19-related worries, maladaptive coping, alcohol and tobacco consumption. Health promotion and impact of the pandemic on physical and mental health were explored in free text questions. Generalized estimating equations were conducted to assess changes in sample averages over time, and qualitative content analysis was used to code and categorize free-text answers. Results There was a decrease in physical activity and sedentary time increased as well as subjective mental health impact by the pandemic over one year. Maladaptive coping decreased during follow-up, and alcohol and tobacco consumption decreased in younger participants, and women, respectively. Participants stated that the pandemic affected their physical and mental health and reported using health promoting activities primarily targeting physical activity, nutrition, and sleep. Conclusion Swedish manual therapists maintained good lifestyle habits except for a small decrease in physical activity and slight increase in sedentary behavior and subjective mental health impact by the pandemic over time. There were small differences in terms of maladaptive coping, alcohol consumption, and tobacco consumption, however, these differences were not likely clinically relevant. The therapists seemed conscientious regarding health promotion measures during one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.