Current Practice in Occupational Therapy for COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Conditions.
C von Zweck, D Naidoo, P Govender and 1 others
PMID 37250066WHAT IT FOUND
Occupational therapists reported providing interventions often or very often for people with COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 condition in all assessed areas except assistive technology, service coordination, and swallowing, while access, wait time, staff time, and funding were common negative factors.
Key findings
01Respondents provided interventions often or very often in all areas assessed, except assistive technology use, service coordination and referral, and dysphagia/swallowing disorders.
02Effectiveness was rated high or very high for frequently provided interventions, and medium for pain management, service coordination, sleep management, assistive technology use, and dysphagia management.
03Access to occupational therapy was an area of dissatisfaction for 40% of service users, and availability, wait time, staff time, and funding commonly negatively impacted quality.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The survey was self-reported by occupational therapists and assistants, so it describes what they said they do, not observed patient outcomes or tested effectiveness. Respondents came from 69 countries, but 73.1% lived in high-income countries, so the results may fit those settings better than low- and middle-income settings. The response rate was lower than a previous WFOT survey, and the survey was only available in English, Spanish, French, and German, so some therapists may have been missed. The survey did not test whether interventions improved function, fatigue, cognition, or return to work. 88% of respondents also worked with other populations, and services were delivered as part of a team, so the contribution of any single occupational therapy component cannot be separated.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict-of-interest statement is given in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read therapists' ratings of effectiveness as proof that occupational therapy improves outcomes for COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 condition. This survey reports self-reported practice and perceptions, not tested patient results.