A study of occupational therapy interventions in oncology and palliative care

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the variety of interventions carried out by occupational therapists in oncology and palliative care settings and the proportion of time spent in each of these. Data were recorded onto a daily sheet, itemizing 10-minute blocks of activity. Results showed the proportion of time spent by occupational therapists in direct and indirect patient activity as well as information on the range and ages of patients and diagnoses treated. The authors' conclusion confirms that a large proportion of occupational therapy time is dedicated to indirect and non-patient-related activities, reflecting the complex nature of this patient group. It also reflects the senior status of occupational therapists working in oncology and palliative care and their professional commitments of teaching other professions, caseload management, continuing professional development and contributions to current national agendas in oncology and palliative care. Different patient groups require different occupational therapy interventions and time allocation to meet their diverse functional requirements.