Abstract
Background and Purpose: The literature remains unclear as to what the distinct roles of physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are in the rehabilitation setting. The goal of this study was to determine whether doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students found a division of therapeutic interventions of the upper and lower extremities during their clinical rotations in skilled nursing and long-term care facilities.
Methods: A quantitative observational study surveyed 162 previous or current DPT students from the graduating classes of 2015 to 2018 who completed 1 or more clinical rotations in a skilled nursing and/or long-term care facility. A survey was provided via school e-mail, which asked whether participants observed a division of care between OT and PT based upon extremity while attending their clinical rotations.
Results: Surveys indicated that a division of care was present in 94.2% (n = 49) of the facilities. Results confirmed that OT was responsible for the examination and treatment of upper extremity pathologies, while PT was responsible for the examination and treatment of lower extremity pathologies almost exclusively. Chi-square analyses determined that there was no difference in frequency between the division of care and the year in which the rotation was completed ([chi]2 = 4.34, P = .34), the division of care and the state in which the facility was located ([chi]2 = 1.55, P = .99), or the division of care and type of facility ([chi]2 = 2.53, P = .11).
Conclusion: The present study suggests that the responsibility for upper extremity care was delegated to OT, while lower extremity care was delegated to PT in both skilled nursing and long-term care facilities in the geographic area included in the study. The reason for this division remains unclear.