Intervention strategies used by occupational therapists in older people hospitalized for COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The Chilean population is made up of a large percentage of older people. Older people are one of the age ranges most affected by COVID-19, reaching high mortality rates and high hospitalization rates, a context in which they have required interdisciplinary care, including occupational therapy intervention. Objective: To explore the intervention strategies applied by occupational therapists to older people hospitalized for COVID-19, in hospital health facilities in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile, during the years 2020-2022. Method: Qualitative exploratory study with descriptive scope, where the semi-structured interview and subsequent content analysis were used as the data collection method. The sample is made up of occupational therapists who performed their duties in hospital health facilities with the target population during this period. Results: The strategies most used by the occupational therapists participating in this study are polysensory stimulation, early mobilization, cognitive stimulation, environmental management, positioning, remote communication, approach to activities of daily living, technical aids, nonpharmacological management of pain, sleep protocol, prevention and nonpharmacological management of delirium. Conclusion: In addition, it is mentioned that the interdisciplinary team was a facilitator in the interventions, which due to the pandemic caused a great workload in the professionals, affecting their mental health.