Role perceptions of occupational therapists providing support and education for caregivers of persons with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study explored occupational therapists' perceptions of their roles as interventionists providing education and support for caregivers of persons with dementia. The intervention was provided in caregivers' homes as part of a larger funded study.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted with four occupational therapists to elicit their reflections on practice and their views on occupational therapy services on the basis of their experiences providing support and education for caregivers in the funded study.


RESULTS
Key themes consisted of the contrasts between the therapists' roles in the study and their customary practices and the professional and personal impact of their role in the study. Their recommendations for occupational therapy services emphasized the need to (a) collaborate with patients, families, and other health care staff members to solve problems; (b) acknowledge others as experts; (c) include family perspectives; and (d) fully address the needs of patients and families in their home environments.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing support and education for caregivers in the community can be a major transition for therapists accustomed to practicing in more traditional settings. Additional research is needed to explore the ways in which specific practice contexts influence delivery of occupational therapy services.
Toth-Cohen
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Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Occupational Therapy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA. Susan.Toth-Cohen@mail.tju.edu
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007587:Job Description; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012380:Role; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires