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Referrals to Occupational Therapy by Oncology Practitioners - Coggle…
Referrals to Occupational Therapy by Oncology Practitioners
Scope of OT with geriatric cancer patients
Inadvertently facilitate treatment protocol adherence, quality of life, independence, and satisfaction with life roles in older adults with cancer.
Facilitate occupation performance and engagement in the patients preferred environment through use of skilled intervention.
Guide multidisciplinary focus for continued maintenance and participation in desired occupations as well as prioritizing psychosocial needs along with physical/medical needs
Prevention of fall related injuries that are exacerbated by cancer sequelae and side effects of cancer treatment.
Address barriers and/or limitations to participation and engagement in ADLs, IADLs, health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation
Literature suggests that OT services should be initiated in the pretreatment/prehabilitation phases of the cancer continuum in order to reduce the risk of developing or severity of secondary co-morbidities and functional deficits.
Sequelae of Cancer and side effects of treatment affects on function
Joint Pain
Weight loss
Muscle Stiffness
Nausea and Vomitting
Changes in sensation and cognition
Cardiopulmonary dysfunction
Loss of range of motion
Deconditioning
Decreased Stamina
Difficulties with mobility and daily activities
Decreased muscular endurance
Edema
Reproduction and sexual difficulties
Communication impairments
Memory and Attention problems
Psychological Effects
Lead to decreased occupational performance and engagement, decreased sense of life roles and routines, decreased well-being, and decreased quality of life
Affects of Aging on function
Decreased participation in activities and habits
Decreased competence and satisfaction in life roles
Deficits in skills and abilities
deficits in first level capacities as well as developed capacities
Decreased self-efficacy/self-esteem
Effects on organic substrate (molecular structures of the body that in essence make up bodily structures and functioning)
All of which can also contribute to deficits in occupational performance and engagement, decreased sense of life roles and routines, decreased well-being, and decreased quality of life
Lack of knowledge about OT amongst oncology practitioners
Jamnadas, Burns, and Paul (2002) discovered that the correlation between medical student's definition of OT and the correct definition was near zero. This indicates that perceived knowledge of OT and the correct scope/domain of practice for OT did not match appropriately.
Much of the research examining OT knowledge possessed by medical practitioners states that there is a need for increased education and advocacy efforts which with potentially increase OT referral rates.
Research has found that practitioners have a narrow understanding of OT services. Many practitioners outlined that ADLs were the primary or only practice domain that OT practitioners can intervene for.
Lack of research which examines oncology practitioner's specifically; research examining medical practitioners and students is being generalized to include those which practice oncology.
Increase in the incidence and prevalence of geriatric cancer
20-30% chance of developing cancer over the age of 65
70% mortality rate for adults age 65 and older
Increased incidence and prevalence in this population, highlights that risk that age has on cancer burden
Increase of advanced stage cancer diagnosis due to COVID-19 pandemic: ability to receive diagnosis and receive treatment was impaired to impact of pandemic on health care system
Referral Guidelines in existance
There are no outlined referral guideline for geriatric oncology
While there is literature that investigates what the OT referral rates are for geriatric cancer patients as well as identifies that a referral guideline is needed, no such referral guideline exists in the literature.
This demonstrates increased need for a tool for geriatric oncology practitioners to use in order to increase referrals to OT for this population.