Date of Award
7-2021
Document Status
Open Access
Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Occupational Therapy (M.S.)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Carla Floyd-Slabaugh
Abstract
This article aims to critically review the current literature related to occupational therapy (OT) and colorectal cancer (CRC). The GVSU electronic library system was used to identify articles using keywords and MeSH terms related to CRC and OT. Articles were analyzed for key variables related to the OT scope of practice and were evaluated for quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Findings show that CRC was referenced in 76.47% of the 34 articles, OT in 20.59%, ADLs in 50%. Pain and quality of life (QoL) were explicitly measured in 17.65% of the articles. Of the reviewed articles, 52.94% scored a 0 on the PEDro scale, and no articles scored higher than a 5. A significant literature gap exists between the representation of OT and CRC, although evidence shows the overlap between client challenges and the OT scope of practice. Pain and QoL are marginally addressed in the literature, and the quality-levels of current research are inadequate. Future research should address these gaps through conducting qualitydriven, client-centered studies.
ScholarWorks Citation
Burns, Brook L.; Foster, Megan L.; Tunney, Tosha L.; and Wubbenhorst, Riane B., "Exploring Colorectal Cancer Research and its Connection to Occupational Therapy: A Critical Review" (2021). Older Adult. 11.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/ot_older_adult/11
