Extending the Role of the Occupational Therapist in the Promotion of Collaborative Medication Management to Facilitate Occupation

Abstract

Although falling outside its traditional domain of concern, medication management merits consideration by occupational therapists owing to both the beneficial and the detrimental effects of pharmacology on occupation. However, a lack of clarity about the profession's role in promoting this activity has important consequences from legal and professional perspectives. In a health care environment, where a client-centred approach to medication adherence is currently advocated, there is scope to use the profession's models to explore this topic from an occupational viewpoint. This could enhance effective collaboration between prescribers and patients and enable the use of occupational therapy to augment, support or replace pharmacological approaches.