Occupational therapy service use among people aging with multiple sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease impacting adults.
• Aging with MS presents unique challenges and necessitates ongoing health-related service needs.
• Occupational therapy (OT) is a key service for managing daily functioning in chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the utilization patterns of occupational therapy services among a sample of adults aging with multiple sclerosis (MS).
• To identify factors associated with the recency of occupational therapy service use in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1,282 participants aged 45-90 with MS.
• Telephone interviews were conducted to assess unmet health-related service needs, including occupational therapy.
• Proportional odds models were employed to analyze factors influencing service use.

Main Results:

• 38.2% of participants had used occupational therapy services since diagnosis; 211 reported recent use (within the past year).
• Recent users found OT services crucial for health and well-being, reporting high satisfaction.
• Increased activity limitations and residing in urban or suburban areas correlated with more recent OT service utilization.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight that a significant portion of adults with MS utilize occupational therapy, often reporting high satisfaction.
• The study raises important questions regarding optimal occupational therapy service levels for aging individuals with MS.
• Further investigation is warranted to establish benchmarks for appropriate and accessible occupational therapy service provision.