Authors (including presenting author) :
Ho, CM(1), Jim, CH(1), Tse, LY(1), Chueng, CC(1), Chiu, BF(1), Au, KM(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
The life pattern of million Hong Kong people is dramatically altered during the COVID-19 outbreak and will continue into the foreseeable future. Patient with mental illness is a vulnerable group as poor coping in facing the changes. Occupational balance is essential to maintain one's mental and physical health which is defined as one's perception of having the right amount of daily activities and the right variation between activities according to own valued life role and ability. A deeper understanding of patients' occupational balance during the COVID-19 outbreak is valuable for further development of occupational therapy service on lifestyle management.
Objectives :
To explore the occupational balance of patients with mental illness including time use pattern, life role, and role functioning.
Methodology :
159 patients with mental illness were invited to join the survey from 4 subacute wards under the Occupational Therapy psychiatric rehabilitation program in Tai Po Hospital. Those presented with an unstable mental state or cognitive deficit were excluded. Outcome measures including, occupational balance questionnaire (Chinese version), role checklist, and time use chart.
Result & Outcome :
The client's age ranged from 15-66 with a mean of 37.2 (SD 7.3) and 80% was male. The onset of illness with a mean of 13.5 years (SD 6.4). 52% was suffered from psychosis, 25% was a substance abuser and 21% was mood disorder. The mean score of the occupational balance questionnaire was 9.5 out of 20 (SD 3.7) indicated declining occupational balance. Among 10 common life roles, being a family member is the most valuable life roles but the lowest low satisfactory on performance. Besides, social and leisure engagement are two other major life roles valued the most. However, further analysis of the time use pattern showed that patients spent most of the time on rest and sleep and had limited engagement in leisure, social, and self-care.
The results showed declined occupational balance with increasing time spent on rest and sleep, reduced social and leisure engagement. Performance of valued life roles including being a family member and friend was also affected. Occupational balance is essential in upholding one's mental and physical health. Lifestyle redesign in coping with uncertain COVID-19 conditions is important for the patient with mental illness.
