How People Living with Parkinson's Disease in Four European Countries View Occupational Therapy

Introduction

Occupational therapy (OT) is commonly perceived by the general public and by many health care professionals in rather narrow terms, as being primarily about the assessment and provision of adaptive aids and equipment. However, current concepts of OT encompass a much broader approach. Contemporary OT practice aims to enable people (with Parkinson's disease [Parkinson's], or any condition causing difficulties with carrying out everyday tasks and activities) to seize, take possession of, or occupy the spaces, time, and roles of their lives.1 The act of occupying space relates to the actions that people must perform to occupy their homes, their workplaces, and the places where they engage in social, recreational, or leisure pursuits. Occupying time relates to being engaged in purposeful and personally meaningful mental, physical, or social acts or tasks. When considering the life roles occupied by people with Parkinson's, occupational therapists reason about ways to enable the broad range of daily activities that people with Parkinson's must enact to be able to live their lives in their own chosen ways.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

People with Parkinson's disease (Parkinson's) experience diverse symptoms that impact on many aspects of daily life. Occupational therapy (OT) aims to optimize independence, coping, and social participation and can make a valuable contribution to management of the condition.

METHOD

A prospective study was undertaken using an anonymous, open Web-based questionnaire, devised to explore the experiences and opinions of OT among a group of people living with Parkinson's in Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

RESULTS

The views of 230 respondents with many of the typically recognized demographic and clinical features of Parkinson's populations were collected. The need for help in daily life was commonly reported, encompassing activities related to self-care, productivity, and leisure. Approximately half the people surveyed (54%) reported having seen an occupational therapist since their diagnosis. The location, frequency, and duration of interventions varied considerably between the four countries. The content of OT was diverse and included assistance for using arms and hands, carrying out daily activities, and concerned receipt of advice about aids, equipment, environmental adaptations, further support and services, and education about Parkinson's. Among the people who had received OT, there was a high level of consensus that they would recommend it to others with Parkinson's.

CONCLUSION

In this sample, differences in OT services for people with Parkinson's were reported. Where OT services were received, it was seen as an important intervention. Further studies with a larger sample and involving more countries are needed to verify and build-on these findings.

Keywords

Parkinson's disease, occupational therapy, survey, patients' view, European countries