Lived experiences of caregivers upon receiving occupational therapy through telehealth amidst the pandemic / Experiências vividas por cuidadores em terapia ocupacional por meio de telessaúde no meio de uma pandemia

Abstract Within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth was seen to be a viable and alternative solution to provide occupational therapy services in the Philippines. This phenomenological study aimed to describe the lived experiences of Filipino parents and carers in receiving occupational therapy through telehealth for their children with disabilities. We interviewed 10 participants who were considered primary carers of a Filipino child with disabilities undergoing telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. An interpretative phenomenological analysis involving double hermeneutics was employed to analyze the interviews that yielded four themes: "dimensions of telehealth in occupational therapy", "reinforcing family-centered occupational therapy", "emphasizing an occupational therapist's advocacy role", and "telehealth in occupational therapy-today and tomorrow". Our findings suggest that in order for telehealth to be a sustainable service, it should be seen not merely as an alternative in the occupational therapy service delivery process. Although telehealth remains to be an evolving concept and practice within health services, telehealth must be practiced within the principles of family-centered care approaches, interprofessional collaboration, and health accessibility and equitability. This study hopes to facilitate intersections between service providers and service users to cultivate a shared goal of bringing together experiences that will inform a more contextualized occupational therapy and telehealth practice at the tail-end of the pandemic. In conclusion, telehealth in occupational therapy shall not be an alternative, but an integrative tool that occupational therapists can maximize to transform occupational therapy access and equity.

Resumo No contexto da pandemia da COVID-19, a telessaúde foi considerada uma solução viável e alternativa para a prestação de serviços de terapia ocupacional nas Filipinas. Este estudo fenomenológico teve como objetivo descrever as experiências vividas por pais e cuidadores filipinos ao receberem terapia ocupacional por meio da telessaúde para seus filhos com deficiência. Entrevistamos 10 participantes que eram considerados cuidadores primários de uma criança filipina com deficiência submetida à telessaúde durante a situação de pandemia da COVID-19. Uma análise fenomenológica interpretativa envolvendo dupla hermenêutica foi empregada para analisar as entrevistas, resultando em quatro temas: "dimensões da telessaúde na terapia ocupacional", "reforçando a terapia ocupacional centrada na família", "enfatizando o papel de militância do terapeuta ocupacional" e "telessaúde na terapia ocupacional - hoje e amanhã". As nossas descobertas sugerem que, para que a telessaúde seja um serviço sustentável, deve ser vista não apenas como uma alternativa no processo de prestação de serviços de terapia ocupacional. Embora a telessaúde continue a ser um conceito e uma prática em evolução nos serviços de saúde, deve ser praticada dentro dos princípios de abordagens de cuidados centrados na família, colaboração interprofissional e acessibilidade e equidade em saúde. Este estudo espera facilitar interseções entre prestadores e usuários de serviços para cultivar um objetivo comum de reunir experiências que informarão uma terapia ocupacional e uma prática de telessaúde mais contextualizadas no final da pandemia. Concluindo, a telessaúde na terapia ocupacional não deve ser uma alternativa, mas sim uma ferramenta integrativa que os terapeutas ocupacionais podem maximizar para transformar o acesso e a equidade à terapia ocupacional.

A Rapid Review of the Factors That Influence Service User Involvement in Interprofessional Education, Practice, and Research.

Service user involvement in interprofessional education and collaborative practice remains limited despite the increasing push for this by governments and grant funding bodies. This rapid review investigated service user involvement in interprofessional education, practice, and research to determine factors that enable or hinder such involvement. Following the Cochrane and the World Health Organization's rapid review guidelines, a targeted search was undertaken in four databases. Subsequent to the screening processes, included papers were critically appraised, and extracted data were synthesized narratively. Sixteen studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies were related to interprofessional collaborative practice, as opposed to education and research. Service user involvement was more in the form of consultation and collaboration, as opposed to consumer-led partnerships. Enablers and barriers to service user involvement in IPECP were identified. Enablers included structure, the valuing of different perspectives, and relationships. Barriers included time and resources, undesirable characteristics, and relationships. This rapid review has added evidence to a swiftly expanding field, providing timely guidance. Healthcare workers can benefit from targeted training. Policy makers, healthcare organizations, and governments can investigate strategies to mitigate the time and resource challenges that impede service user involvement in IPECP.