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Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
[Controlled trials on the efficacy of occupational therapy with elderly. Part II: Evidence for prioritized diseases
S Voigt-Radloff1, T Schochat, H W Heiss
1Zentrum für Geriatrie und Gerontologie, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Lehener Str. 88, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. sebastian.voigt@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Objective:
To identify the evidence for the efficacy of occupational therapy on prioritized diseases and disabilities of the elderly.
Method:
Reviews, meta-analyses and clinical trials with control group design regarding "occupational therapy" were identified by an electronic search of pubmed and reviewed based on the CONSORT-Statement. The study results were summarised in regard to diseases and commented considering further literature.
Results:
A total of 31 studies were identified: 10 on stroke, 6 on dementia, 5 on prevention of falls, growing loneliness or inactivity, 4 on need of nursing care, and 6 on other diseases or disabilities. There is evidence for a positive efficacy of occupational therapy on the level of several controlled trials or reviews.
Conclusion:
Especially in Germany, further research specific to occupational therapy is needed in the fields of depression, diabetes mellitus and nursing care in the community.
