Identifying Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Their Unique Role in Pelvic Health Care

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Occupational Therapy
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Background:

• The role of occupational therapists (OTs) in managing pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is recognized.
• However, OTs' perceptions of their distinct contributions to PFD care remain underexplored.
• Understanding these perspectives is crucial for optimizing interdisciplinary treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and elucidate occupational therapists' (OTs') perspectives on their unique therapeutic approaches for pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD).
• To identify the core elements that OTs perceive as differentiating their role in PFD management.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory, qualitative descriptive study design was employed.
• Participants were purposively recruited via an online demographic survey.
• Thirteen OTs participated in semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using in-vivo coding to generate themes.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged regarding OTs' unique contributions to PFD care.
• Theme 1: OTs utilize a whole-person approach, considering mental, physical, and environmental factors influencing function.
• Theme 2: OTs employ occupation-focused interventions to empower clients in self-management of their health.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapists' holistic and psychosocial-focused approaches offer a valuable complement to traditional biomechanical interventions for PFD.
• Integrating OTs into multidisciplinary teams has the potential to significantly improve client outcomes in PFD management.
• Further research should explore the integration of OTs in diverse PFD populations and settings.