Interventions of Occupational Therapy with people with multiple sclerosis: literature integrative review

Abstract:

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a more common autoimmune, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, which affects mainly adults and causes significant impacts on occupational performance and social participation.

Objective

To analyze and systematize the knowledge produced by Occupational Therapy related to interventions in people with multiple sclerosis, between 2012 and 2017.

Method

Integrative literature review using the Scientific Electronic Library Online databases, Virtual Health Library, National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health of United States, and the national journals: Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Journal of Occupational Therapy University of São Paulo and Brazilian International Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Results

Publications were identified in fifteen different journals, being only two national articles and twenty foreign ones. The articles were classified in the following themes: Individualized Intervention / Self-Management, Home Intervention, Use of Technology for Intervention, Group Intervention and Client-Centered Intervention. The studies indicate the diversity of interventions in the individual, group, course, with the use of videoconference and videogame, in the home and work context.

Conclusion

The interventions developed by the professionals indicate a decrease in symptoms, improvement of functionality, and greater knowledge of potentialities, self-control, self-care, and promotion of quality of life. The study contributed to greater dissemination and, consequently, greater recognition of the effectiveness of Occupational Therapy activities and indicated the need for national research, given the scarcity of articles published in Brazil on the subject.

Keywords:
Occupational Therapy; Multiple Sclerosis; Rehabilitation; Professional Practice; Review