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Research article
Evaluating a multidimensional strategy to improve the professional self-care of occupational therapists working with people with life limiting illness.
Danielle Hitch
Western Health
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2798-2246
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Palliative Care.
Background: The term ‘’life limiting conditions’ refers to premature death following decline from chronic conditions, which is a common circumstance in which occupational therapists work with people at the end of life. The challenges for clinicians of working with these patients have long been recognised, and may have a significant impact on their professional self-care. This study aimed to evaluate a multidimensional workplace strategy to improve the professional self-care of occupational therapists working with people living with a life limiting condition.
Methods: A pre and post mixed methods survey approach were utilised, with baseline data collection prior to the implementation of a multidimensional workplace strategy. The strategy included professional resilience education, targeted supervision prompts, changes to departmental culture and the promotion of self-care services across multiple organisational levels. Follow up data collection was undertaken after the strategy had been in place for two years. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: 103 occupational therapists responded (n=55 pre, n=48 post) across multiple service settings. Complex emotional responses and lived experiences were identified by participants working with patients with life limiting conditions, which were not influenced by the workplace strategy. Working with these patients was acknowledged to challenge the traditional focus of occupational therapy on rehabilitation and recovery. Participants were confident about their ability to access self-care support, and supervision emerged as a key medium. While the strategy increased the proportion of occupational therapists undertaking targeted training, around half identified ongoing unmet need around professional self-care with this patient group. Demographic factors (e.g. practice setting, years of experience) also had a significant impact on the experience and needs of participants.
Conclusions: The multidimensional workplace strategy resulted in some improvements in professional self-care for occupational therapists, particularly around their use of supervision and awareness of available support resources. However, it did not impact upon their lived experience of working with people with life limiting conditions, and there remain significant gaps in our knowledge of support strategies for self-care of occupational therapist working with this patient group.
Keywords
occupational therapy, life limiting conditions, professional self-care, resilience
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 6
Posted 22 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 05 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 30 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 27 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 13 Oct, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 28 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 10 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 10 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 10 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 05 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 04 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 01 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 01 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 27 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 26 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 26 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 18 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 18 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 25 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 Feb, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Occupational Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Palliative Care. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Evaluating a multidimensional strategy to improve the professional self-care of occupational therapists working with people with life limiting illness.
Danielle Hitch
Western Health
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2798-2246
Badges
Methods Reporting
This manuscript passed our Methods Reporting assessment
Study design is completely described
Adequate information is present regarding materials and organisms
Data collection and analysis are thoroughly described
Methods Reporting
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 6
Posted 22 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 05 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 30 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 27 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Oct, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 18 Oct, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Oct, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 13 Oct, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Oct, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 28 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 26 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 21 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 21 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 20 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 20 Sep, 2020
No comments provided
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 10 Aug, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 10 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 10 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 05 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 04 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 01 Aug, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 01 Aug, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 01 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 27 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 26 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 26 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 18 May, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 18 May, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 15 May, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 01 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 25 Feb, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 19 Feb, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 12 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 07 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 06 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 06 Feb, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Occupational Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Palliative Care.
Background: The term ‘’life limiting conditions’ refers to premature death following decline from chronic conditions, which is a common circumstance in which occupational therapists work with people at the end of life. The challenges for clinicians of working with these patients have long been recognised, and may have a significant impact on their professional self-care. This study aimed to evaluate a multidimensional workplace strategy to improve the professional self-care of occupational therapists working with people living with a life limiting condition.
Methods: A pre and post mixed methods survey approach were utilised, with baseline data collection prior to the implementation of a multidimensional workplace strategy. The strategy included professional resilience education, targeted supervision prompts, changes to departmental culture and the promotion of self-care services across multiple organisational levels. Follow up data collection was undertaken after the strategy had been in place for two years. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: 103 occupational therapists responded (n=55 pre, n=48 post) across multiple service settings. Complex emotional responses and lived experiences were identified by participants working with patients with life limiting conditions, which were not influenced by the workplace strategy. Working with these patients was acknowledged to challenge the traditional focus of occupational therapy on rehabilitation and recovery. Participants were confident about their ability to access self-care support, and supervision emerged as a key medium. While the strategy increased the proportion of occupational therapists undertaking targeted training, around half identified ongoing unmet need around professional self-care with this patient group. Demographic factors (e.g. practice setting, years of experience) also had a significant impact on the experience and needs of participants.
Conclusions: The multidimensional workplace strategy resulted in some improvements in professional self-care for occupational therapists, particularly around their use of supervision and awareness of available support resources. However, it did not impact upon their lived experience of working with people with life limiting conditions, and there remain significant gaps in our knowledge of support strategies for self-care of occupational therapist working with this patient group.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4