Occupational therapy in pulmonary rehabilitation programs: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is crucial for managing chronic respiratory diseases, improving exercise capacity and daily living.
• Occupational therapy (OT) shares similar goals with PR, yet its specific role and benefits within PR are underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on the tasks, roles, guidelines, prevalence, and effects of occupational therapy (OT) in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane), OT association websites, and hand searching was conducted.
• 51 records were included, analyzing OT tasks/roles, guideline recommendations, prevalence across continents, and impact on patient outcomes.
• OT tasks were categorized using the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement.

Main Results:

• Key OT roles included energy conservation techniques (23 studies), activities of daily living (ADLs) (17 studies), and breathlessness management (10 studies).
• OT tasks were grouped into person, occupation, and environment domains, supported by two practice guidelines.
• OT was included in 17-92% of PR programs surveyed globally, with positive effects on ADLs, pulmonary function, dyspnea, quality of life, and mortality.

Conclusions:

• While OT integration in PR is increasing, there's a need for more research to define OT's specific roles and contributions within multidisciplinary PR teams.
• Further studies are required to elucidate the full impact of occupational therapists on enhancing patient outcomes in pulmonary rehabilitation.