Survey of daily living in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients during travel restrictions due to COVID-19

Abstract

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） pandemic, travel restrictions in daily life began in Japan in April 2020, causing many patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy （DMD） to live with restricted behaviors. The purpose of this fact-finding survey was to examine the lifestyles of DMD patients and assess parent anxiety during the period of travel restrictions, as well as to understand the unique challenges in home life and the preparations required of physical therapists. A self-completed online questionnaire survey of the mothers of DMD patients revealed that whereas 67％ of the patients were able to live without visible anxiety, all respondents described anxiety about their child’s illness, mental state, motor function, and more, and expressed a desire for telerehabilitation. Our findings indicated a need for an online system to quickly evaluate the physical function of patients, provide real-time telerehabilitation services, and assuage the anxieties of their parents in cases of travel restictions due to disasters.