Defining the role of occupational therapy with people living with and beyond cancer: Perspectives of British and Irish occupational therapists

Abstract

Introduction

More people are surviving cancer treatment and face challenges in everyday life. Occupational therapists may often interact with people living with and beyond cancer. This study aimed to identify the perspectives of United Kingdom and Irish occupational therapists about their views on the role of occupational therapy with people living with and beyond cancer.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was distributed via the United Kingdom and Irish occupational therapy professional associations, social media invitations and snowball sampling. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 141 occupational therapists (56.6% from Ireland and 43.4% from the United Kingdom) responded; however, some did not answer every question. The largest group were those who worked in publicly funded community service settings: National Health Service, Health Service Executive in Ireland and social care (n = 49, 33.8%), or publicly funded hospitals (n = 45, 31.0%), and 40% (n = 54) frequently worked with people living with and beyond cancer. Participants rated the most common interventions used, therapeutic gaps, barriers to best practice in survivorship care and opinions about further education needed.

Conclusion

Participants agreed that the occupational therapy role with people living with and beyond cancer was under-developed. The study identified gaps in best practice that need to be addressed to accommodate the predicted growth in numbers of people living with and beyond cancer.