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A client-centred, occupation-based occupational therapy programme for adults with psychiatric diagnoses

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a client-centred, occupation-based occupational therapy programme for individuals with psychiatric diagnoses. The study took place in a college campus.A pre-test/post-test design was used. There were 38 participants which included college students and community members who desired to attend college, work and/or address life skill goals. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used as a pre- and post-test measure. Goals were based on problems identified in the COPM, reflected academic, vocational, life skill, and leisure goals, and were systematically addressed weekly through activities developed by the participant and a graduate occupational therapy student who acted as a mentor. The Participant Overall Satisfact...

An evaluation of a problem-based learning experience in an occupational therapy curriculum in the UK

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objectives of the study was to evaluate an adapted approach to problem-based learning (PBL) on a pre-registration Masters course in Occupational Therapy at the University of East Anglia in the UK. The adaptation, named placement PBL, required students to write and select the material based on their placement experiences, for the cohort's learning. The evaluation purpose was to determine the students' views of the efficacy of placement PBL for facilitating their learning in the final 3 months of their pre-registration education. Placement PBL was evaluated using both questionnaires and focus groups, with two cohorts of students for data collection. Placement PBL was seen to provide current, relevant and complex learning scenarios that help students to move from a theoretical understandi...

Evaluation of cognitive technologies in geriatric rehabilitation: a case study pilot project

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate low-cost technology for cognitive rehabilitation in older individuals with dementia and document changes stemming from a clinical case study using these tools. An activity board, a calendar, a routine organizer and a software program were used and evaluated by specialists (n = 7). A pre-post-case study with an elderly male with dementia was undertaken for four months. All rehabilitation resources were classified as appropriate by the specialists. Post-intervention scores demonstrated improvement in cognitive functioning and daily activities at home. There is a need for further research to assess the therapeutic effects in patients with dementia applying equipment and software to improve cognitive function. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Son...

Preliminary reliability and repeatability of the Brazilian version of the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale

Occupational Therapy International — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrated the reliability and repeatability of the Brazilian version of the RKPPS. This is a preliminary study and further studies are needed in order to validate the scale to be administered in the Brazilian population. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Post-stroke fatigue: qualitative study of three focus groups

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Fatigue affects many persons after cerebrovascular accident, particularly those with mild stroke. A qualitative methodology using focus groups with 19 community-living post-stroke survivors was utilized to explore the occupational impact of fatigue as communicated by the participants. Although self-report of a small sample of the United States' post-stroke population will have limitations in generalizability, this study identifies specific health-related quality of life issues that can occur with post-stroke fatigue. The participants felt unprepared for the fatigue phenomenon and struggled to adapt, with fatigue having a debilitating influence upon daily occupational performance and roles, including social participation, return to work, driving, reading and sleeping. The participants indic...

Occupational therapy students' attitudes towards inclusion education in Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Taiwan

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This international, cross-cultural study investigated the attitudes of occupational therapy students from Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Taiwan towards inclusive education for students with disabilities. The possible impact of professional education on students' attitudes was also explored. A total of 485 students from 11 entry-level occupational therapy education programmes from Australia, the United Kingdom, the United Sates and Taiwan participated in the study. Among them, 264 were freshmen (first-year students) and 221 were seniors (final-year students). Data collected from a custom-designed questionnaire were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.In general, the occupational therapy students reported having positive attitudes towards inclusion. Considerable diff...

Identifying indicators of well-being for caregivers of children with disabilities

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This study identified key indicators of well-being for caregivers of children with disabilities, Thirty-nine caregivers completed life satisfaction and psychological well-being (WB) measures, and qualitative interviews. Data analysis included descriptive statistics of WB measures and categorical analysis of qualitative data. Data triangulation was achieved by importing theoretically derived codes for initial qualitative coding and quantitizing qualitative categories. Core indicators focused on positive family functioning and a reasonable family lifestyle, caregiver's personal growth and capacity to manage life demands, and the importance of daily balance. Study limitations included no standardized assessments of the child with disabilities' functioning, and the inclusion of caregivers with...

Occupational therapists use of cognitive interventions for clients with Alzheimer's disease

Occupational Therapy International — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study was to establish a profile of occupational therapy practice for cognitive interventions for clients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in an urban setting. Seventy-four occupational therapists working with older adults with AD in diverse settings in the city of Montreal were randomly selected and were sent a self-administered questionnaire by mail. Sixty-five (87.8%) therapists responded. Findings indicated that 52.3% of occupational therapists are performing cognitive interventions with persons with AD. Of those, 82.4% report using cognitive rehabilitation, 61.8% using cognitive stimulation and 50.0% using cognitive training. Intervention use varied across settings and differed according to severity of AD. The sessions are usually provided individually and often include t...

Indicators of need for occupational therapy in patients with chronic pain: occupational therapists' focus groups

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This study explores occupational therapists' (OT) perceptions of indicators for occupational therapy interventions among patients with chronic pain. An exploratory design was applied to six focus groups of OTs (n = 25) for data collection. Analysis was performed using content analysis through identification of meaning units, codes, categories and themes. Limitations of occupational performance was a major theme that included participant restrictions caused by physical, emotional and environmental barriers. Five subthemes of need were identified: 1) pain behaviour that prevented engagement in activities; 2) lack of knowledge about pain mechanisms and strategies to deal with pain; 3) occupational imbalance in work, leisure and home; 4) emotional stress and depression due to pain; and 5) phys...

Development of the Chinese language paediatric daily occupation scale in Taiwan

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study was to describe the development of the paediatric daily occupation scale (PDOS) that was validated with Taiwanese children aged from birth to 72 months. Item-scale correlation coefficient was also used to select items. The psychometric properties of PDOS were examined based on the results of 957 children who participated in the study. The Chinese child development inventory (CCDI) was used as a standard to examine the concurrent validity of PDOS on two different samples.The PDOS, completed by parents, contains 340 items with good internal consistency (Cronbach's [agr] = 0.99), test-retest reliability (r = 0.99) and concurrent validity (r = 0.88 between PDOS and CCDI). The sensitivity of PDOS (83%) in detecting children with developmental problems was much higher than ...

Effects of robotic-aided rehabilitation on recovery of upper extremity function in chronic stroke: a single case study

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The objective of the study was to examine the results of robotic therapy in a single client.A 48-year-old female client 15 months post-stroke, with right hemiparesis, received robotic therapy as an outpatient in a large Midwestern rehabilitation hospital. Robotic therapy was provided three times a week for 6 weeks. Robotic therapy consisted of goal-directed, robotic-aided reaching tasks to exercise the hemiparetic shoulder and elbow. No other therapeutic intervention for the affected upper extremity was provided during the study or 3 months follow-up period. The outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer, graded Wolf motor function test (GWMFT), motor activity log, active range of motion and Canadian occupational performance measure.The participant made gains in active movement; performance;...

Unilateral and bilateral upper extremity weight-bearing effect on upper extremity impairment and functional performance after brain injury

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of upper extremity (UE) weight bearing on UE impairment functional performance of persons with acquired brain injury (BI).A quasi-experimental design was used to examine a convenience sample of 99 persons with acquired BI and 22 without BI (WBI) living in a community re-entry centre. A computerized force-sensing array pressure map system was used to determine the UE pressure during unilateral and bilateral conditions. Differences between groups were examined using t-tests. Correlations were computed between UE weight bearing and hand function, and functional performance as measured by the Fugl-Meyer scale and functional independence measure (FIM) scale.The group of people with BI exerted significantly lower UE weight bearing during uni...

Changes in hemiplegic grasp following distributed repetitive intervention: a case series

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of a distributed model of repetitive and focused intervention on grasp force, and clinical and functional hand measures in persons with chronic hemiplegia and limited hand recovery from self-reported stroke.A case series design was used. Focused repetitive unilateral and bilateral interventions were provided in a distributed manner (three times a week for 6 weeks) to three persons with upper limb hemiplegia of more than 1 year. Data from instrumented grasp force, and clinical and functional measures were obtained at weeks 0, 3, 6 and 9.Each participant improved in at least one measure of grasp force, as well as in clinical skill and function. All participants improved in the quality of handwriting. Improved outcomes remained a...

A review of bilateral training for upper extremity hemiparesis

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Upper extremity hemiparesis is the most common post-stroke disability. Longitudinal studies have indicated that 30-66% of stroke survivors do not have full arm function 6 months post-stroke. The current gold standard for treatment of mild post-stroke upper limb impairment is constraint-induced therapy but, because of the inclusion criteria, alternative treatments are needed which target more impaired subjects. Bilateral arm training has been investigated as a potential rehabilitation intervention. Bilateral arm training encompasses a number of methods including: (1) bilateral isokinematic training; (2) mirror therapy using bilateral training; (3) device-driven bilateral training; and (4) bilateral motor priming. Neural mechanisms mediating bilateral training are first reviewed. The key bil...

Occupational therapy and neuromotor interventions

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Task-specific training: evidence for and translation to clinical practice

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100

There is mounting evidence of the value of task-specific training as a neuromotor intervention in neurological rehabilitation. The evidence is founded in the psychology of motor skill learning and in the neuroscience of experience-dependent and learning-dependent neural plastic changes in the brain in animals and humans. Further, there is growing empirical evidence for the effectiveness of task-specific training in rehabilitation and for neural plastic changes following task-oriented training. In this paper, we position the evidence for task-specific training in the context of rehabilitation; review its relevance for occupation-based neurological rehabilitation, particularly in relation to upper limb function and everyday activities; and recommend evidence-driven strategies for its applica...

An exploration of reminiscence and post-war European immigrants living in a multicultural aged-care setting in Australia

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This study aims to shed light on what participants feel about life stories, and the prospect of involvement in the documentation of their life story in order to provide insight and understanding for optimum programme facilitation and better resident care.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the four participants. Data were audiotaped and transcribed. Phenomenological methods were used to explicate data.Three main themes emerged: diminution of guilt, social sharing - common bonds and, the urge to 'feel' the past to 'fill' the present. It is apparent that aged survivors of war, and displacement to a new country, feel residual guilt regarding the leaving of their homeland. The prospect of documenting their life stories offers an opportunity to provide an explanation for their decisi...

Valuing difference: caregiving by mothers of children with disabilities

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This study supports the importance of valuing difference in terms of the insights and understanding gained from those with disabilities and their caregivers. It would be difficult to replicate it exactly; its relevance lies in demonstrating that valuable insights can be gained from extending reflective practice to research that involves re-examining a study from a different theoretical perspective. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Bilateral coordination and motor sequencing in Brazilian children: preliminary construct validity and reliability analysis

Occupational Therapy International — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This study examined aspects of reliability and validity of the bilateral coordination and motor sequencing items of the Assessment of Motor Coordination and Dexterity (AMCD) for Brazilian children ages 4, 6 and 8 years old. The AMCD aims to identify children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A total of 84 children were evaluated. Among the 35 items piloted, all but one presented interrater reliability above 0.80 and 16 (45.7%) items presented intraclass correlation coefficient over 0.60 for test-retest reliability. Most items were sensitive to age difference and only items involving ball handling exhibited significant gender differences. As a result, this section of the AMCD could be reduced to the 20 items that were found to be reliable and more discriminative for age-relate...

A study of critical reasoning in online learning: application of the Occupational Performance Process Model

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This study examined the effect of an online guided independent study on critical reasoning skills. Twenty-one first-semester Master of Occupational Therapy students completed an online assignment designed to facilitate application of the Occupational Performance Process Model (Fearing & Clark) and kept reflective journals. Data from the journals were analyzed in relation to the three sets of questions, question type and results of the Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal (WGCTA). This assignment appeared to be effective for enhancing awareness and use of critical reasoning skills. Differences in patterns of critical reasoning between students with high and low WGCTA scores and results of an inductive analysis of the journal entries are discussed. Future research investigating the type...

A study of the essence of play experience to children living in Zanzibar, Tanzania

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100

This study aimed to gain an understanding of the essence of play experience to children in Zanzibar, Tanzania. A phenomenological approach using the photovoice method was adopted. The study was carried out over 4 weeks, with 12 boys and 4 girls. Four key themes emerged from the analysis of 116 photographs: creative play, physical play/games, football and equipment play. The findings suggest that play experience in Zanzibar has aspects of creativity and resourcefulness, and influences from tradition, culture and poverty. Furthermore, that opportunity for play may differ for children in Tanzania, compared with children in Western countries. Unequal boy and girl participants, and the lack of representation of children with a disability were some limitations of this study. The occupational the...

Case study of Bell's palsy applying complementary treatment within an occupational therapy model

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

By Emily Haltiwanger, Theresa Huber, Joe C. Chang & Armando Gonzales-StuartVolume 16, Issue 1, Pages 72-82, (March 2009) DOI:10.1002/oti.267An error was subsequently identified in the article (page 72); the author name Armando Gonzales-Stuart should be Armando Gonzalez-Stuart. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by Canadian occupational therapists

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this study was to describe the proportion of occupational therapists currently using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), or providing referrals to CAM practitioners, as well as the purposes of use/referral in one Canadian region.A questionnaire survey on CAM was sent through e-mail and post to 1123 Canadian occupational therapists. Content, construct and face validity, as well as response, desirability/social, and instrument bias were considered and controlled through study design. A response rate of 17.1% was achieved.Overall, 31.2% of respondents have used at least one form of CAM, with 5.5% using >1 form of CAM. Purposes for use focused on the treatment of symptoms. Reasons preventing CAM's use included lack of training (82.4%), interest (23%) and/or supporting ...

Regarding 'Hospital discharge among frail elderly people: a pilot study in Sweden' by I. Soderback

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Needs assessment of runaway females in Iran from an occupational therapy perspective

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess, from an occupational therapy perspective, the occupational performance needs of runaway females between 15 and 33 years old, residing in the state-run shelters in Mashhad, Iran. The inclusion criteria were: (1) participants who were 15 years old or above; (2) participants who resided in one of the state-run shelters in Mashhad; and (3) participants who could read, comprehend and write in Farsi.A written survey was completed by 44 runaway females (response rate: 36.6%). The findings revealed the occupational needs of this population to be as follows: vocational needs to find a meaningful job, emotional needs to manage depression and hopelessness, social participation needs to manage family and peer/friend relationships and peer interactio...

Effectiveness of a peer-support community in addiction recovery: participation as intervention

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The main purpose of the study was to determine whether a peer-support community programme would reduce relapse rates among clients recovering from substance addictions and homelessness and result in increased perceived community affiliation, supportive behaviours, self-determination and quality of life.Mixed methods were utilized including semi-structured interviews, participant observation and a pretest/post-test to evaluate changes on the quality of life rating, the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey, and the Volitional Questionnaire. Data from the prior year's permanent supportive housing programme were used for comparison of relapse rates.Significant reduction of risk of relapse was found in clients who participated in the programme. Significant differences were found on thre...

The application of client-centred occupational therapy for Korean children with developmental disabilities

Occupational Therapy International — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effectiveness of client-centred occupational therapy using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Eight girls and 23 boys from Korea, with developmental disabilities and from 3 to 10 years of age participated in this study. Each child participated in 20 to 24 sessions of client-centred occupational therapy. Both the COPM and the AMPS change scores demonstrated statistically significant improvement (p < 0.01) in occupational performance. Significant correlations were found between COPM - Performance and AMPS - Motor skills (rs = 0.64, p < 0.05), and COPM - Satisfaction and AMPS - Process skills (rs = 0.62, p < 0.05) in a group positive towards client-centred occupational therapy...

Perceived stress in occupational therapy students

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived stress of entry-level master's occupational therapy (OT) students enrolled at a Texas university. A total of 29 students including nine men and 20 women participated in the study. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The participants were interviewed during the end of the first and second year of the entry-level master's programme in OT. Questionnaires, given at the same time, contained demographic data, open-end questions and force choice questions rated on a Likert scale. The results indicated that the majority of students (66.4%) rated their current level of stress as above average or the highest in their lives. The students expressed feelings of being overwhelmed, confused regarding course expectations and wante...

Retracted: Development of an education programme for caregivers of people aging with multiple sclerosis

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The article from Occupational Therapy International, Development of an Education Program for Caregivers of People Aging with Multiple Sclerosis (DOI: 10.1002/OTI.245) by Marcia Finlayson, Jennifer Garcia and Katharine Preissner, published online on 5 February 2008 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com), has been retracted by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to dual publication of this article. Copyright ? 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Handwriting speed: duration of testing period and relation to socio-economic disadvantage and handedness

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100

In the course of norm-referencing the Handwriting Speed Test (HST) for 8- to 18-year-olds in the Irish education system, the authors examined the issue of the duration of the handwriting test period, the relation of handwriting speed to socio-economic disadvantage and the comparative handwriting speed of left- and right-handed students. The literature reports some concerns about the generalizability of results from a short-duration handwriting speed test, some evidence that children from poorer backgrounds are less proficient at handwriting, and conflicting results on the relation of handedness to speed of handwriting. The results of this study suggest that the addition of a further 9-minute test to the 3-minute test of the HST would improve its ability to predict handwriting speed problem...

Elderly persons with disabilities in Sweden: their experiences of everyday life

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The aim of this study was to describe the everyday life experiences of 22 elderly persons with physical disabilities in Sweden. The participants were aged between 65 and 91 years. Interviews were conducted and analysed according to a qualitative research approach. Disengagement in activities and social contacts resulted in feelings of resignation and dejection for some participants, while others delegated tasks as a satisfactory alternative. Participants also described how activities and social contacts continued, albeit in a different way, and being active and socializing gave feelings of pleasure and a sense of belonging. While receiving help was experienced as valuable, it also increased the fear of becoming dependent. Occupational therapy intervention should be directed at increasing s...

Occupational therapy students' perceptions of their cultural awareness and competency

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 21 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

This study was limited to one state university and to most students aged [le]24 years and predominantly female. It did not explore the factors that influence the development of cultural competence and the methods to develop it. Future studies should monitor actual culture-related exposures to determine how learning experiences are organized and the ways culture influences the learning process and clinical competence. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

The cross-cultural adaptation of the disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH): a systematic review

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

A systematic review of cross-cultural adaptations of the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand into other languages was undertaken focusing on the translation and adaptation process, the problems during the translation process and proposed solutions. Nine articles were selected for analysis. All were written in English and addressed the qualitative issues of the cross-cultural adaptation process. The results demonstrated strong evidence that translation, adaptation and technical issues are most influential in the cross-cultural adaptation process. Awareness, understanding and incorporation of these issues will assist in future translations and adaptations of occupational therapy evaluation tools for use in other countries with different cultures. Implications for occupational therapy educat...

A pilot study of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme evaluated by four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyse participants' perceptions of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, which combined occupational therapy with physical therapy. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who attended an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme in New York City. Features of the occupational therapy programme reported to be valuable were biofeedback and clinician support. Participants reported more control of dyspnoea, improved mental health and confidence in performing daily activities, less fatigue, more physically active lifestyles and hope for the future. Limitations of the study were that participants were interviewed only once and themes were not verified with participan...

Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 08 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

Culturally sensitive and valid assessments of participation in occupations are needed for Spanish-speaking children to enhance services offered to this population. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the newly developed Spanish version of the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment and Preferences for Activities of Children, the Evaluación de Participacion y Disfrute de los Niños y Preferencias de las Actividades de los Niños (EPDN/PAN). The sample included 249 children with and without disabilities, aged 6 to 15 years. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the participation of children with disabilities and children without disabilities, and between younger and older children were found. No statistical significant differenc...

Analysis of industrial tasks as a tool for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the work market

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:00:00 +0100

This article describes the application of a model for analyzing industrial tasks that was developed to identify jobs that could potentially be filled by people with disabilities (DP) and to serve as a guideline for a company hiring policy. In Brazil, Law No. 8213/91 makes it obligatory to hire DP based on quotas that are established according to the number of employees in a public and private company. Using a set of methods and techniques based on ergonomic work analysis and on occupational therapy, we sought to build a model to indicate the skills required to perform industrial tasks. The model was applied at 19 workstations at a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer in 2002. The task supervisor and the operator performing the task were interviewed, the work activity was filmed, a kinesiologica...

Description of a return-to-work occupational therapy programme for stroke rehabilitation in Singapore

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the major cause of disability in Singapore. The number of stroke survivors is expected to rise with the increase in the ageing population. This paper describes how occupational therapists are involved in stroke and work rehabilitation in Singapore. A retrospective study of stroke clients referred to a vocational assessment unit in 2004 showed that 55% of the clients were able to return to work. The majority of the clients changed their job positions from blue-collar workers to clerical workers. On the other hand, the main reasons for poor outcome were: unfit to work in general, needed further rehabilitation, further medical care was indicated, failed to meet appointments and withdrawal from the job trial. Three case vignettes are discussed to...

A community-based stress management programme for an impoverished population in South Africa

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100

The development and evaluation of a programme for the effective management of stress in an impoverished rural community is the subject of this research study. A random sample of 160 participants was selected from the rural population of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This population resembles in many ways other disadvantaged populations in South Africa, and the outcome may have generalizability. A quantitative, factorial experimental design was used to compare four stress management programmes. Three were conventional stress management programmes derived from the literature, and the fourth programme was a creative activity programme. Data was gathered from two questionnaires. Results from the statistical analyses of data revealed that the participants experienced significant reducti...

Development of an education programme for caregivers of people aging with multiple sclerosis

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100

This paper describes a three-phase project to identify and develop an occupational therapy response to the challenges experienced by caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Three hundred and two caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with MS were interviewed by telephone to identify the caregiving challenges they experienced in phase 1. A total of eight challenges were identified, with the four most prevalent ones including finding and using formal support services, managing the emotional aspects of caregiving, doing the physical aspects of caregiving, and dealing with informal supports. In phase 2, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify existing caregiver education programmes that could be used to address these challenges. None of ...

Development of an educational programme for caregivers of people aging with multiple sclerosis

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100

This article describes a three-phase project to identify and develop an occupational therapy response to the challenges experienced by caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). In Phase 1 302 caregivers of middle-aged and older adults with MS were interviewed by telephone to identify the care-giving challenges they experienced. A total of eight challenges were identified, with the four most prevalent ones including finding and using formal support services, managing the emotional aspects of caregiving, doing the physical aspects of care-giving and dealing with informal supports. In Phase 2 a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify existing caregiver education programmes that could be used to address these challenges. None of the 21 programme...

Hospital discharge among frail elderly people: a pilot study in Sweden

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100

A conceptual framework for the hospital discharge process was designed. It was intended to measure frail elderly people's experience of their quality of care in terms of satisfaction and trustworthiness during their hospital discharge and their experience at home. The present pilot study aimed at evaluating the viability of an occupational therapy clinical tool. Nine frail elderly Swedish individuals reported the quality of their care as mostly satisfactory and trustworthy, according to their responses to the Discharged Patients' Enquiry Questionnaire (DPEQ). However, the participants were not satisfied with the non-continuity among the home-helpers, the lack of rehabilitation services and the non-availability of professional help, for example occupational therapy for increasing social con...

Knowledge of results and learning to tell the time in an adult male with an intellectual disability: a single-subject research design

Occupational Therapy International — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100

The present study investigated whether knowledge of results, in the form of visual and audible feedback, would increase the accuracy of time-telling in an individual with an intellectual disability. A 19-year-old male with mild intellectual disability participated in this A1-B1-A2-B2 single-subject study design. The task involved correctly identifying the time given on a computer. Data, based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, showed that the participant demonstrated a greater number of correct responses during the intervention phases. Incorporating knowledge of results into a learning strategy for this individual with intellectual disability resulted in an increased ability to accurately identify the correct time on an analogue clock. There is a need to replicate the study design to increa...

An exploration of spousal separation and adaptation to long-term disability: six elderly couples engaged in a horticultural programme

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 05:00:00 +0100

The main objective of the present study was to explore the impact of separation on couples where one spouse lives in a skilled nursing facility and the other spouse lives alone in the community. Six couples participated in a 10-week gardening group. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the beginning of the study and observations were made and discussions engaged through the 10-week horticultural programme. Thematic analysis of interviews and discussions revealed reduced social participation of community-dwelling spouses in an effort to maintain their marital role. In one or more cases the non-institutionalized spouse adapted to separation by developing social roles and relationships within the skilled nursing facility and continuing as a caregiver to their spouse. Occupational ther...

The guiding nature of the kawa (river) model in Ireland: creating both opportunities and challenges for occupational therapists

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100

The kawa (kawa is Japanese for 'river') model of occupational therapy has recently emerged in response to the needs for culturally sensitive conceptual models of practice that adequately address clients' diverse cultures and belief systems (Iwama, 2006a). The present article reports two case studies in which the kawa model was used to guide occupational therapy intervention with two individuals with multiple sclerosis in Ireland, with the aim of exploring the effectiveness of the recently emerged kawa model. A qualitative grounded theory approach using case-study methodology was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews based on the kawa model were completed with two participants with multiple sclerosis before and after occupational therapy intervention. The authors also documented their expe...

New-immigrant women in urban Canada: insights into occupation and sociocultural context

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100

Recent statistics have shown that women from South Asia comprise one of the largest sub-groups of immigrants to enter Canada. The majority of this population has settled in the city of Toronto. As immigrants adapt to new physical, social, political, and economic environments in a new country, they are also subject to changes in occupational roles and expectations. Little research has been conducted with new immigrant women from South Asia from an occupational adjustment perspective in Canada. This qualitative study sought to understand the adjustment experiences of immigrant women from South Asia regarding the influence of a Canadian urban environment on their occupations. Twelve recently immigrated women from South Asia to Canada were interviewed about their experiences of living in the c...

Types and categories of personal projects: a revelatory means of understanding human occupation

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100

Choice of activity and the way it is described may have little to do with the presence of disease and may or may not align with predetermined conceptual or practice frameworks. The present study examines data previously collected by use of Personal Projects Analysis (PPA) in order to compare the types of projects listed by people with and without multiple sclerosis and to compare the categories of projects selected by both groups to those pre-established in the literature. Secondary analysis tests the differences and similarities in the types of personal projects between two groups, multiple sclerosis (n = 38) and control group (n = 25), matched for demographic characteristics. The analysis compares the categories of personal projects generated by people in both cohorts to pre-established ...

Seeing white: a critical exploration of occupational therapy with Indigenous Australian people

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:00:00 +0100

This paper aims to critique current occupational therapy practice and theory using Indigenous Australian people as a case example. Critical race theory will be used to help question the privileged position of an occupational therapist from a dominant Westernized culture. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 (eight female and seven male) Indigenous Australian young people about their perspectives of health and physical activity. In addition, the Kawa model was used as an alternative data-collection tool and detailed field notes and researcher reflections were used as data sources. Preliminary analysis of data is used to illustrate the ways in which critical race theory can inform occupational therapy practitioners and researchers about the ways Indigenous Australian young people view ...

Culturally responsive caring in occupational therapy

Occupational Therapy International — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The present study examined how practitioners conceptualized culture and used their understanding of a client's culture to provide culturally responsive caring. Descriptions of practice were elicited from experienced practitioners serving culturally diverse clients. Twelve practitioners completed a written questionnaire and participated in a telephone interview. Half of these same participants also participated in a follow-up interview, which was confirmatory in nature. Grounded theory methodologies were used to identify and conceptualize key processes inherent in these practitioners' descriptions of providing culturally competent care. Practitioners' perceptions of providing culturally responsive care were categorized into five interrelated constructs: building cultural awareness; generati...

Culture and occupational therapy: meeting the challenge of relevance in a global world

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100

No Abstract (Source: Occupational Therapy International)

Culture or cult? The mythological nature of occupational therapy

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The willingness of occupational therapists to act on their shared beliefs and values has created knowledge and techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation, and, thus, have entered into what might be called the 'mythology' of occupational therapy. These myths arose from a set of shared philosophical assumptions that provided a sense of cultural identity. In the present article the authors compare the occupational therapy process to a mythical hero's journey in which the occupational therapist uses narrative reasoning to guide the client (the hero) through a rite of passage to a kind of rehabilitative rebirth. By structuring therapy as an unfolding story, the occupational therapist creates personal myths for his or her clients. Unfortunately, there is a darker side to...

Activities of daily living among St Petersburg women after mild stroke

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The aim of the present study was to determine how women living in St Petersburg, Russia, who have had a mild stroke, describe their performance in activities of daily living (ADL) and to elicit possible causes of their occupational dysfunction. Thirty-six women who had experienced a mild stroke and been referred to a rehabilitation centre participated in the study. Data collection was conducted through interviews, including the 'ADL Staircase' and a modified 'Frenchay Activities Index for Stroke Patients'. Additional data were collected through field notes and information from team members and relatives. The results showed that women who have had a mild stroke and ADL limitations experience occupational dysfunction in ADL that is most often caused by a combination of overprotection from re...

Quality of life in Swedish workers exposed to hand-arm vibration

Occupational Therapy International — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The objective of the present study was to analyse whether differences existed among workers exposed to hand-arm vibration (HAV) with regard to quality of life (QoL) issues. One hundred and eight male workers from a heavy manufacturing plant, with and without HAV symptoms, and workers referred to a hand surgery department with severe HAV symptoms participated in the study. The participants attended a clinical interview, were given a physical examination of the hands and administered the Göteborg Quality of Life instrument and the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ). Results indicated that workers referred to a hand surgery department with more severe HAV symptoms described a lower quality of life, defined here as lower subjective well-being, more symptoms of ill-health and di...

Usability of playgrounds for children with different abilities

Occupational Therapy International — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The aim of the present study was to better understand how children with different abilities use playgrounds to engage in creative play and interact socially with their peers. Twenty children aged between 7 and 12 years, with different abilities, participated in interviews. The findings showed that playgrounds served as a reference point for all the children, they challenged a child's physical abilities and provided opportunities for role-playing and social interactions. However, for children with disabilities, playgrounds had limited accessibility, usability and did not support interaction with peers. A methodological limitation of the study was that the interviewer only met the children once. Further research should be carried out to investigate if creating playgrounds according to univer...

User satisfaction, community participation and quality of life among Chinese wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: a preliminary study

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships between spinal cord injury (SCI), wheelchair users' satisfaction, perceptions of their community participation and quality of life (QoL).Thirty-one community wheelchair users with SCI were administered the Chinese version of the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (C-QUEST), the abbreviated Hong Kong version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHO QoL-BREF (HK)) and selected items of 'Participation Restrictions' and 'Environmental Factors' of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF). Only a weak correlation was found between the C-QUEST services sub-scores and one ICF environmental factor, that is, health-related professionals (Sp...

Movement-to-music computer technology: a developmental play experience for children with severe physical disabilities

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 07 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Children with severe physical disabilities often lack the physical skills to explore their environment independently, and to play with toys or musical instruments. The movement-to-music (MTM) system is an affordable computer system that allows children with limited movements to play and create music. The present study explored parents' experiences of using the MTM system with their children. A qualitative methodology employing in-depth interview techniques was used with six mothers and their children. The themes extracted from the data were organized under two main concepts of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) (WHO, 2001) framework. The results showed that the MTM expanded horizons for the child along the ICF health dimensions and the MTM had a p...

TRIP: a psycho-educational programme in Hong Kong for people with schizophrenia

Occupational Therapy International — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100

'TRIP' (Transforming Relapse and Instilling Prosperity) is a ward-based illness management programme that aims to decrease treatment non-compliance and relapse rate by improving the insight and health of acute psychiatric patients with schizophrenia. Eighty-one stable male acute psychiatric patients with schizophrenia were randomized to receive the TRIP programme (n = 44) or the comparison group of traditional ward occupational therapy (WOT) programme (n = 37). Participants' insights and health were assessed by the Unawareness of Mental Disorder Scale and the Hong Kong version of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey, respectively. Each group was then followed up for a 12-month period. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that participants in the TRIP programme had significantl...

The neurological basis of occupation

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:00:00 +0100

The purpose of the present paper was to survey the literature about the neurological basis of human activity and its relationship to occupation and health. Activities related to neurological function were organized into three categories: those that activate the brain's reward system; those that promote the relaxation response; and those that preserve cognitive function into old age. The results from the literature review correlating neurological evidence and activities showed that purposeful and meaningful activities could counter the effects of stress-related diseases and reduce the risk for dementia. Specifically, it was found that music, drawing, meditation, reading, arts and crafts, and home repairs, for example, can stimulate the neurogical system and enhance health and well-being, Pr...

Physical benefits of Tai Chi Chuan for individuals with lower-limb disabilities

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0100

This paper reports on an experimental study that examined the effect of a 15-week Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) exercise programme on the cardiovascular function, pulmonary function, and shoulder range of motion of persons with lower-limb disability. The experimental group comprised 22 people with lower limb disabilities and a control group of 17 participants. The experimental group was provided with 30 sessions of TCC training while the control group did not receive any intervention. After 30 sessions of TCC, significant improvements in shoulder external rotation and shoulder extension were found among participants of the experimental group. Improvements in cardiovascular and pulmonary functions were not significant. The investigators concluded that a 15-week TCC programme with mild exercise could ...

Systematic literature review of treatment interventions for upper extremity hemiparesis following stroke

Occupational Therapy International — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:00:00 +0100

The primary purpose of this review article is to critically analyse the literature from 1999 to 2005 regarding effective interventions for upper extremity hemiparesis following stroke. The researchers narrowed the scope of the review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, which yielded 11 pertinent studies congruent with the selection criteria. Studies were categorized using Sackett's levels of evidence, level I being the highest degree of certainty and level V the lowest. Grades of recommendations were then developed, grade A being highly recommended, grade B discretionary and grade C not endorsed. Two studies were endorsed as level I - grade A, six were level II - grade B, and three were level III - grade C. Clinical recommendations inferred from the present evaluation are as follows...

Coping with chronic pain associated with cerebral palsy

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:00:00 +0100

Fifty-nine adults with cerebral palsy (CP) were administered, via in-person interviews, measures of pain intensity, pain-related disability, and psychological functioning, in addition to a measure of pain coping (Waldron/Varni Pediatric Pain Coping Inventory; PPCI). Regression analyses indicated that the PPCI scales made a nonsignificant contribution to the prediction of pain intensity, but did make a significant contribution to the prediction of psychological functioning when controlling for pain intensity. Only the PPCI Catastrophizing subscale made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of psychological functioning, and only the PPCI Seek Social Support subscale made a significant independent contribution to the prediction of pain-related disability. These findings sup...

How children with restricted mobility perceive the accessibility and usability of their home environment

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:36:01 +0100

The purpose of this study was to describe how children with restricted mobility perceive accessibility and usability of their home environment. The investigation was carried through a descriptive questionnaire, mailed to children in northern Sweden with the diagnoses of cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular diseases. Eighty-two children completed the questionnaire. The results showed that the children perceived the accessibility of the physical environment in their homes as relatively good while outside the home the environment was less accessible. In the social environment, frequency of peer contacts varied. The present study underscores the challenges of ensuring that children with restricted mobility living in the parental home are able to have an accessible and usable environment i...

Everyday activities and social contacts among older deaf sign language users: Relationships to health and well-being

Occupational Therapy International — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:36:01 +0100

The purpose of this study was to describe the everyday activities and social contacts among older deaf sign language users, and to investigate relationships between these phenomena and the health and well-being within this group. The study population comprised deaf sign language users, 65 years or older, in Sweden. Data collection was based on interviews in sign language, including open-ended questions covering everyday activities and social contacts as well as self-rated instruments measuring aspects of health and subjective well-being. The results demonstrated that the group of participants was homogeneous in their productive and leisure activities, regardless of gender and age. The number of productive activities was related to all aspects of health, while the number of leisure activiti...