Factors influencing occupational therapy home visit practice: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Home visits prior to discharge from hospital are an integral part both of occupational therapy practice and the discharge process. However there is remarkably little understanding as to why they occur in practice and who is thought to best benefit from a home visit. The aims of this research were to explore occupational therapists’ perceptions of home visits and to ascertain their clinical reasoning about conducting home visits. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Our research revealed two different types of home visits: one with the patient and one without the patient. Both types aimed to enhance the discharge process. The key deciding factors for the chosen type of home visit were time issues and available resources. The therapist’s justification for a home visit was also associated with the patient’s living arrangements, impairments and level of functioning. Occupational therapists rarely consulted patients about their preferred type of visit. Conclusion: Our study is the first to identify therapists’ reasoning differentiate between two types of home visits that occur in practice and to identify therapists’ reasoning for their choice. Future trials are imperative to ascertain which visit is more effective both in terms of patient outcomes and cost effectiveness.