Organizational Roles and Tasks of Occupational Therapists in Interventions Combining Rehabilitation and Palliative...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to high symptom burden, functional decline, and often disability. Combining rehabilitation and palliative care is recommended to address these challenges. However, the position of occupational therapists (OTs) in such interventions remains unclear. The objective of this scoping review was to map organizational roles and tasks of OTs in interventions combining rehabilitation and palliative care for people with COPD. Literature search was conducted in databases PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus, in addition to grey literature search (October-November 2024, with an update in October 2025). Sources were included if they described interventions combining rehabilitation and palliative care, involved COPD population, and identified OT's roles or tasks. Data were charted and analyzed.

Seventeen papers published between 2008 and 2025 were included.The results showed that OTs were most commonly members of interprofessional teams delivering integrated rehabilitation and palliative care or rehabilitation-focused programs. Thirteen OT's tasks were identified, primarily addressing functional status (e.g. ADL training, home modification, and assistive devices). Tasks related to self-management (e.g. energy conservation techniques) were less frequent, and none addressed body structure and function.

Although the OTs are present in interventions combining rehabilitation and palliative care for people with COPD, they mainly contribute through rehabilitation-focused roles, with limited engagement in palliative care. Our finding also suggest that expanding OT's tasks to include activities that support social participation, and a larger focus on self-management strategies, may enhance people's ability to manage everyday life. Future studies should define OTs' responsibilities and evaluate their impact within interventions combining rehabilitation and palliative care for people living with COPD.