Occupational Therapy and Vocational Rehabilitation: An Audit of an Outpatient Occupational Therapy Service

Abstract

In response to an increase in requests for vocational interventions to an outpatient occupational therapy department, an audit was carried out over a 6-month period to determine the size and nature of this demand and the outcome of the service provided. The department provided rehabilitation principally to patients aged 16 to 65 years and, of 118 consecutive referrals, 76 (64%) included requests for work-related interventions. By the end of the audit period, 46 had returned to work, 21 were receiving ongoing vocational input and 9 had decided not to pursue employment. The value of addressing vocational issues within a general rehabilitation programme at an early stage after injury or illness is discussed.