Identifying Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Their Unique Role in Pelvic Health Care.

Abstract

Occupational therapists' (OTs') role in addressing pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is documented, yet their perception of their unique contribution has not been well explored. The purpose of this study is to elucidate OTs' perspectives about their therapeutic approach in PFD. This exploratory, qualitative descriptive study included an online demographic survey to purposively recruit and screen OTs. Thirteen one-on-one semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. We used an in-vivo coding approach, categorized codes with similar concepts, and generated themes. Participants' stories mostly reflected clinical scenarios with adult female clients. Two themes describe how OTs believe their role in PFD is unique: (a) OTs use a whole-person approach which considers mental, physical, and environmental impacts on functioning and (b) OTs use occupation-focused interventions to empower clients to manage their own health. OTs' holistic and psychosocial-focused approaches may complement existing biomechanical techniques. The inclusion of OTs into multidisciplinary teams may positively impact client outcomes.