Pliers: Hand tool that functions as a gripper

Goal 2: Identify and utilize best practice techniques to assess and treat complex upper extremity conditions.

AOTAs Standard for continuing competence: Knowledge, Critical Reasoning, & Performance Skills 

This systematic review is a quantitative review that analyzes current evidence on rehabilitation management following a mastectomy. It specifically looks at the evidence for therapeutic exercises to improve lymphedema, which is sometimes a symptom of mastectomies, and quality of life.  I became interested in this topic a few years ago because I started seeing patients with a history of a mastectomy who were referred to occupational therapy years later for an 'unrelated' condition. This cohort of patients would explain to me they never were offered therapy after their breast surgery but struggled for years to return to their baseline functioning level. In addition, more recently, a nurse in NYU's oncology department reached out to me to discuss if she can send her patients to me for rehabilitation. Since I did not have any formal training with this population, I wanted to know how I could safely help these patients improve their symptoms and quality of life.

Following feedback from the Systematic Review Committee, I continued to improve the quality and clarity of the systematic review. I elaborated on definitions of key concepts, strength of evidence of the included studies, and clarified how lymphedema related to quality of life, to improve understanding for the readers. I ensured all concepts were introduced in the introduction, clearly reported on in the results and analyzed in the discussion section. The final draft of the systematic review is below. 

Continue reading to goal 2's reflection: Reflection II