Occupational Therapists' Experiences in Conducting Home Assessments and Modifications: Virtual Versus In-person Home Visits...American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) 99th Annual Conference, November 8-11, 2022, Chicago, Illinois
Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
; 104(3):e40-e41, 2023.
Article
in English
| CINAHL | ID: covidwho-2265410
ABSTRACT
To investigate occupational therapists' experiences with home assessments and modifications in VHA, while comparing virtual to in-person home visits. A preliminary qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Purposefully selected occupational therapists implementing home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans (N=3). Not applicable. Semi-structured individual interview via Microsoft Teams. Home visits to conduct home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans were standards of care delivery. However, travel restrictions and social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic required a shift toward virtual care. Our preliminary results show that the VA Video Connect (VVC) application allows occupational therapists to provide instant feedback and training to Veterans when new equipment is installed in the Veteran's home, without the need to drive long-distance. However, the VVC does not allow occupational therapists to measure physical features of the home, such as door threshold height and hallway width. Participants also reported difficulty evaluating Veterans' functioning, such as balance, strength, and gait pattern. Thus, the VVC improves access to the services but requires additional assistance from caregivers compared to in-home assessments. Initial home assessments are recommended to be conducted during home visits, but follow-up visits can be conducted via telehealth depending on Veterans' and caregivers' ability to utilize telehealth devices and perform self-assessments. The study team has no conflicts of interest to report.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
CINAHL
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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