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Author Spotlight: Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients With a Digital Occupational Training System
Published on: December 29, 2023
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Occupational Therapy Services for Community-Dwelling Patients With Stroke in Thailand: Explanatory Sequential Mixed
Sopida Apichai1, Jananya P Dhippayom1, Pachpilai Chaiwong1
1Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Journal of Participatory Medicine
|May 1, 2026
Summary
Community-based occupational therapy (OT) in Thailand faces barriers like resource shortages and limited access, impacting stroke rehabilitation continuity. Therapists use client-centered approaches, and a home-based rehabilitation box is proposed to improve care.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Occupational Therapy
- Public Health
Background:
- Stroke significantly causes long-term disability, with upper extremity impairment affecting daily living and community participation.
- Despite improved acute stroke care in Thailand, community rehabilitation continuity remains inconsistent.
- Limited evidence exists on occupational therapy (OT) services and barriers in community stroke rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate current OT practices for community-dwelling stroke patients in Thailand.
- To identify barriers hindering OT service delivery in community settings.
- To explore therapists' views on advancing community-based stroke rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- An explanatory sequential mixed methods design combining online surveys and semistructured interviews.
- Phase I: Online survey of 59 occupational therapists on service patterns and barriers.
- Phase II: Semistructured interviews with 7 experienced therapists for in-depth insights; quantitative data analyzed descriptively, qualitative data thematically.
Main Results:
- OT services focused on basic activities of daily living (ADLs), cognitive, and sensorimotor training, often with limited frequency and nonstandardized assessments.
- Key barriers included resource shortages, service inaccessibility, low public awareness of OT, and time constraints.
- Therapists employed client-centered, culturally responsive approaches with caregiver involvement; a home-based rehabilitation box was suggested.
Conclusions:
- Community-based OT in Thailand operates under structural limitations while adhering to occupation-centered principles.
- Enhancing stroke rehabilitation continuity requires addressing system-level constraints and implementing practical support strategies.
