Occupational Therapy Practice in the Rehabilitation of Adults with Occupational Dysfunction following a Neurological Injury in Argentina: A Descriptive Study

Occup Ther Health Care. 2023 Jul 26:1-19. doi: 10.1080/07380577.2023.2238225. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

To describe aspects of occupational therapy practice in the rehabilitation of adults with occupational dysfunction following a neurological injury in Argentina, a cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. One hundred and sixty-seven occupational therapists completed an online, self-administered questionnaire. The preferred professional model was the Model of Human Occupation and the most frequently administered assessment was the Functional Independence Measure. The most frequent interventions were sitting balance, fine motor skills, and dressing. There is an inclination to work on neuromusculoskeletal functions, followed by training in activities of daily living. No statistically significant differences were found between the type of interventions and care method, type of sessions, and rehabilitation stage. Results indicate that although occupational therapists use a combination of practice approaches, the footprints of reductionism are still present in professional exercise.

Keywords: Adults; neurological rehabilitation; occupational therapy; professional practice.