Geriatricians and occupational therapists' perspectives on the role of occupational therapy in delirium care in long-term care settings: a multi-site study.
Christian Pozzi, Giulia Borgonovo, Juan Antonio Lopez Segura, ABirgitta Gunnarsson, Laura N Gitlin
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Delirium is a frequent and serious condition in older adults in long-term care (LTC), often underdiagnosed and insufficiently addressed despite its significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Occupational therapists (OTs) may play a key role in non-pharmacological prevention and treatment approaches, yet their specific contribution may remain unclear and undervalued in clinical practice.
Objective: This study explored the perceptions of geriatricians and OTs regarding the role of OT in delirium care in LTC settings across three European countries.
Methods: A qualitative, multi-site study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with six geriatrician-occupational therapist dyads working in LTC settings in Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. Transcripts were analyzed thematically through inductive coding.
Results: Three main conceptual categories emerged: (1) the perceptions of the OT's role by geriatricians, (2) the goals and interventions of OTs in delirium care, and (3) barriers and facilitators to OT involvement. Geriatricians with greater familiarity with OTs recognized their role in prevention through environmental modifications and meaningful activity promotion, whereas others saw OTs' contributions as overlapping with physiotherapy. OTs often lacked standardized tools and specific training for delirium care, and caregiver involvement was minimal. Barriers included time constraints, unclear interprofessional roles, and limited geriatric training; facilitators included strong interdisciplinary collaboration and supportive teams.
Conclusion: Enhancing the role of occupational therapy in delirium care requires clearer interprofessional definitions, dedicated training, and structural support in LTC. Structured collaboration between geriatricians and OTs may improve prevention and management outcomes for delirium in older adults.
期刊介绍：
European Geriatric Medicine is the official journal of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS). Launched in 2010, this journal aims to publish the highest quality material, both scientific and clinical, on all aspects of Geriatric Medicine.
The EUGMS is interested in the promotion of Geriatric Medicine in any setting (acute or subacute care, rehabilitation, nursing homes, primary care, fall clinics, ambulatory assessment, dementia clinics..), and also in functionality in old age, comprehensive geriatric assessment, geriatric syndromes, geriatric education, old age psychiatry, models of geriatric care in health services, and quality assurance.
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