Occupational therapy practice with burn injuries: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Introduction: The Occupational Therapy Association of South African commissioned a task team to gather evidence that would inform upcoming National Health policies on the role and practice of occupational therapists. This rapid review aimed to identify level 1 and 2 peer reviewed published evidence that describes occupational therapists’ practice and intervention in all types of burn injuries, at all  levels of care, and for all age groups.

Method: Using the South African Department of Health template and the Cochran Rapid Reviews  method guide, a search for level 1 and 2 evidence sourced articles from CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library (Wiley)  and OTSeeker data bases through the Stellenbosch University library with hand searching of references in the selected articles. Rayyan  was used for the screening and selection of articles. The CASP appraisal tool was used for risk bias and quality assessment of the selected  articles. Data was captured in Excel and Word, and analysed and synthesised in Microsoft Excel and Taguette. Results were  presented in the form of an online workshop to stakeholders and discussions and questions incorporated into the discussion and  conclusion of this review.

Results: Eleven articles were selected and their quality assessed. Seven categories of evidence of occupational  therapy interventions were extracted from selected articles: pain, oedema, scaring and abnormal skin sensations, joints and range of  motion, psycho-social and functional impact of burn injuries, the education of burn injury victims and their families, and vocational  rehabilitation. All interventions took place in healthcare facilities. Nine articles referred to occupational therapists working in multi- disciplinary teams. Occupational therapist worked with children and adult burn injury victims and with a variety of type of burn injury  from acute to post discharge phases.

Conclusion: There is level 1 and 2 evidence conderming occupational therapy intervention with  burn injury victims with all ages and at all stages of injury within healthcare facilities. None of the evidence found is from the South  African context. Such levels of evidence are needed to promote occupational therapy intervention in primary, preventative and   community contexts.