AUTHOR=Surya Nirmal , Srivastava Abhishek , Nagda Taral , Palande Deepak , Someshwar Hitav 

TITLE=Education, Training, and Practices of Neurorehabilitation in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.626399

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.626399

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background
Corona virus disease (COVID 19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. This has affected service delivery among all medical disciplines in India including Neurorehabilitation services. 
Aims & Objectives
To assess the effect of COVID 19 Pandemic on Neurorehabilitation services across India. 
Methodology
A prospective nationwide survey study was undertaken by the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation during the pandemic. A new questionnaire was prepared using Google forms software consisting of 4 sections: Demography, Neurorehabilitation practice before COVID-19 Pandemic, Neurorehabilitation practice during COVID-19 Pandemic, Continuing medical education during COVID-19 Pandemic. 
Results
872 responses were received from Neurorehabilitation professionals across the country out of which 2.2% professionals did not give consent for participating in the survey.  36.6% participants were practicing traditional or Independent referral basis rehabilitation, while 63.4% participants were practicing Multidisciplinary rehabilitation. On an average, respective units were treating 500-750 patients per month. Majority of the rehabilitation units in India did not have a physiatrist, rehab nurse, music therapist, cognitive therapist and urologist. Approximately 80% of the rehab units have the basic rehab modalities and advance technology was present in only 20% rehab units. 19.5% centers were providing elective services, 50.3% emergency services, 15.6% new outpatient services, and 22.7% were providing follow up outpatient services. 51.5% centers were providing Tele-rehabilitation services for neurological conditions during the times of COVID 19 pandemic.  61.1% of the professionals providing telerehab were working from home. 28% patients admitted in the rehab units were doing their exercises independently, 31% were supervised by caregivers, 17% supervised by therapists and 24% patients were not receiving any therapy. 95.5% participants wanted to receive more training in the field of Neuro rehabilitation. The participants followed up on webinars (71%), online courses (22%), case discussion forums (19%), panel discussions (13%), and literature search (8%) to continue education. 
Conclusion
Neuro-rehabilitation services were severely affected across India during the COVID 19 pandemic. Tele Neurorehab has emerged as a new service delivery model during the pandemic. Online means of education has emerged as the primary source of continuing medical education during the pandemic.