Real-world occupational therapy interventions for early-stage dementia: Characteristics and contextual barriers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Real-world occupational therapy interventions for early-stage dementia: Characteristics and contextual barriers

AU - Edwards, Bethan

AU - Busse, Monica

AU - Clouston, Teena

AU - Hannigan, Ben

PY - 2024/7/3

Y1 - 2024/7/3

N2 - Aim: There is an absence of evidence generated in a UK context to support interventions based on occupational therapists’ core skills for people living with early-stage dementia. To inform the development of a programme theory and a future evaluation, this paper aimed to describe real-world (routine) community-based occupational therapy interventions for this population and contextual barriers. Method: Occupational therapy practitioners (n=21) from five Health Boards participated in semi-structured interviews (n=17) which were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically.Results: The availability of, and access to, real-world community-based interventions was variable, and associated with multilevel contextual barriers (resources, understanding of dementia specialist occupational therapy, professional influence, and evidence base). Where available and accessible, contents comprised a pre-intervention component (relational work, assessment, and goal setting) and intervention component (personalised problem-solving and coping strategies, emotional support, and advice and signposting), to meet needs associated with everyday activities and poor wellbeing. Variation in mode, duration, contents, and who received interventions, was associated with contextual barriers.

AB - Aim: There is an absence of evidence generated in a UK context to support interventions based on occupational therapists’ core skills for people living with early-stage dementia. To inform the development of a programme theory and a future evaluation, this paper aimed to describe real-world (routine) community-based occupational therapy interventions for this population and contextual barriers. Method: Occupational therapy practitioners (n=21) from five Health Boards participated in semi-structured interviews (n=17) which were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically.Results: The availability of, and access to, real-world community-based interventions was variable, and associated with multilevel contextual barriers (resources, understanding of dementia specialist occupational therapy, professional influence, and evidence base). Where available and accessible, contents comprised a pre-intervention component (relational work, assessment, and goal setting) and intervention component (personalised problem-solving and coping strategies, emotional support, and advice and signposting), to meet needs associated with everyday activities and poor wellbeing. Variation in mode, duration, contents, and who received interventions, was associated with contextual barriers.

M3 - Article

SN - 1471-3012

JO - Dementia (London, England)

JF - Dementia (London, England)

ER -