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A Systematic Review of International Evidence to Inform Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Total Knee
Junghun Aj Kim1, Seong-Kyu Ha2, Min-Ye Jung3
1Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon-si, Republic of Korea, kangwon.ac.kr.
Introduction:
This review synthesizes international evidence on occupational therapy (OT) interventions for total knee replacement (TKR) as part of the project "Developing Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Total Knee Replacement," with the goal of informing practice within the Korean healthcare system. It evaluates OT interventions' effectiveness in enhancing recovery pathways amid an aging population, increasing healthcare costs, and the need for patient satisfaction and recovery.
Method:
Centering on OT interventions in Korea for adults with post-TKR, this review adhered to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists' guidelines and PRISMA standards and searched nine electronic databases for literature published between 2000 and November 2021. A broad stakeholder group, including medical professionals and social workers, contributed to refining the research scope of outcomes.
Results:
From an initial pool of 10,749 articles, 51 studies were selected, predominantly cohort studies. Analysis identified key-OT interventions improving activities of daily living, mental health, community reintegration, patient satisfaction, and notably reducing hospital stay lengths.
Conclusion:
This review highlights the multifaceted contributions of OT in TKR rehabilitation, with benefits observed across physical, mental, and cognitive recovery. It supports the need for policy changes to broaden the role of OT. Future research, particularly high-quality and longitudinal studies, is warranted to further strengthen the evidence base and inform the ongoing development of OT practice across diverse healthcare systems.
