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Advisor

Sclinda Janssen

Description

Background: Adults with chronic pain living in rural communities experience occupational deprivation due to a lack of access to healthcare resources and tend to report higher levels of pain compared to urban areas [4, 8]. Chronic pain is multifaceted and managed by many professionals. Occupational therapy (OT) has a significant role in offering effective strategies to improve quality of life, self-efficacy, and daily functioning for those who experience chronic pain [5, 7].

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to advocate for the profession of occupational therapy within rural Alaska areas as well as develop an evidence-based, model-driven, culturally relevant resource guide for OT practitioners. The guide entitled Occupational Therapy Guide to Interprofessional Chronic Pain Management in Rural Alaska, provides occupation-based interventions for chronic pain management with clients in rural communities and will improve interprofessional collaboration in a culturally relevant manner that supports the functional abilities in people who have chronic pain. Methodology Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, SAGE, EBSCO Host, Google Scholar, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) were used to complete a thorough literature review. Conclusion The guide was created to fill a gap in the healthcare field for adults who experience chronic pain in rural Alaska communities. The projected outcome of the product is an increased presence of OT in rural Alaska, greater interprofessional collaboration, and an increase in occupational engagement and quality of life for adults experiencing chronic pain.

Methodology: Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, SAGE, EBSCO Host, Google Scholar, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT), and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) were used to complete a thorough literature review.

Conclusion: The guide was created to fill a gap in the healthcare field for adults who experience chronic pain in rural Alaska communities. The projected outcome of the product is an increased presence of OT in rural Alaska, greater interprofessional collaboration, and an increase in occupational engagement and quality of life for adults experiencing chronic pain

Publication Date

2023

Document Type

Article

Keywords

chronic pain, interprofessional, occupational therapy, rural, Alaska

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

An Occupation-based Approach to Chronic Pain in Rural Alaska

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