Priority 5 from the Occupational Therapy PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What are the benefits or impact of occupational therapy in primary care settings? (e.g. services delivered by your local general practice surgery, community pharmacy, dental and optometry (eye health) services) (JLA PSP Priority 5)
Overall ranking 5
JLA question ID 0100/5
Explanatory note The delivery of occupational therapy services in primary care settings is a relatively new and emerging area of practice. It helps to address people's needs at an early stage and provides preventative care and/or self-management which can also help to reduce demand on other services. This question aims to explore the benefits and impact of this emerging area of practice for individual people accessing services in this way, and more broadly for the effective and timely delivery of health and social care services across communities. 
Evidence

Existing evidence is mainly commentary or news based articles on the benefits of OT in primary care, or small survey or focus group based studies that look at where OT's are currently practicing in primary care. This is an area of uncertainty.
Bolt, M., et al. (2019). "Scoping review: occupational therapy interventions in primary care." Primary Health Care Research & Development (Cambridge University Press / UK) 20: N.PAG-N.PAG.
Chamberlain, E., et al. (2019). "Occupational therapy in primary care: exploring the role of occupational therapy from a primary care perspective." British Journal of General Practice 69(688): 575-576.
Cunningham, R. and S. Valasek (2019). "Occupational Therapy Interventions for Urinary Dysfunction in Primary Care: A Case Series." American Journal of Occupational Therapy 73(5): 1-8.
Dahl-Popolizio, S., et al. (2016). "Enhancing the value of integrated primary care: The role of occupational therapy." Families, Systems & Health: The Journal Of Collaborative Family Healthcare 34(3): 270-280.
Dahl-Popolizio, S., et al. (2017). "Occupational Therapy in Primary Care: Determining Receptiveness of Occupational Therapists and Primary Care Providers." Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) 5(3): 1-12.
Dahl-Popolizio, S., et al. (2017). "Interprofessional Primary Care: The Value of Occupational Therapy." Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT) 5(3): 1-10.
Donnelly, C. A., et al. (2014). "The emerging role of occupational therapy in primary care." Canadian Journal Of Occupational Therapy. Revue Canadienne D'ergotherapie 81(1): 51-61.
Mackenzie, L., et al. (2018). "An evaluation of the fall prevention practice of community-based occupational therapists working in primary care." British Journal of Occupational Therapy 81(8): 463-473.
Roberts, P., et al. (2014). "The Role of Occupational Therapy in Primary Care." American Journal of Occupational Therapy 68(S3): S25-33.
Tinnelly, M. and M. Byrne (2016). "PRIMARY CARE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS OF THERAPISTS' ROLE AND THEIR CURRENT PRACTICE IN IRELAND." Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy 44(2): 23-31.
Winship, J. M., et al. (2019). "Opportunities for Occupational Therapy on a Primary Care Team." The American Journal Of Occupational Therapy: Official Publication Of The American Occupational Therapy Association 73(5): 7305185010p7305185011-7305185010p7305185010.

Health Research Classification System category Generic Health Relevance
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples What are the benefits of Occupational Therapy in primary care?
how occupational therapy can influence primary care  ~ Is occupational therapy delivered in primary care settings having a cost effective impact on reducing pressures on GP services.  ~ Are occupational therapy services transforming models of care by moving from secondary care into primary care.
Submitted by Occupational therapists, Other, People with a difference interest
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0100
PSP name Occupational Therapy
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 66  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 27 July 2020