Abstract:

Introduction:
COVID-19 has affected and changed us very deeply in several domains of our live. Each country takes several measures in order to ensure social health and overall well-being. This has been no different in the academic environment. How classes are delivered, how students are examined and how academic degrees are organized are now adapted to this new situation, in order to make sure the infectious spreading is under control.

Objective:
The objective of this study was to develop an observational analysis of the effectiveness of the adaptations taken in the degree of Physical Therapy, in its theoretical classes, regarding feasibility and frequency of infectious events among students and faculty staff.

Materials and method:
The subject Assessment in Physical Therapy I is a 6 ECTS credit basic formation given in the first year of the Degree in Physical Therapy at University of Valencia. Students are taught how to assess patients that suffer from several afflictions in order to determine treatment goals and analyze the patient’s clinical evolution. This content is taught both in theoretical and practical modalities.

In order to ensure that the classes are properly delivered, alternatively to the measures taken under lockdown were classes were taught online, several adaptations have been made. During theoretical and practical classes, students and staff members are asked to were a face mask during class, they are asked to clean their hands with hydroalcoholic gel and security distance between each student is required during the development of the classes.
 
In order to establish the feasibility levels of this new method, students were asked to complete a 5-point Likert scale in order to analyze their satisfaction with the way things were handled, and also, COVID-19 infection rates were registered in order to determine to which degree the pandemic is limiting student assistance to class.

Results:
Despite having to deal nowadays with high COVID-19 infection rates in daily live, it has been proven that college classes can be feasibly delivered without compromising the student or staff’s well-being. Satisfaction rates by the students showed very positive results, reflecting that beyond fear and uncertainty students are contempt with how they are being taught. Even though infection rates are very high outside the academic environment, within class infection rates are very low, only very few isolated cases were registered.

Keywords:

COVID-19, physical therapy, well-being.