Influences of COVID-19 pandemic and the states of emergency on occupational therapy for physical disorders: A questionnaire survey in Hokkaido, Japan.
Hidekazu Saito, Kazuki Yokoyama, Takafumi Morimoto and 2 others
PMID 36467521WHAT IT FOUND
Facilities serving physical disorders reported that emergency declarations restricted patient participation and outpatient services, with no significant increase in total discontinuation of therapy.
Staff adapted by moving sessions to wards or bedside and limiting group work. However, more than half of assessment and treatment responses indicated no change from the pre-declaration period.
Key findings
01Restrictions on patient participation and outpatient services were the most common operational changes, affecting over 50% of responses, while total discontinuation of occupational therapy remained rare.
02Facilities adapted treatment structures by moving interventions to wards or bedside and limiting group therapy to avoid close contact, though a majority of reported treatment changes were minor or non-existent.
03Standard precautions such as disinfection, hand hygiene, and masking were the primary measures taken, accounting for over 50% of all reported actions, with staff infection control also prioritized.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study is restricted to Hokkaido, Japan, and may not generalize to other regions or healthcare systems. Only facilities targeting physical disorders were analyzed, excluding mental health and pediatric populations. Response rates were low (approximately 36% of the initial 725 facilities), which may introduce selection bias. The study relied on self-reported questionnaire data without objective verification of clinical practices.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The work was supported by Sapporo Medical University Grants for Programs promoting Academic advancements.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that occupational therapy for physical disorders was largely disrupted or discontinued. The data shows that total discontinuation was rare and more than half of assessment and treatment responses indicated no change, suggesting that services continued with minor adaptations rather than significant cessation.