Date Presented 04/13/21
This mixed-methods systematic review explored the effectiveness of OT with adults who experienced intimate partner violence. Of 61 studies screened, 36 were removed, and 20 were further excluded with inclusion criteria. Five studies showed significant skill improvement in individuals who received OT interventions using a combination of individual and group sessions focused on instrumental activities of daily living, trauma symptom reduction, life skills, and mother–child relationships.
Primary Author and Speaker: Heather Javaherian-Dysinger
Additional Authors and Speakers: Shannon L. Scott
Contributing Authors: Michelle Bradshaw
PURPOSE: The purpose of this mixed-method systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of occupational therapy programming to improve life skills, health, and quality of life with adults who have experienced domestic violence. Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) each year in the United States (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). IPV can be described as a systematic pattern of power and control by one adult in an intimate relationship over the other (NCADV, 2015). Many victims of IPV struggle with coping strategies, sleep, stress and anger management, budgeting, parenting skills, and home management which hinder self-sufficiency and independence (Helfrich and Aviles, 2001; AOTA, 2002; Javaherian et al, 2007). AOTA developed a position statement to describe the role of occupational therapy with survivors of intimate partner violence demonstrating the alignment with our scope of practice and the OT Process (AOTA, 2017).
DESIGN: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review was applied to examine studies involving occupational therapy as an intervention for adults who have experienced domestic violence. Inclusion criteria required quantitative study type Levels I, II, and III (Sackett, et al., 1996), quantitative and qualitative studies that explored occupational therapy interventions and outcomes related to life skills, health and quality of life for adults. Publications were in English and ranged from 1980 to current.
METHOD: We systematically and independently identified qualifying studies for this research from PubMed, Ovid Medline, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Complete, PsychINFO, SocINDEX, EMBASE, and OTseeker search engines. The following key words or terms were used in the search: occupational therapy, violence, domestic violence, domestic abuse, violence against women, life skills, health, quality of life, mental health, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence. We also used the following instruments: the Prisma Flowchart, Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP), and the Feasibility, Appropriateness, Meaningfulness, and Effectiveness (FAME) Scale.
RESULTS: Of the 61 studies screened, 36 were removed with initial screening, 14 were excluded using the inclusion criteria, 11 full-text studies were assessed and six were excluded. Four quantitative studies focused on life skills using a combination of group and individual sessions, while the fifth study focused on mother-child individual sessions. The studies showed significant improvement for individuals who received interventions focused on IADLs, trauma symptom reduction, and mother-child relationships.
CONCLUSION: This study supports the role of occupational therapy in supporting the needs of domestic violence victims. Occupational therapy interventions offered in a combination of individual and group formats for a range of 4-10 weeks. In collaboration with other health professionals, occupational therapists are well positioned to address barriers DV individuals face on a day to day basis.
References
1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2002). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 609-639.
2. Helfrich, C. A., & Aviles, A. (2001). Occupational Therapy's Role with Victims of Domestic Violence. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health,16(3-4), 53-70. https://doi.org/10.1300/j004v16n03_04.
3. Javaherian, H., Underwood, R., & DeLany, J. (2007). Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals who have Experienced Domestic Violence (S
