Utilization of OT Services for Patients With Cancer in an Acute Care Setting & Effects on Readmission

For patients with cancer diagnoses, effects from the disease or from cancer treatments can cause impairments impacting patient functioning and independence with far reaching implications including increasing the likelihood of a hospital admission (Neo et al., 2017; Roberts & Robinson, 2014). Unfortunately, occupational therapy services have frequently been found not to be ordered for patients with cancer, even when there have been demonstrated functional deficits and needs (Dolgoy et al., 2021; Moysas et al., 2003). This study specifically looked at the impact of occupational therapy (OT) services on 30-day hospital readmission through analysis of secondary retrospective data from patient records at a Virginia National Cancer Institute. Multiple factors such as a patient’s cancer stage and type, sex, race, living status, and pain level were considered. Relationships were investigated using crude and adjusted logistic regression with complete case analysis performed within the adjusted regression analysis. It was found that for patients who received OT services, those patients had a statistically significant decrease in their risk of a 30-day hospital readmission both before and after adjusting for various social and demographic factors. The results of the study demonstrated that occupational therapy services had a protective effect for patients with cancer diagnoses against a 30-day hospital readmission. These results are intended to contribute to the body of knowledge on the benefits of occupational therapy services for patients with cancer. By providing OT services for patients with cancer during their hospital stay, there can have both person level and healthcare systems-based implications and benefits. Decreasing hospital readmissions may protect individuals against hospital related impairments as well as have increased financial implications for healthcare systems.

References

Dolgoy, N., Driga, A., & Brose, J. M. (2021). The essential role of occupational therapy to address functional needs of individuals living with advanced chronic cancers. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 37(4), 151172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2021.151172

Movsas, S.B., Chang, V.T., Tunkel, R.S., Shah, V.V., Ryan, L.S., & Millis, S.R. (2003). Rehabilitation needs of an inpatient medical oncology unit. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 84(11), 1642–1646. https://doi.org/10.1053/S0003-9993(03)00345-9

Neo, J., Fettes, L., Gao, W., Higginson, I.J., & Maddocks, M. (2017). Disability in activities of daily living among adults with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 61, 94–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctrv.2017.10.006

Roberts, P.S., & Robinson, M.R. (2014). Occupational therapy’s role in preventing acute readmissions. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(3), 254–259. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.683001