Allied Health Professionals’ Involvement in the COVID-19 Vaccination Response: A cross-sectional online survey

Abstract

Background: Allied health professionals offered an additional workforce strategy to support the COVID-19 vaccination response. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of Australian AHPs who worked in the COVID-19 vaccination response.

Methods: An explanatory-sequential mixed-methods design was conducted, with the first phase involving a cross-sectional online survey. The survey consisted of 36 questions related to participant demographics, role/s undertaken in the COVID-19 vaccination response, and perceptions regarding benefits, concerns, and future roles for allied health professionals in vaccination responses.

Results: 29 participants were eligible for study inclusion defined by completion of all survey questions representing three Australian states and five allied health professions (physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, dietetics, and podiatry). The most reported benefit was ‘enhanced knowledge base related to vaccines’ (n=25, 86.25%), while concerns were expressed related to keeping current with guidelines and accidentally causing harm (each n=11, 37.9%). Theoretical domains enabling allied health professional participation were ‘knowledge’, ‘reinforcement’, ‘beliefs about consequences’, and ‘environmental context and resources’. Three key categories were identified in open-ended responses: “An appropriate role” for allied health? The impact of allied health participation; and, Processes shape the experience.

Conclusions: Findings enhance our understanding of allied health professionals’ experiences in the COVID-19 vaccination response, and the benefits and barriers to their involvement. There is an opportunity to better utilise the AHP workforce. Organisations are implored to review their use of AHPs both in the COVID-19 pandemic and broadly in health service delivery to support enhanced use of this workforce in future extended scope of practice or disaster management responses.