Occupational therapy and cancer

The number of people who survive cancer is increasing, due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment. This positive trend, however, has resulted in an increasing number of patients requiring post-cancer treatment services,... [ view full abstract ]

The number of people who survive cancer is increasing, due to improvements in diagnosis and treatment. This positive trend, however, has resulted in an increasing number of patients requiring post-cancer treatment services, specifically rehabilitative care following more invasive procedures.
Occupational therapists working for Reade – an organization of specialist rehabilitation centres within Amsterdam, the Netherlands – were quick to recognize and respond to this growing unmet need among their patient population. Providers snd the team proposed the idea of offering a holistic package of rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy. Patients work with occupational therapists to regain functioning and independence. Patients are referred to the programme by general practitioners or oncologists. As part of the initiative both general practitioners physiotherapists and oncologists in the area have received education on how occupational therapy could benefit patients, helping to encourage referrals. Reade management negotiated contracts with health insurance companies so that programme services for cancer patients would be reimbursed in full. Through this programme patients follow personalized care plans delivered in an outpatients clinic. The programme continues to be actively implemented and improved based on clinical experiences with plans for future research.
Recently, the initiative’s leader combined with the Dutch Association of Occupational Therapists to chair a newly established Union Branch for Occupational Therapy and Oncology. The Union Branch is currently working to build knowledge and develop evidence-based guidelines and recommendations on providing occupational therapy to cancer patients, sharing the experience of the Reade initiative through this network.