Occupational therapy in palliative care: Is it under‐utilised in Western Australia?

Halkett, Georgia; Ciccarelli, Marina; Keesing, Sharon; Aoun, Samar

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1630.2009.00843.x

Cited by 30 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In this review, the authors suggested that much of the disability associated with advanced cancer may be avoided and stated that this is “an important public health issue.” One of the central questions in this review was, “Why does functional loss in patients with cancer fail to trigger rehabilitation referrals?” Cheville et al explored several reasons, including that cancer‐related disability is often insidious and that cancer care delivery systems are not conducive to the early detection of functional problems. In this particularly fragile population, the authors encouraged health care professionals to avoid underestimating the functional loss that may occur with minor impairments and stated, “Even seemingly benign impairments warrant attention, given their capacity to erode diminishing functional reserve.” International studies have demonstrated the need for rehabilitation and its underuse as well . Indeed, the burden of impairments directly related to cancer and/or cancer treatments can be profound when considered as a whole rather than the sum of each part.…”

Section: Cancer Rehabilitation and The Care Continuummentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Impairment‐driven cancer rehabilitation: An essential component of quality care and survivorship

Silver

Baima

Mayer

2013

CA A Cancer J Clinicians

345

276

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Adult cancer survivors suffer an extremely diverse and complex set of impairments, affecting virtually every organ system. Both physical and psychological impairments may contribute to a decreased health-related quality of life and should be identified throughout the care continuum. Recent evidence suggests that more cancer survivors have a reduced health-related quality of life as a result of physical impairments than due to psychological ones. Research has also demonstrated that the majority of cancer survivors will have significant impairments and that these often go undetected and/or untreated, and consequently may result in disability. Furthermore, physical disability is a leading cause of distress in this population. The scientific literature has shown that rehabilitation improves pain, function, and quality of life in cancer survivors. In fact, rehabilitation efforts can ameliorate physical (including cognitive) impairments at every stage along the course of treatment. This includes prehabilitation before cancer treatment commences and multimodal interdisciplinary rehabilitation during and after acute cancer treatment. Rehabilitation appears to be cost-effective and may reduce both direct and indirect health care costs, thereby reducing the enormous financial burden of cancer. Therefore, it is critical that survivors are screened for both psychological and physical impairments and then referred appropriately to trained rehabilitation health care professionals. This review suggests an impairment-driven cancer rehabilitation model that includes screening and treating impairments all along the care continuum in order to minimize disability and maximize quality of life.

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Section: Cancer Rehabilitation and The Care Continuummentioning

confidence: 99%

“…30 International studies have demonstrated the need for rehabilitation and its underuse as well. [143][144][145][146] Indeed, the burden of impairments directly related to cancer and/or cancer treatments can be profound when considered as a whole rather than the sum of each part.…”

Section: Rehabilitation Of Patients With Cancer As a Chronic Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impairment‐driven cancer rehabilitation: An essential component of quality care and survivorship

Silver

Baima

Mayer

2013

CA A Cancer J Clinicians

345

276

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“…The End-of-Life Literature Squire (2011) and Halkett et al (2010) suggest that the occupational therapy profession has an uncertain and poor evidence base, but there is growing research supporting the benefits of occupation across a broad spectrum of circumstances (Wilcock, 1998;Finlay, 2004;Wilcock, 1991and 1993, cited in Jacques & Hasselkus, 2004Kealey & McIntyre, 2005;Jarman, Enabling occupation at the end of life 2011). Perhaps the issue then lies with the quality of research into end-of-life care.…”

Section: Evidence-based Practicementioning

confidence: 99%

Enabling occupation at the end of life: A literature review

Mills

Payne

2015

Pall Supp Care

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A "good death" involving a quality end-of-life experience is the foundational goal overarching all therapy and medicine in the provision of palliative care. Arguably, an occupation-focused approach provided by therapists meets client needs to enable meaningful experiences in the limited time left to them. Current occupational therapy practice environments are not necessarily achieving these goals in commensurate fashion. There is a need to promote the role of occupational therapy and circumscribe what therapists can offer. Further research is necessitated across all environments and future funding for therapist positions in palliative teams. End-of-life care can be complex and challenging; however, therapists can facilitate fulfillment of client-centered occupational goals. In engaging with personally constructed nuances of meaning, quality of life can be improved in those deserving of a significant and emotionally rich daily existence during their final days.

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“…Increasing numbers of allied health professionals employ a rehabilitative approach to optimise function of palliative care patients [4]. Management of symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue to support comfort and function is an integral part of physiotherapy and occupational therapy interventions [4][5][6][7][8]. Psychosocial needs for patients and families around grief, loss and bereavement may be addressed by psychologists and social workers [9][10][11], while speech pathologists address communication, cognition and swallowing difficulties to support dignity, safety and comfort [12,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Changing Nature of Palliative Care: Implications for Allied Health Professionals’ Educational and Training Needs

et al. 2019

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CareSearch is an Australian Government Department of Health funded repository of evidence-based palliative care information and resources. The CareSearch Allied Health Hub was developed in 2013 to support all allied health professionals working with palliative care clients in all clinical settings. This cross-sectional online survey sought to elicit allied health professionals palliative care experiences and subsequent considerations for educational and clinical practice needs. The survey was disseminated nationally via a range of organisations. Data was collected about palliative care knowledge, experience working with palliative care clients and professional development needs. Data were evaluated by profession, experience and practice setting. In total, 217 respondents answered one or more survey questions (94%). Respondents (65%) reported seeing >15 palliative care clients per month with 84% seen in hospital and community settings. Undergraduate education underprepared or partially prepared allied health professionals to work with these clients (96%) and 67% identified the need for further education. Access to postgraduate professional development was limited by available backfill and funding. Study findings support the importance of free, accessible, relevant educational and professional development resources to support clinical practice. This is particularly relevant for allied health professionals who have limited opportunities to attend formal professional development sessions.

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Occupational therapy in palliative care: Is it under‐utilised in Western Australia?

Abstract: This study provides an understanding of the barriers that have limited occupational therapists' involvement in providing palliative care in Western Australia.

Cited by 30 publications

References 22 publications

Impairment‐driven cancer rehabilitation: An essential component of quality care and survivorship

Impairment‐driven cancer rehabilitation: An essential component of quality care and survivorship

Enabling occupation at the end of life: A literature review

The Changing Nature of Palliative Care: Implications for Allied Health Professionals’ Educational and Training Needs

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