These pages provide access to resources and literature relevant to the practice of palliative care for Occupational Therapists (OTs).

Role in palliative care

This information will help you to find out more about working in palliative care. It may include narratives from those working in the area, descriptions of the role, or identify why the position is important:

• The Sacred Heart OT Service in NSW have defined their role within palliative care
• The Peter MacCallum Oncology Hospital in Victoria defines the role of OTs.

Several peak bodies have recognised the role of OT in palliative care:

• The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists position statement (2008) on Occupational Therapy and end-of life care can be found on their website
• The College of Occupational Therapists in the UK has a document that may be of interest – 'Occupational therapy intervention in cancer – guidance for professionals, managers and decision makers'.

  Nurses Views: Deidre Morgan - Occupational Therapy and Palliative Care
Deidre talks about her role as an Occupational Therapist working in palliative care.

Palliative care education and training

There are different ways to develop your knowledge and skills in palliative care. Web based learning modules, short courses and specialist palliative care courses and training are offered in many organisations and universities. Further information can be found on the Education pages of CareSearch.

The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) provides an opportunity for health, aged and community care professionals (including occupational therapists and other allied health professionals) working in primary care or non-specialist palliative care settings to improve confidence and develop skills in working with people with palliative care needs. PEPA offers workforce placements of up to five days in specialist palliative care services and tailored workshops in the palliative approach. There is no fee for placements. Participation meets continuing professional development requirements for AHPRA. The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

The Occupational Therapy unit at James Cook University offers a postgraduate course ‘Allied Health interventions for Palliative Care’.

The International Association for the Study of Pain has produced an Outline Curriculum on Pain for Schools of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

Research

Many health professions may be interested in looking at palliative care research questions in their area of specialty. This may be work that is planned for the future. Any palliative care professional, regardless of discipline, is able to access the CareSearch Research Data Management System (RDMS), a tool developed to support research in palliative care.

Resources 

• The route to success in end of life care – achieving quality for occupational therapy
  UK publicaiton by National End of Life Care Programme and the College of Occupational Therapists. Practical resource to help occupational therapists working in a variety of settings to implement end of life care care
• A presentation held on the Palliative Care Australia website: Occupational Therapy Intervention to Improve Function and Quality of Life for Patients Living with Refractory breathlessness.
• OTseeker is a database that contains abstracts of systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials relevant to occupational therapy. This is in the literature and evidence section.
• Special interest groups include:
  • Palliative Care Association of NSW
  • The Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education has an Allied Health Directory (Queensland).

• Information regarding the Medicare items for individual allied health services for people with chronic conditions and complex care needs.

Books

• Cooper J, Editor. Occupational therapy in oncology and palliative care. 2nd ed. West Sussex: Whurr; 2006.

Palliative care links and information

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end-of-life for all. It has produced the following policy documents:

• Standards for providing quality palliative care for all Australians
• Palliative care service provision in Australia: a planning guide
• A guide to palliative care service development: A population based approach

The Department of Health and Ageing website has a palliative care section.

Free Full text Articles

• Shu Shan Teo S. An Occupational Therapist’s Contribution to Spiritual Care within a Palliative Care Setting: a student OT’s perspective. Australian Journal of Pastoral Care and Health. 2009 June;3(1).
• Crawford G, Price S. Team working: palliative care as a model of interdisciplinary practice. Med J Aust. 2003 Sep 15;179(6 Suppl):S32-4.

Related CareSearch pages

What is palliative care?
Clinical practice
Professional and Service Issues

Some of the following PubMed Topic Searches and Systematic Review Collections may be of interest

Finding Evidence

• PubMed Topic Searches
  • Fatigue
• CareSearch Review Collection
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Exercise
  • Fatigue
  • Spinal Cord Compression
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neurological
  • Stroke
  • Vegetative State

Last updated 27 March 2012