Exploring the Integration of Health Management in Occupational Therapy Practice: A Cross-sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Health management has been considered its own occupation since August 2020. It was previously referred to as ‘health management and maintenance’ and considered a subcomponent of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The occupational therapy practice framework (OTPF) (4th ed.) reflects this change, although limited literature exists regarding the integration of health management in occupational therapy practice. This cross-sectional study explores the perceptions of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) regarding this topic. A web-based survey tool was used to collect quantitative data and open-ended responses. One hundred fifty-one OTPs participated in the online survey. Results indicate that 100% of participants reported understanding the role of occupational therapy (OT) in health management and maintenance. Despite this, only 77.6% reported considering health management and maintenance areas when developing client interventions. The three most frequently reported interventions were medication management, nutritional management and physical activity. Furthermore, 72.4% OTPs reported providing education to clients on this topic, 31.4% reported using assessments or functional outcome measures related to health management and maintenance, and 24.2% reported that they do not include this occupation in goal writing. These findings can help practitioners and educators define and address ‘health management’ in practice and ultimately assist clients in reaching their maximal functional potential in all areas of health management.