OCCUPATION-BASED INTERVENTION IN STROKE REHABILITATION: PERSPECTIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTITIONERS

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Stroke is the most common cause of disability worldwide. Its incidence has been profoundly increased in Asia. In particular to Pakistan, the burden of risk factors for stroke is enormous by the year 2020. However, occupation-based intervention has shown effective recovery in overall disability of stroke survivors yet the concept is unexplored among Pakistani occupational therapists. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore the perspective of occupational therapists regarding occupation-based intervention in stroke rehabilitation.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted on occupational therapists recruited through convenience sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to record participants’ responses on their perception regarding occupation-based intervention in post-stroke rehabilitation.

RESULTS

A total number of 150 occupational therapists enrolled in the study comprised of 135 female and 15 males of age range 18-44 years. It was revealed that 53.3% occupational therapist has an average 45 minutes of clinical practice sessions on occupation-based intervention while 91.4% understands the philosophy, 64.7 % believed to be well trained in occupation-based approach. Moreover, 69.3% stated that their profession practice in post stroke rehabilitation is generally based on biomedical model yet 39.3% therapists have no clarity on the concept.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that majority of occupational therapists understands the concept of occupation-based intervention but only few are trained and implementing the approach in stroke rehabilitation while remaining were found to have insufficient knowledge regarding it.