Post-COVID-19 Impact on Social Skills of Students in Occupational Therapy Internship of Professional Technical Level

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the social skills of fifth-year Occupational Therapy students at an institute professional Chilean, a context marked by the transition to virtual mode and then the return to face-to-face. The critical issue lies in the deterioration of essential skills such as communication and empathy due to confinement, with consequences on their professional performance during internships. The main thematic axes are mental health post-pandemic, the development of social skills in occupational therapy, and institutional responses to the crisis. To address this, an exploratory and cross-sectional quantitative methodology was used. Data collection included dichotomous surveys of students and evaluative surveys of clinical tutors, administered digitally. The data were analyzed descriptively to identify trends. The main result was the finding of insecurity and difficulties in interacting with users and colleagues, as well as a decrease in proactivity. The main conclusion is the need to implement strategies for psychoemotional support and reinforcement of social skills in professional training post-pandemic to ensure quality care in the health area.