The Screen of Cancer Survivorship-Occupational Therapy Services (SOCS-OTS): A Delphi Study for Tool Validation

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To formally validate The Screening of Cancer Survivorship-Occupational Therapy Services (SOCS-OTS) which researchers developed for oncology team members to identify the need for OT services. <h3>Design</h3> Researchers used a classic Delphi methodology to develop and validate the SOCS-OTS. In Round 1, a blend of deductive and inductive approaches guided item writing. The deductive approach was used to thematically analyze oncology literature using the OT Practice Framework to guide item writing. An inductive approach was then used to verify items were issues relevant to expert panelists living with and beyond cancer. In Rounds 2-4, researchers assessed 14 expert panelists' opinions to indicate which items from Round 1 met consensus for inclusion on the SOCS-OTS. <h3>Setting</h3> Content experts were survivors were living in the community and expert panelists were from various practice settings, healthcare organizations, and oncology research labs. <h3>Participants</h3> Content experts varied in age, cancer type, and activity limitations. Inclusion criteria consisted of individuals diagnosed with cancer, 18 + years, fluent in English, with access to a computer with internet. Expert panelists included OTs, OTAs, and OT researchers. Inclusion of OT practitioners required panelists to have five years of experience with a 30% caseload of survivors. OT researchers required a published oncology-related article. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Items that did not reach 80% consensus were removed from the final tool. <h3>Results</h3> The final rendition of the SOCS-OTS included 20 items that met consensus. Researchers modified and removed several items from the tool including modifying the tool's instructions for use, rewording items for clarity, readability, or appropriateness for the oncology population, eliminating biased language, and making changes to the tools rating scale. The most highly rated items on the final SOCS-OTS included bathing and dressing, feeding/eating, social participation, sexual activity and intimacy, and community mobility. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The SOCS-OTS is a content valid screening tool that can be used by cancer care teams to indicate the need for OT services. Further studies are warranted for the development of its psychometric properties. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> No conflicts of interest