The Use of Telehealth to Perform Occupational Therapy Home Assessments: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Using an integrative review methodology, this paper describes the current literature on the use of telehealth technology to conduct occupational therapy home assessments. Searches of ProQuest Health and Medicine, PubMed and CINAHL accessed articles from January 2001 to 18 April 2021. Based on the screening and eligibility criteria, 10 articles published in English were included in the review. Three primary types of studies were identified: the feasibility of using telehealth technology to conduct home assessments; the efficiency of using telehealth technology to perform home assessments; and patient and therapist satisfaction using telehealth technology. This review ascertained that occupational therapy home assessments can be performed using telehealth technology, they are an efficient alternative to in-person assessments, and home assessments conducted via telehealth can be effective in achieving patient outcomes. Satisfaction with the use of telehealth, as an alternative service delivery model, has been identified by both patients and occupational therapists. The use of telehealth technology can increase the capacity of the occupational therapy profession to carry out home assessments although in-person home assessment is more accurate in detecting hazards in the home.