ASSESSING KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE AMONG OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST IN PULMONARY REHABILITATION

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) aims to improve exercise capacity and enhance individuals' ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Occupational therapists play a vital role by enabling individuals to engage in meaningful occupations.Despite existing evidence supporting their role in PR,there is limited literature on their actual involvement.This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of occupational therapists in PR.Methodology: A quantitative study involving 75 occupational therapists across India was conducted using snowball sampling. A validated questionnaire, reviewed by expert panels for content validity,was distributed online and offline.Participants responded using a Likert scale. Results: Item-level CVI ranged from 0.285–1, with an overall S-CVI/Ave of 0.84 and SCVI/UA of 0.46,indicating good validity.Kappa analysis showed 19 items with excellent agreement,7 good,and 4 poor. Knowledge and practice levels ranged from 40% to 75%, reflecting inconsistent awareness. Conclusion: The findings highlight gaps in occupational therapists' knowledge and practice in PR,underscoring the need for greater professional development and integration in this field.