Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Andrea Young
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to create educational materials for cancer survivors and their caregivers/families on the topics of adaptive equipment and intimacy/sexuality. A person is considered a cancer survivor at any point after receiving a cancer diagnosis, regardless of what stage they are at in their course of treatment (American Cancer Society, 2024). The rate of cancer survivors within the United States has grown drastically over the past several years, due to advances in treatment and early detection (Cronin et al., 2022). Cancer survivors experience many changing side effects during and after treatment that influence the way they fulfill their life roles (Radomski et al, 2021; Taylor, 2017; TEDx Talks, 2019). Immobility and changes in sexuality/intimacy are common deficits that individuals with cancer face (Taylor, 2017). Unfortunately, physicians and other healthcare professionals at the affiliated site tend not to ask questions about the topics of adaptive equipment and sexuality/intimacy with this population, leaving gaps in the services that are provided to individuals. Most often, when an occupational therapy referral is placed in this setting, it is to address activities of daily living, fatigue, quality of life, and pain (Stein Duker & Sleight, 2018). Occupation-based survivorship programs benefit survivors by increasing occupational performance and well-being (Murphy et al., 2022). Occupational therapists can take this opportunity to provide education of strategies to promote independence and fulfillment of life roles with cancer survivors.
Methods: A literature review was completed to understand the unique needs of cancer survivors and occupational therapy’s role in oncology care. This served as a basis of knowledge prior to participating in a doctoral experiential capstone at a cancer center that serves individuals of all ages and currently hosts a cancer survivorship program. The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) framework is an occupation-based framework that was used throughout the completion of viii this scholarly project to gain a holistic understanding of the person, their tasks, and resulting performance (Dunn, 2017).
Results: The literature review guided by the EHP theoretical model combined with the doctoral experiential capstone placement led to the creation of educational sessions on the topics of adaptive equipment and sexuality/intimacy for cancer survivors. This resource will continue to be taught to cancer survivors during the cancer survivorship program by staff members to ensure continued education regarding these topics and to promote occupational therapy referrals within this setting.
Conclusions: It is anticipated that these educational materials will provide lasting knowledge and understanding to cancer survivors on topics that are not regularly addressed at this facility to promote overall independence and well-being of individuals and their caregivers/families.
Recommended Citation
Scheer, Bailee, "Promoting Independence In An Existing Cancer Survivorship Program: Adaptive Equipment And Intimacy & Sexuality" (2024). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 604.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/604