Sense of Difficulties Experienced by Japanese Occupational Therapists in Cancer Rehabilitation

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to identify the difficulties experienced by occupational therapists during cancer rehabilitation, and explore potential solutions. Methods: Eighteen occupational therapists with experience in cancer rehabilitation were interviewed, and the interviews were analyzed and synthesized using qualitative research methods. Results: A total of 206 primary, 60 secondary, and 12 tertiary category themes were identified. These themes were discussed from three perspectives: "Related to the practice of occupational therapy," "Related to occupational therapists themselves," and "The environment surrounding the occupational therapist." Conclusions: Occupational therapists in Japan have multiple difficulties in cancer rehabilitation because few of them specialize in cancer. Therefore, their sense of difficulties could be reduced by improving their pre and post graduate education as well as for nurses who had similar problems.

Life Goal Domains, Traits, and Setting Process in the Collaboration between Healthcare Professionals and Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review

“…This is because there are multiple barriers regarding goal setting between cancer survivors and healthcare professionals, such as unknown life expectancy, unknown patient wishes, deteriorating disease status, difficulty for patients to understand the limitations of life-sustaining treatment, lack of ability to determine the goals of care, and differences of opinion between patients and healthcare professionals. 50,51) In such cases, healthcare professionals might be hesitant to attempt patient education toward goal setting, which was a possible reason for the low rate of patient education in this study. In goal setting with stroke survivors, patient education prior to starting the goal-setting process is expected to increase the chances of setting realistic goals that are consistent with the patient's wishes and expectations.…”