Occupational therapy practice in oncology care: Results from a survey.
Leah I Stein Duker, Alix G Sleight
PMID 30345585WHAT IT FOUND
Occupational therapists in oncology settings frequently treat physical impairments but often cannot bill directly for psychosocial care like emotional support or lifestyle management.
Most reported barriers such as time constraints and insurance limitations, which restrict their ability to provide comprehensive holistic care.
Key findings
01Almost 90% of participants reported that their treatments frequently focused on physical impairment, general weakness, ADL difficulties, fatigue, quality of life, and pain.
02Multiple common OT interventions, including rapport building, emotional difficulties, and social support, were reported as not independently reimbursable by the majority of respondents.
03The most frequently reported barriers to practice were challenges with time (59%) and insurance or reimbursement structures (38%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used snowball sampling, which may introduce selection bias and limit the representativeness of the results. The response rate is unknown because the survey was distributed through state associations without tracking the total number of eligible recipients. Participants self-reported their work with cancer patients, which may include those with minimal exposure to the population. The study did not differentiate between specific inpatient settings like acute care versus rehabilitation. Not all respondents completed every survey item, so percentages are based on varying sample sizes.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high frequency of reported psychosocial treatment as evidence that these services are adequately reimbursed or systematically supported; the data shows they are often delivered as 'underground' practices folded into other billing codes due to insurance barriers.