Due to the rising rates of obesity present in the United States, occupational therapy
practitioners will likely be seeing this population more frequently in a variety of health
care settings. A thorough search of the evidence literature identified that occupational
therapy practitioners were found to be lacking education on the topics of obesity and
bariatric care and how to effectively assist this population. Furthermore, occupational
therapy and occupational therapy assistant academic curriculums were found to be
lacking education in the areas of safe patient handling with the obese population. Clients
who are obese also expressed dissatisfaction with the health care that they have been
receiving due to the identified barriers.
Through an online educational program, called Bariatrics, obesity, and occupational
therapy: How can we help? (BOOTH) the following topics will be integrated through a
case study approach for occupational therapy practitioners and occupational therapy
students: 1. general knowledge on the topics of obesity, 2. common co-morbidities, 3.
bariatric equipment, 4. safe patient handling recommendations, 5. obesity related stigma,
and 6. techniques for occupational therapy evaluation and intervention. Through
completion of the online obesity and bariatric care education modules, students and
practitioners will have heightened knowledge of how to safely assist this population to
optimize client independence and reduce work related injuries. In doing so, occupational
therapy will be identified as a vital resource for clients who are obese in health care
settings, telehealth, and primary care.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/27059 |
| Date | 07 November 2017 |
| Creators | Phillips, Jennifer Theresa |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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