Telehealth within occupational therapy in primary care settings - an interview study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Innovation
• Occupational Therapy Practice
• Digital Health

Background:

• Swedish healthcare is transitioning to integrated, person-centred care models.
• Telehealth is a key component of this national healthcare transition.
• Limited understanding exists regarding occupational therapists' perspectives on telehealth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe occupational therapists' reasoning about telehealth.
• To understand telehealth use within the context of primary care occupational therapy.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interview study design.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 occupational therapists.
• Systematic text condensation used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Occupational therapists' reasoning centered on patient needs, professional identity, and contextual factors.
• Conventional occupational therapy methods are not always feasible via telehealth.
• New working strategies are needed to effectively utilize telehealth.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth can be a valuable complement to occupational therapy services with further development.
• Maintaining in-person interactions remains crucial for effective care.
• Findings can guide occupational therapy's role in integrated and person-centred care transitions.