Authors
- Deidre Morgan1,
- Gail Eva2
- Flinders University1,
- Brunel University2
2015
Excerpt
Background: Occupational therapists are recognised by the European Association for Palliative as essential members of a multidisciplinary team. However, the breadth of occupational therapy service provision across Europe is unknown.
Aim: To examine the scope and remit of palliative care occupational therapists in Europe and to examine their perspectives on factors influencing delivery of services to patients.
Methods: Occupational therapists in European countries who worked with palliative care patients completed a securely hosted survey on-line via the EAPC website with one email follow up. Survey information was also disseminated by a range of other European professional bodies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse survey responses Free text data was analysed thematically.
Results: Two hundred and thirty one responses from a total of 261 were available for analysis. Respondents came from 21 countries. Clinician time is primarily spent in direct and indirect patient care, with a smaller amount in education and research. Enablers and barriers to provision of quality evidence based care were identified, alongside ways to strategically address challenges to care delivery.
Conclusions: An uneven distribution of palliative care occupational therapists across Europe influences patient care, although some challenges to care delivery are universal. Meeting future care demands requires a coordinated strategic approach from EAPC in conjunction with occupational therapists.
Aim: To examine the scope and remit of palliative care occupational therapists in Europe and to examine their perspectives on factors influencing delivery of services to patients.
Methods: Occupational therapists in European countries who worked with palliative care patients completed a securely hosted survey on-line via the EAPC website with one email follow up. Survey information was also disseminated by a range of other European professional bodies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse survey responses Free text data was analysed thematically.
Results: Two hundred and thirty one responses from a total of 261 were available for analysis. Respondents came from 21 countries. Clinician time is primarily spent in direct and indirect patient care, with a smaller amount in education and research. Enablers and barriers to provision of quality evidence based care were identified, alongside ways to strategically address challenges to care delivery.
Conclusions: An uneven distribution of palliative care occupational therapists across Europe influences patient care, although some challenges to care delivery are universal. Meeting future care demands requires a coordinated strategic approach from EAPC in conjunction with occupational therapists.