Introduction:

Historically, occupational therapy has had an active role in the hospital environment. Today, one of its main goals for the consolidation of the fields of knowledge, care and future development is to strengthen the intervention of professionals in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Objective:

To expose scientific evidence related to the role of occupational therapy in an adult ICU by conducting a literature review of publications made between 2010 and 2015, in order to analyze the assessment and intervention categories.

Materials and methods:

Mixed research study, which seeks to specify the theoretical and practical sources related to the terms of the study. In addition, a selective analysis process was carried out based on interests and significance.

Results:

Occupational therapy characterizes activities based on mobilization, positional changes, activities of daily living, stimulation, feruling, and assistive technology, among others. It also brings benefits such as the reduction of in-hospital stay, complications and costs.

Conclusion:

The relevance of the work of occupational therapists in the adult ICU is evident since it brings benefits such as reduced stay and functional improvement of patients at discharge, which are clearly defined in different research works worldwide.

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