Review Article | | Peer-Reviewed

The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review

Received: 6 June 2024     Accepted: 5 September 2024     Published: 26 September 2024
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Abstract

Context: Many COVID-19 patients have long-term physical, functional, and psychological deficits, posing hitherto unheard-of challenges to healthcare systems around the world. Occupational therapists (OTs) are essential to multimodal care and rehabilitation; yet, little is known about how specifically they might help treat COVID-19 patients. Goal: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the function of occupational therapists (OTs) in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients, as well as to pinpoint the precise therapies and methods that OTs use to enhance functional results and quality of life. Techniques: A comprehensive exploration was carried out on PubMed to locate pertinent research articles released until December 2022. Included were studies that looked into OTs' role in COVID-19 patient care. After data extraction, standardized instruments were used to evaluate the studies' quality. Findings: The review contained four studies, which included reviews, observational studies, interventional studies, and case reports. In COVID-19 patients, OT-led interventions in respiratory care, functional rehabilitation, and psychosocial support showed encouraging benefits in terms of boosting mental health, increasing respiratory function, and improving functional outcomes. Conclusion: A vital and varied role is played by occupational therapists in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients. The identified OT-led therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in boosting mental health, augmenting functional outcomes, and increasing respiratory function. To assess the long-term impacts and develop standardized protocols for occupational therapy interventions in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, more study is required.

Published in Rehabilitation Science (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11
Page(s) 27-33
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapists, Activities of Daily Life, Respiratory Management

References
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  • APA Style

    Sharma, N. (2024). The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review. Rehabilitation Science, 9(3), 27-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11

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    ACS Style

    Sharma, N. The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review. Rehabil. Sci. 2024, 9(3), 27-33. doi: 10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11

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    AMA Style

    Sharma N. The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review. Rehabil Sci. 2024;9(3):27-33. doi: 10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11,
      author = {Nirvi Sharma},
      title = {The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review
    },
      journal = {Rehabilitation Science},
      volume = {9},
      number = {3},
      pages = {27-33},
      doi = {10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.rs.20240903.11},
      abstract = {Context: Many COVID-19 patients have long-term physical, functional, and psychological deficits, posing hitherto unheard-of challenges to healthcare systems around the world. Occupational therapists (OTs) are essential to multimodal care and rehabilitation; yet, little is known about how specifically they might help treat COVID-19 patients. Goal: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the function of occupational therapists (OTs) in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients, as well as to pinpoint the precise therapies and methods that OTs use to enhance functional results and quality of life. Techniques: A comprehensive exploration was carried out on PubMed to locate pertinent research articles released until December 2022. Included were studies that looked into OTs' role in COVID-19 patient care. After data extraction, standardized instruments were used to evaluate the studies' quality. Findings: The review contained four studies, which included reviews, observational studies, interventional studies, and case reports. In COVID-19 patients, OT-led interventions in respiratory care, functional rehabilitation, and psychosocial support showed encouraging benefits in terms of boosting mental health, increasing respiratory function, and improving functional outcomes. Conclusion: A vital and varied role is played by occupational therapists in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients. The identified OT-led therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in boosting mental health, augmenting functional outcomes, and increasing respiratory function. To assess the long-term impacts and develop standardized protocols for occupational therapy interventions in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, more study is required.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Role of Occupational Therapists in the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review
    
    AU  - Nirvi Sharma
    Y1  - 2024/09/26
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    T2  - Rehabilitation Science
    JF  - Rehabilitation Science
    JO  - Rehabilitation Science
    SP  - 27
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.rs.20240903.11
    AB  - Context: Many COVID-19 patients have long-term physical, functional, and psychological deficits, posing hitherto unheard-of challenges to healthcare systems around the world. Occupational therapists (OTs) are essential to multimodal care and rehabilitation; yet, little is known about how specifically they might help treat COVID-19 patients. Goal: The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the function of occupational therapists (OTs) in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients, as well as to pinpoint the precise therapies and methods that OTs use to enhance functional results and quality of life. Techniques: A comprehensive exploration was carried out on PubMed to locate pertinent research articles released until December 2022. Included were studies that looked into OTs' role in COVID-19 patient care. After data extraction, standardized instruments were used to evaluate the studies' quality. Findings: The review contained four studies, which included reviews, observational studies, interventional studies, and case reports. In COVID-19 patients, OT-led interventions in respiratory care, functional rehabilitation, and psychosocial support showed encouraging benefits in terms of boosting mental health, increasing respiratory function, and improving functional outcomes. Conclusion: A vital and varied role is played by occupational therapists in the care and recovery of COVID-19 patients. The identified OT-led therapies have demonstrated effectiveness in boosting mental health, augmenting functional outcomes, and increasing respiratory function. To assess the long-term impacts and develop standardized protocols for occupational therapy interventions in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, more study is required.
    
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 3
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