Effects of a short-term occupational therapy intervention in an acute geriatric unit. A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Objectives To compare the benefits of a short-term occupational therapy intervention (OTI) when added to the conventional treatment model (CTM) in the functional recovery of patients admitted to an acute geriatric unit (AGU). Study design Non-pharmacological randomized clinical trial. 400 patients were randomized to OTI ( n = 198) or CTM ( n = 202) group. Mean age 83.5. Interventions included needs assessment, iatrogenic prevention, retraining in activities of daily living, and instructions for caregivers in three groups of patients defined a priori (cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, other conditions) 5 days a week, 30–45 min a day. Main outcome measure Recovery of ≥10 Barthel index points by discharge. Secondary outcome was the reduction in confusional episodes. Results The adjusted relative risk (RR) of functional recovery in the OTI group was 1.16 (95%CI 0.91–1.47). In participants with cardiopulmonary disease was 1.57 (95%CI 1.06–2.32), number needed to treat (NNT) 5. Participants with other conditions assigned to OTI had a reduction in acute confusional episodes; RR 0.48 (95% CI 0.26–0.87), NNT 7. Conclusions Although overall there were no significant differences, patients with cardiopulmonary disease or non-stroke pathologies admitted to an AGU, may benefit from a short-term OTI.