How can occupational therapists measure outcomes in palliative care?
Authors:
Pearson, E. J., Todd, J. G., and Futcher, J. M.
Abstract:
The objective of this paper is to identify an outcome measure for occupational therapy interventions with palliative clients, in particular Home Assessments. Several possibilities beyond traditional functional measures are considered, and the notion of quality of life (QoL) as a potential measure and routine part of assessment is discussed.A systematic literature search resulted in 45 QoL tools that might be suitable for palliative care. The validation or development papers for these tools were closely examined. Twenty-four instruments met the inclusion criteria for further consideration for use by occupational therapists.The research found that it may be feasible for occupational therapists to use a QoL tool as a routine part of assessing each palliative patient, with the objective of focusing interventions to priority areas identified by the patient. Further work in this area will identify a range of established and validated methods of assessing QoL, suitable for different stages within the palliative phase of illness for purposes including assessment, support and targeted interventions
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period and related symptoms Certain infections and parasitic diseases and related symptoms Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities and related symptoms Diseases of and symptoms related to the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism Diseases of and symptoms related to the circulatory system Diseases of and symptoms related to the digestive system Diseases of and symptoms related to the ear and mastoid process Diseases of and symptoms related to the eye and adnexa Diseases of and symptoms related to the genitourinary system Diseases of and symptoms related to the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue Diseases of and symptoms related to the nervous system Diseases of and symptoms related to the respiratory system Diseases of and symptoms related to the skin and subcutaneous tissue Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and related symptoms External causes of morbidity and mortality Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes Mental and behavioural disorders and related symptoms Neoplasms and related symptoms Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
