Evaluation of a Community-Based Occupational Therapy Service for Individuals with a Chronic Respiratory Disease

Introduction: Management and prevention of chronic respiratory diseases is a major health care focus in today’s society. Occupational therapy for chronic respiratory diseases commonly involves community-based interventions, and can improve occupational outcomes. To practice effectively in this area, occupational therapists need evidence to inform and guide their interventions. Aims: The aim is to evaluate whether a community-based occupational therapy chronic disease service facilitates the self-perceived attainment of functional goals that are set by clients with a chronic respiratory disease referred to Brisbane South Chronic Disease Service. Method: The quasi-experimental research employs a mixed methods approach. The primary quantitative component uses goal attainment scaling to evaluate the self-perceived changes in functional status before and after the intervention period for each participant. The intervention provided is usual practice within the Queensland Health service. The secondary, qualitative component uses a qualitative content analysis to explore categories and themes of the goals set by individuals with a chronic respiratory disease. Results: The data is yet to be collected. Goals and goal attainment from the first 6 months of the study will be presented. Conclusion: Evidence gathered may allow health services to be tailored to be more effective in improving the health and well-being of people with chronic respiratory diseases. Through dissemination, the research outcomes may be used to guide the implementation and direction of occupational therapy within the host organisation (Queensland Health), Australia and internationally