Occupational Therapy in Postacute Care for Survivors of COVID-19: Research Gaps We Need to Fill

Abstract

This column discusses issues in the delivery of postacute care (PAC) rehabilitation services for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors and gaps in the current research. Occupational therapy practitioners must not only better understand factors that influence the type of PAC rehabilitation a COVID-19 survivor will receive but also comprehend how wide variations in delivery of PAC occupational therapy have affected important outcomes for survivors. The COVID-19 Rehabilitation Research Framework, developed by Cochrane Rehabilitation and the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Program, offers a guide for occupational therapy research priorities that may fill two important gaps: (1) the need for high-quality PAC rehabilitation studies and (2) the need for research on activity and participation assessments and outcomes for COVID-19 survivors. Using electronic health records and other data sources, occupational therapy practitioners and researchers can help build the evidence base to support and guide PAC rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19 and, perhaps, future pandemics.

Exploring the Ability to Perform Activities of Daily Living and Cognitive Status after Hospitalization with COVID-19: A Multiple Case Study

“…This may qualify the initial rehabilitation of patients with COVID-19 and their discharge planning as well as rehabilitation postdischarge as is the case for other patient populations [ 35 ]. Guidelines on specific test and intervention methods are yet to emerge [ 8 , 15 , 17 ].…”

“…Symptoms can have diverse effects on the functional abilities of individuals and multidisciplinary rehabilitation after COVID-19 is recommend, and this includes occupational therapy (OT) [ 8 , 13 , 15 ]. Researchers recommend OT assessments of occupational performance for COVID-19 patients to identify rehabilitation needs of activity, occupational performance, and participation including cognitive disabilities [ 16 , 17 ].…”

Association Between COVID-19 and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults

“…However, previous studies have not provided specialized COVID-19 rehabilitation by considering the age and life cycle ( Olezene et al, 2021 ; Puchner et al, 2021 ). Moreover, although several studies have highlighted the need for effective rehabilitation of COVID-19 survivors, only a few have focused on patient status or outcomes at the activity and participation level ( Malcolm, 2021 ). Previous studies have only evaluated the ability of COVID-19 survivors to perform functions, such as pulmonary and respiratory rehabilitation ( K. Liu et al, 2020 ; Méndez et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Based on the recently developed CRRF, Malcolm (2021) reported that occupational therapy researchers could contribute ( Malcolm, 2021 ). Parts 1 and 2 of the CRRF describe occupational therapy’s method, priorities, and scope.…”

“…Parts 1 and 2 of the CRRF describe occupational therapy’s method, priorities, and scope. Part 1 covers the spectrum of rehabilitation research, which includes a review of intervention and outcome data as well as rehabilitation studies in acute and post-acute settings ( Malcolm, 2021 ). Part 2 is an area of rehabilitation research that analyzes the limitations and determinants of COVID-19-related functions and activities as well as the extensive impact of pandemics on work therapy accessibility and service provision ( Malcolm, 2021 ).…”