OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRE-ASSESSMENT OF LOW GRADE GLIOMA PATIENT WITH COMPLEX NEEDS ALMOST HALVES POST-OPERATIVE LENGTH OF STAY

Abstract AIMS Due to tumour eloquence, patients with low grade gliomas (LGGs) often have complex Occupational Therapy (OT) needs post-operatively. This need can impact length of stay and OT resource. Limited studies have focused on pre-assessment for this patient group. To address these challenges, we aimed to identify the impact of a newly-introduced Occupational Therapy (OT) pre-surgical assessment service for low grade glioma patients. METHOD Patients (n=16, prospective, consecutive, Jan-Jul 2023) planned for LGG surgery at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were offered an OT pre-assessment. Mixed methods analysis. Assessments and data collected included existing needs and deficits, length of stay, and OT sessions (number/contacts, time spent). Comparison was made to patients (n=16, retrospective, consecutive, Jun-Dec 2022) planned for LGG surgery who had not received this service. Complexity was defined using standardised, clinically-accepted factors (social, cognitive and/or physical deficits). RESULTS Patients with complex needs (4 in each group) benefitted significantly from OT pre-assessment with reductions in: length of stay (11.9 v 6.5 days, 45.4% decrease), median time spent (134 v 95 mins, 29.1% decrease), median number of contacts (5.4 v 3.4, 37.0% decrease). Patient, surgeon, CNS and other AHP feedback was overwhelm-ingly positive. CONCLUSION Patients with complex needs undergoing surgery for low grade gliomas significantly benefit from pre- assessment; reducing length of stay and liberating occupational therapy resource. This also reduces costs and increases productivity/efficiency. Further work in more LGG patients, other brain tumour patients, and the identification of key pre-assessment variables and interventions will guide the development of the service.