Identifying Characteristics of ‘Straightforward Cases’ for which Support Personnel Could Recommend Home Bathing Equipment

Abstract

Introduction: The general consensus is that an occupational therapist should carry out the assessment for recommending home bathing equipment. Nevertheless, in response to a shortage of human resources, home-care occupational therapists in Quebec, Canada, frequently transfer the clinical task of recommending bathing equipment to support personnel in ‘straightforward cases’. However, there is no consensus on what constitutes such cases, and clinicians lack information on how to define a straightforward case. Objective: To characterise ‘straightforward cases’ when recommending bathing equipment in home-care occupational therapy. Design: The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method, combining a literature review with a three-round survey and one focus group meeting of nine occupational therapists. Results: Eight characteristics required for describing straightforward cases for bathing equipment recommendations were identified. They cover the three dimensions of the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement: the occupation, the person, and the person's home environment. Conclusion: The literature review and collective opinion of experienced occupational therapists made it possible to agree on a common language to describe straightforward cases for bathing equipment. The characteristics identified will, it is hoped, support the critical thinking of clinicians deciding whether or not to transfer the task of recommending bathing equipment to support personnel.