Telehealth for the Provision of Occupational Therapy: Reflections on Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Sue Dahl-Popolizio Arizona State University
  • Heidi Carpenter Banner Health
  • Melissa Coronado Northern Arizona University
  • Nicholas J. Popolizio Boston College
  • Connor Swanson Northern Arizona University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2020.6328

Keywords:

COVID, Occupational therapist, Occupational therapy, Telehealth, Telerehabilitation

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, healthcare professionals worldwide abruptly shifted from an in-person to a telehealth service delivery model. Many did so without advanced training or preparation. This cross-sectional study explored how occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) used telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether they found it to be an effective service delivery model that should be a permanent option for providing occupational therapy services. An online survey was disseminated; it included Likert scale questions, multiple option questions, and open-ended questions regarding telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 230 respondents, 176 (77%) support telehealth as a substitute for in-person services; 179 (78%) support telehealth as a permanent option for occupational therapy service delivery. This information lends support to the uninterrupted use of telehealth by OTPs when government emergency orders in response to COVID-19 expire.

  

Author Biographies

Sue Dahl-Popolizio, Arizona State University

Program Director 

Integrated Behavioral Health/Doctor of Behavioral Health

Clinical Associate Professor

OTR/L

Heidi Carpenter, Banner Health

OTD, OTR/L

Occupational therapist with Banner Health, and owner of Embody Occupational Therapy, LLC

Melissa Coronado, Northern Arizona University

Occupational Therapy Doctoral student

Nicholas J. Popolizio, Boston College

undergraduate student

Connor Swanson, Northern Arizona University

Occupational Therapy Doctoral student

References

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Published

2020-12-08

How to Cite

Dahl-Popolizio, S., Carpenter, H., Coronado, M., Popolizio, N. J., & Swanson, C. (2020). Telehealth for the Provision of Occupational Therapy: Reflections on Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 12(2), 77–92. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2020.6328

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Clinical Practice - COVID 19

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