The effect of occupational therapy services on hospital readmission for patients with cancer in acute care settings: a retrospective data analysis.

purposeThis study examined how the use of occupational therapy services affected the likelihood of hospital readmission within 30 days for patients with cancer diagnoses. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective observational study. Patient medical records were analyzed from a National Cancer Institute Hospital over a 5-year period with a sample size of 6614 patients included for analysis in an unadjusted logistic regression model and 1920 patients analyzed in an adjusted logistic regression model. Various factors, including the use of occupational therapy services as well as individual factors such as pain levels, cancer stage, and living environment, were considered in relation to readmission status. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the provision of occupational therapy service's association with 30-day hospital readmissions.

resultsPatients who received occupational therapy services had a statistically significant decrease in their risk of a 30-day hospital readmission compared to patients with cancer who did not receive occupational therapy services. In an unadjusted analysis, patients with cancer who had occupational therapy services were 33.5% (OR = 0.665) less likely to be readmitted within 30 days compared to a patient who did not have occupational therapy services (p < 0.001). In an analysis after adjusting for patient health-related factors, patients with cancer who had occupational therapy services were 22.2% (OR = 0.778) less likely to readmit to a hospital compared to a patient who did not have occupational therapy services (p < 0.046).

conclusionThe results of the study are intended to contribute to the body of knowledge on the benefits of occupational therapy services on an individual as well as a health systems-based level for patients with cancer diagnoses while hospitalized. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The knowledge of the utility of occupational therapy services for patients with cancer diagnoses while in the hospital can assist providers, patients, and hospital leadership in understanding some of the potential benefits for patient care and healthcare systems at large while seeking to avoid the deleterious effects from a hospital readmission.