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Occupational Therapists (occupational + therapist)
Kinds of Occupational Therapists Selected AbstractsStatic orthoses in the prevention of hand dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the literatureMUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 2 2005DipCOT Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Jo Adams MSc Abstract Static orthoses are recommended for individuals who have early rheumatoid arthritis (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, 2002; College of Occupational Therapists, 2003). These orthoses aim to rest and immobilize weakened joint structures and decrease local inflammation (Janssen et al., 1990; Nicholas et al., 1982); correctly position joints (Nordenskiöld, 1990; Ouellette, 1991); minimize joint contractures (McClure et al., 1994); increase joint stability (Kjeken et al., 1995); relieve pain (Feinberg, 1992; Callinan and Mathiowetz, 1996; Kjeken et al., 1995) and improve function (Janssen et al., 1990; Pagnotta et al., 1998; Nordenskiöld, 1990). Wrist and hand orthoses have been routinely prescribed for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for the last 30 years with limited evidence that they are effective in achieving their purported aims. This article reviews the possible deterioration in hand structure that can occur in RA and discusses the theoretical basis for the application of static orthoses in RA. The evidence for the effectiveness of four commonly used static orthoses is then examined. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] A retrospective audit exploring the use of relaxation as an intervention in oncology and palliative careEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 5 2008J. MILLER The benefits of relaxation in cancer care have been well documented within the literature, with the majority of research being undertaken by nursing professionals. However, evidence of the effectiveness of relaxation interventions by occupational therapists is lacking. Occupational therapists are in an ideal situation to provide information and practical relaxation sessions. Athough in numerical terms, the outcome of relaxation interventions is small, functional outcome related to quality of life and independence in activities of daily living is immeasurable. This article reports the findings of a retrospective audit exploring relaxation-specific referrals to occupational therapy, and identifies effectiveness of a variety of different techniques currently employed within this specific programme. Patients with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer were the most frequently seen, and this prevalence is reflected in current national statistics. Similarly, those between 50 and 59 years of age comprised the largest group. Guided visualization was the most commonly used technique, although there appeared to be very little change in perceived tension between all the techniques. Further study of the impact relaxation has on occupational performance would be worthwhile. [source] Levels of empathy in undergraduate occupational therapy studentsOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010Ted Brown Abstract Empathy is an important attribute for occupational therapists in establishing rapport and in better understanding their clients. However, empathy can be compromised by high workloads, personal stressors and pressures to demonstrate efficacy. Occupational therapists also work with patients from a variety of diagnostic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of empathy and attitudes towards clients amongst undergraduate occupational therapy students at one Australian University. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a written survey of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) and the Medical Condition Regard Scale. Overall, a strong level of empathy was reported amongst students. Four medical conditions that occupational therapists work with (stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and depression) were held in high regard. Substance abuse, however, was held in comparatively low regard. Overall, the year of study appeared to have no significant impact on the students' empathy. Despite having a lower reported empathy level than found in health professions from other studies using the JSPE, occupational therapy students were found to have a good level of empathy. Of concern, however, was the bias reported against the medical condition of substance abuse, highlighting that the there may be a need to reinforce that patients from this diagnostic group are equally deserving of quality care irrespective of their clinical condition. Recommendations for future research include completing a longitudinal study of occupational therapy students' empathy levels and investigating the empathy levels of occupational therapists working with different client groups. Limitations of the study include the convenience sampling of occupational therapy students enrolled at one university which limits the generalizability of the results to groups of participants with similar characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Occupational therapists use of cognitive interventions for clients with Alzheimer's diseaseOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2010Alexandra Robert Abstract 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 the client's caregiver. Generalizability of the results is limited to urban areas, and possible differences in service provision should be taken into consideration. Further research is needed to measure the effectiveness of these interventions provided by occupational therapists and to compare occupational therapy practices in urban and rural areas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Walking to school: incidental physical activity in the daily occupations of Australian childrenOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004Jenny Ziviani Abstract Children's participation in physical activity is declining, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the incidental activity of walking to school. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the extent to which Australian children walked to and from primary school, and to survey parents to identify factors influencing this behaviour. Parents of 164 students in Grades 1,7 (mean age 9.1±2.02 years) from a primary school comprising 360 students responded to a questionnaire regarding psychosocial and environmental factors thought to influence the means by which their children went to and from school. Results indicated that parent perception of the importance of physical activity, parents' individual history of transport to school as well as distance from school were the most statistically significant factors determining children's involvement in walking to and from school. The results of this study highlight the attitudes and experiences of parents in determining the extent to which children are involved in non-motorized access to school. Also implicated are organizational policies about geographical school regions. While this study is limited to one school community, further study is recommended with others to better confirm findings by examining socioeconomic, geographic and policy variables. Occupational therapists are challenged to examine ways in which incidental physical activity can be increased in the lives of young children. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Concepts in occupational therapy in relation to the ICFOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003Lena Haglund Faculty of Health Sciences Abstract Occupational therapists need an acceptable terminology to describe a client's clinical performance. The language or terminology must be in harmony with common language in the health care system but also reflect occupational therapists' professional responsibility. The aim of this paper is to help clarify similarities and differences between concepts in occupational therapy and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Two studies were completed in which items in the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH-2) were compared with concepts from the Swedish version of the assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) and the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS-S). An expert panel of occupational therapists served as raters and 33 clients with learning disabilities and mental health problems were assessed. The result showed that 12 (60%) of the skills items from the ACIS-S were found to be equivalent to items in then ICIDH-2. In total, 41% (n=23) of the items in the AMPS or ACIS-S have a correlation higher then 0.60 with the ICIDH-2. The classification can serve as a useful tool for occupational therapists and supports communication between professions, but is not sufficient as a professional language for occupational therapists. Further research is indicated to examine how the ICF can be applied in occupational therapy and its implications on clinical practice. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Identifying occupational therapists' referral priorities in community healthOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2003MSc Occupational Therapy Course Leader, Priscilla Harries Dip.COT Abstract Occupational therapists in British community mental health teams have been debating how the most effective services can be targeted at the most needy clients. This paper presents the results of a quantitative study that examined 40 British occupational therapists' referral prioritization policies. Results showed half of the participants felt their generic responsibilities, which involved having care coordination responsibilities, were too large. Only 25% of participants co-ordinated care for clients whose needs were related to occupational dysfunction. Judgement analysis, that involved regressing the 40 individuals' prioritization decisions onto the 90 respective referral scenarios, was used to statistically model how referral information had been weighted. Group agreement of prioritization was moderate with the reason for referral, history of violence and diagnosis being given the most weighting. Consistency in policy application, as measured by examining prioritization decisions on identical referrals, showed wide variability. Further research is required to identify the optimal and most stable policies within this group. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Occupational therapy adaptation of the home environment in Sweden for people with asthmaOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002Doctoral Candidate, Margot Frisk Occupational Therapist Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of lung function, respiratory symptoms and indoor air quality after reducing allergens and indoor pollutants in the home environment of people with asthma (n = 21). A quasi-experimental pre-/post-test design with one group of participants was implemented. The interventions included removal of wall-to-wall carpets (n = 14) or improvement of indoor air exchange (n = 7). Participants' lung function, symptoms, medication and type-1 allergy were recorded before and after the intervention. The indoor environment was monitored at house calls by an occupational therapist using conventional physical, biological and chemical methods. There was an improvement of lung function evidenced by an increased mean Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1 %) and a reduction of airway obstruction (reversibility, % of baseline value), which indicate an improved asthmatic condition. Lung function assessed by vital capacity, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, mean of Peak Expiratory Flow, symptom score and medicine consumption did not change significantly. There was a tendency that the amount of airborne dust (p=0.06) was reduced in the indoor environment. Relative humidity, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde and house dust mite levels had decreased after the intervention, but not significantly. Asthma symptoms related to the home environment are probably caused by several factors. When people with asthma suffer from increased symptoms in the home, house calls should be performed routinely. Dust samples from beds and carpets for analysis of allergens give information about exposure, and environmental assessments should be performed before interventions. Occupational therapists can make a valuable contribution in evaluating the home environment and suggesting ergonomic adaptations for individuals with asthma. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Profile of occupational therapy practice in rural and remote South AustraliaAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 5 2008Kobie Boshoff Abstract Objective:,The aim of this report is to discuss the results of a questionnaire conducted with occupational therapists providing services in rural and remote South Australia. It is envisaged that the results will be of interest to health professionals working in country areas of Australia. The questionnaire aimed at capturing descriptive information from these therapists in regards to the type of services they deliver and the strategies they employ to deliver services, including information on human resources and staff retention. Design and methods:,A questionnaire sent to occupational therapy managers and yielded a 44% response rate. Results:,Results provide descriptive information on the services provided, for example, the vast geographical areas covered. Respondents described the challenges they face in service delivery and these include the wide range of services to diverse client groups, high client,therapist ratio and limited human resources. Examples of strategies used are less labour-intensive service delivery models, multi-skilling of staff, networking and use of problem-solving techniques. Most perceived their services to be addressing client needs and they felt supported in their roles by other occupational therapists and their organisations. Conclusions:,Occupational therapists working in rural and remote South Australia are overcoming the challenges identified in this questionnaire by implementing innovative strategies. [source] Occupational therapists as expert witnesses on work capacityAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Shelley Allen Aim:,The aim of this study was to explore the particular challenges for occupational therapists during their cross-examination as an expert witness on work capacity. Methods:,Grounded theory methodology was used to collect and analyse data. Interviews were conducted with 31 participants with direct experience of occupational therapy work capacity assessments. Of these, 19 were occupational therapists, six were medical specialists and six were lawyers. Results:,All participant groups perceived that maintaining one's credibility in the witness box was of paramount importance. The occupational therapists identified 11 strategies that barristers may use to challenge their credibility as an expert witness. Conclusions:,The three professional groups proposed practices that maintain occupational therapists' credibility as expert witnesses on the work capacity of personal injury claimants. [source] Retirement: What will you do?AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010A narrative inquiry of occupation-based planning for retirement: Implications for practice Aim:,To examine, using a retrospective narrative study, the factors influencing four older people's decision to plan for the activities they would undertake once retired, the planning process undertaken and their subsequent experience of retirement. Method:,Semi-structured interviews were conducted to examine the factors influencing older people's decision to commence pre-retirement planning, the planning process undertaken and their experience of retirement. In keeping with narrative inquiry, paradigmatic-type narrative analysis led to the development of categories and subsequent themes to reveal the participants' experiences of these issues. Results:,Three themes: environmental influences, the planning process and retirement experiences: the outcome of planning, were derived from the participants' narratives. Overall, retirement activities that were continued or initiated led to a positive experience even when these planned activities were temporarily interrupted or altered. Planning for future years in retirement and older age also continued. Conclusion:,Occupational therapists have a unique understanding of the centrality of occupation to health and wellbeing. Thus occupational therapists are well-positioned to assist people identify, plan and engage in meaningful occupations outside work in retirement. [source] Happy and healthy only if occupied?AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Perceptions of health sciences students on occupation in later life Background/aim:,In this study, we bring attention to the university education of health science students with respect to occupation in later life. Our goal was to provide descriptive data from narratives of a group of undergraduate students and initiate discussion about the place of occupation in the context of ageing to answer the following questions: (i) How young people perceive successful ageing in relation to occupation? and (ii) can spirituality-related activities be considered occupations in later life? Methods:,Based on a thematic selection, the quality of photographs and reflective narratives, 60 Photovoice assignments created by health sciences students were analysed using content analysis. Results:,The findings of this study indicate that students seem to neglect the benefits of ,being' through spiritual engagement, and instead emphasise the importance of ,doing', and perpetuate pervasive successful ageing discourses in Western societies. Conclusions:,Occupational therapists have potential to take an active role in undergraduate health science education and to inform the development of holistic models that would include spirituality as an avenue to live late life to its fullest potential. Photovoice emerged as a powerful teaching method to increase awareness, empathy and compassion of young adults towards ageing. [source] Occupational therapists and the use of constraint-induced movement therapy in neurological practiceAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Johanne Walker No abstract is available for this article. [source] Profile of cognitive problems in schizophrenia and implications for vocational functioningAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Bhing-Leet Tan Aim:,This literature review attempts to profile specific areas of cognition that have shown unique and consistent evidence of dysfunction among people with schizophrenia. In addition, their impact on vocational functioning is illustrated, so as to highlight the importance of managing these cognitive difficulties in vocational rehabilitation. Methods:,Literature search was carried out on seven key cognitive domains identified by the National Institute of Mental Health in the USA. Their impact on vocational function was also reviewed. Results:,It is found that attention, declarative and working memory, reasoning, problem-solving and social cognition are areas of impairment that have great impact on vocational functioning. Attention and memory problems affect learning of new work tasks. Executive function is particularly crucial in determining supported and open employment outcomes, as executive dysfunction cannot be easily compensated. Lastly, social cognition plays a major role in determining the success of workplace social exchanges. Conclusion:,Occupational therapists need to have a good understanding of the profile of cognitive problems among people with schizophrenia, in order to tailor our intervention according to their cognitive strengths and difficulties. Several cognitive remediation strategies and programs have been designed specifically for people with mental illness. Equipping ourselves with skills in conducting such programs will augment our expertise in vocational rehabilitation. [source] Movement skills proficiency and physical activity: A case for Engaging and Coaching for Health (EACH),ChildAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Jenny Ziviani Background/aim:,Supporting children's participation in health-enhancing physical activities is an important occupational goal for therapists. Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are thought to underpin and enable many activity options. This study had two goals: first, to examine the relationship between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical activity, and second, to use this and existing evidence to inform strategies whereby children's motivation for and engagement in physical activity can be supported. Methods:,A cross-sectional investigation of 124 children, aged 6,12 years, was undertaken. FMS were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) and physical activity by pedometer step counts. Results:,A weak but significant association was found between weekend physical activity and balance skills for girls. Correlations between physical activity and ball skills or manual dexterity were not significant for either gender, however, having age appropriate ball skills did result in greater but not significant levels of physical activity for all children when grouped together. Conclusions:,Findings from this study question the magnitude of the relationship between children's FMS and physical activity as measured by pedometers. If the goal of health enhancement through physical activity engagement is to be realised, it is proposed that community, occupation-based approaches may offer more potential than skills-based interventions at increasing activity participation. The concept of Engaging and Coaching for Health (EACH)-Child is introduced to this end. Occupational therapists are encouraged to work collaboratively with school and community organisations to assist children to find the physical activities that best accommodate their interests, abilities and offer opportunities for lifelong engagement. [source] Belonging to a community-based football team: An ethnographic studyAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Lorrae Mynard Purpose:,This study considered the benefits derived from participation in a community-based Australian Rules Football league in Melbourne, Australia. The RecLink league deliberately tackles the social and occupational disadvantages associated with mental illness, addictions, unemployment and homelessness. Methods:,An ethnographic methodology was used to study one team from the RecLink football league throughout an entire season. Fieldnotes were written following participant observation at training, games and events, and five in-depth interviews were conducted and transcribed. A constant comparative approach to data analysis was adopted. Results:,Three major themes were identified: a spirit of inclusion, team-building and meaning of team involvement. The first describes how members were accepted, welcomed and given the opportunity for team involvement, with the expectation that they ,had a go', and ,tried their best'. The second illustrates how the team collectively fostered a culture of friendship, cooperation and support. The third examines the significance of being part of the team, incorporating personal contributions and gains, and meanings attributed to team involvement. Conclusions:,These findings demonstrated how football can be used as non-clinical, community-based occupational therapy: enabling participation in a personally meaningful and culturally valued occupation. Occupational therapists are challenged to explore further how such community-based sports programs may complement existing clinical and welfare-based approaches to social disadvantage. [source] Questioning: A critical skill in postmodern health-care service deliveryAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Cary A. Brown Occupational therapists can no longer rely exclusively on biomedical frameworks to guide their practice and facilitate clinical problem-solving. A postmodernist perspective of health and well-being underlines that the illness experience is not a linear, cause-and-effect equation. Rather, life experiences are constructed through a myriad of social, cultural, physical and economic contexts that are highly unique to each individual. In other words, the assumption that ,one-size-fits-all' is as flawed in health care as it is in clothing design. This paper contributes to the growing discussion of health care within the postmodern context of the twenty-first century through first presenting a brief discussion of emerging postmodern thinking and application within the profession, followed by a rationale for the need to scrutinise prevalent modernist assumptions that guide decision-making. Finally, the paper introduces the method of Socratic questioning as a critical tool in successfully carrying out this scrutiny in an empowering and respectful manner for all stakeholders. [source] Conceptualising a modified system for classification of in-hand manipulationAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009Karina Pont Occupational therapists consider in-hand manipulation (IHM) to be an important component of fine motor skills and to be related to handwriting and self-care proficiency. These relationships have not been well explored nor has the impact of intervention including IHM skill enhancement on proficiency in motor tasks. We propose that the existing conceptualisation of IHM may contribute to a dearth of evidence in this area. This paper closely examines the existing classification systems of IHM. We propose an adaptation of Exner's classification system which contains more discrete categories of IHM movements and includes: finger-to-palm translation to achieve stabilisation, palm-to-finger translation, simple shift, complex shift, simple rotation and complex rotation. Further research to test this modified classified system and to explore evidence for IHM intervention is warranted. [source] Fine motor difficulties: The need for advocating for the role of occupational therapy in schoolsAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007Michelle Jackman Background:,Fine motor difficulties can impact on the academic, social and emotional development of a student. Aim:,The aims of this paper are to: (i) investigate the need for support to students experiencing fine motor difficulties from the perspective of their classroom teachers, and (ii) report on the level of knowledge teachers have in regard to the role of occupational therapists in supporting students with fine motor difficulties. Methods:,Fifteen teachers from a stratified random sample of public schools within two regions of Victoria, Australia, were interviewed in this qualitative, grounded theory investigation. Results:,Results showed that the current level of support for students with fine motor difficulties is inadequate. Conclusion:,Occupational therapists in Victoria need to advocate their role in developing the fine motor skills of students at both an organisational and an individual level in order to increase the access of students with fine motor difficulties to occupational therapy services. [source] Appraising the trustworthiness of qualitative studies: Guidelines for occupational therapistsAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2007Michael Curtin Qualitative research provides a valuable source of evidence to enhance occupational therapy practice. Occupational therapists need to consider the issue of trustworthiness prior to deciding whether the findings of qualitative research have relevance to their day-to-day work. By trustworthiness we mean the extent to which the findings are an authentic reflection of the personal or lived experiences of the phenomenon under investigation. In this article we provide guidance to enable occupational therapists to competently determine the trustworthiness of a qualitative research project. We do this by explaining, and illustrating with examples, six considerations that should be taken into account when determining whether the method, findings and interpretation of a qualitative research have been conducted in a trustworthy manner. These considerations are evidence of thick description, triangulation strategies, member-checking, collaboration between the researcher and the researched, transferability and reflexivity. Once the trustworthiness of a qualitative research has been determined, occupational therapists are in a better position to consider how the research findings may impact on their practice. [source] Being before doing: The cultural identity (essence) of occupational therapyAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Ruth Marguerite Watson Occupational therapists know that culture is relevant to their work, but have failed to understand that while they share a professional foundation, practice cannot assume uniformity, given the cultural uniqueness of different contexts. A discussion of why culture matters forms the basis for appreciating the cultural identity of the profession, which unifies around a belief in the power and positive potential of occupation to transform people's lives. This is the profession's ,essence'. Examples from South Africa are used to show that previous epistemologies must be challenged, and assumptions, values and beliefs adjusted in order to match cultural needs. As people's ,being' is shaped by the culture within which they are situated, the collective cultural practices or ,doing' of occupational therapy should be diversified across the globe. Service options that are driven by these perspectives are suggested as ways of giving due recognition to cultural needs and people's right to occupationally fulfilled lives. [source] Juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome: The role for occupational therapistsAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001G. Ted Brown Juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome, a form of nonarticular rheumatism, is a clinical condition affecting children and adolescents. To date, it has received little or no attention in the professional literature. Occupational therapists have an important role to play in the assessment and management of this paediatric client group. A literature review, the clinical symptoms, prognosis and possible aetiology of this clinical syndrome are presented. The potential role for occupational therapists with paediatric clients diagnosed with juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome is then briefly described. [source] Occupational therapists and the concept of power: A review of the literatureAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2001Susan Griffin The concept of power is discussed in the broader health literature and the occupational therapy literature from three perspectives. These are the trait approaches to professionalization, the medical dominance perspective and the view of health care work places as organizations. The results of the review suggest that the power of the profession of occupational therapy is linked to a number of factors. These include its status as an occupation, the fact that the majority of its members are women and the extent to which therapists have knowledge and skills related to working with other disciplines in a changing political climate. While the review enables the type of knowledge and skills which would assist therapists to develop and exercise their power within the health sector to be suggested, the extent to which therapists actually possess the knowledge and skills is unknown due to a lack of research in the area. [source] Music therapy in physical medicine and rehabilitationAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2000Stanley Paul The therapeutic effects of music are being recognized increasingly in the field of rehabilitation medicine. More music therapists are being employed in physical medicine and rehabilitation centres, with the goal of using music therapy services to assist in the physical recovery and health maintenance of clients. In spite of the benefits of physical rehabilitation programs, client participation to their full potential is often not observed. Music encourages participation in exercises and activities. Music can ease the discomfort and difficulty associated with exercise and therapy activities, and help ensure consistent participation. One of the goals of the music therapist is to provide a means for the client to express him/herself in a musical activity. Music therapy and rehabilitation medicine are starting to find a common niche in working together with clients who have various neurological, orthopaedic, and paediatric conditions. Therapeutic application of music in rehabilitation contributes to the quality of life of individuals with disabilities. Combined goals could include improving strength, range of motion, balance, communication, and cognition. Continued efforts in clinical practice and research will build on the information already available to further define possible applications of music therapy in rehabilitation, and its outcome and benefits. Occupational therapists can use the therapeutic medium of music, and the services of the music therapy discipline, in assisting clients to maximize their functional independence in their daily occupational roles. [source] Four years after graduation: Occupational therapists' work destinations and perceptions of preparedness for practiceAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Dione Brockwell Abstract Objective:,The present study sought to identify the work destinations of graduates and ascertain their perceived preparedness for practice from a regional occupational therapy program, which had been specifically developed to support the health requirements of northern Australians by having an emphasis on rural practice. Design:,Self-report questionnaires and semistructured in-depth telephone interviews. Participants:,Graduates (n = 15) from the first cohort of occupational therapists from James Cook University, Queensland. Main outcome measure:,The study enabled comparisons to be made between rural and urban based occupational therapists, while the semistructured interviews provided a deeper understanding of participants' experiences regarding their preparation for practice. Results:,Demographic differences were noted between occupational therapists working in rural and urban settings. Rural therapists were predominantly younger and had worked in slightly more positions than their urban counterparts. The study also offered some insights into the value that therapists placed on the subjects taught during their undergraduate occupational therapy training, and had highlighted the differences in perceptions between therapists with rural experience and those with urban experience regarding the subjects that best prepared them for practice. Generally, rural therapists reported that all subjects included in the curriculum had equipped them well for practice. Conclusions:,Findings suggest the need to undertake further research to determine the actual nature of rural practice, the personal characteristics of rural graduates and the experiences of students while on rural clinical placements. [source] The experiences of non-medical health professionals undertaking community-based health assessments for people aged 75 years and overHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 2 2002Julie E. Byles BMed PhD Abstract Our objective was to explore the perceptions of allied health professionals who conducted over 3000 home-based health assessments within the general-practice-dominated Australian primary healthcare system. A series of semistructured qualitative interviews were carried out within the Department of Veterans' Affairs ,Preventive Care Trial', where health assessments are undertaken by health professionals in the homes of participating veterans and war widows. Health professionals were employed within the Preventive Care Trial to conduct assessments in 10 areas of New South Wales and Queensland. Subjects were mainly registered nurses, but also included a social worker, an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist and a psychologist. The health professionals described positive attitudes towards the health assessments, and showed that they have the broad range of necessary personal and professional skills to undertake them. Home visits were seen as an essential component and the most useful aspects included direct observation of home safety and medications. This study demonstrates that health assessments for older people can be acceptably and competently undertaken by suitably qualified allied health professionals, and that an effective collaborative approach to patient care can be achieved through such a system. [source] The principal components model: a model for advancing spirituality and spiritual care within nursing and health care practiceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2006MPhil, McSherry Wilfred BSc Aim., The aim of this study was to generate a deeper understanding of the factors and forces that may inhibit or advance the concepts of spirituality and spiritual care within both nursing and health care. Background., This manuscript presents a model that emerged from a qualitative study using grounded theory. Implementation and use of this model may assist all health care practitioners and organizations to advance the concepts of spirituality and spiritual care within their own sphere of practice. The model has been termed the principal components model because participants identified six components as being crucial to the advancement of spiritual health care. Design., Grounded theory was used meaning that there was concurrent data collection and analysis. Theoretical sampling was used to develop the emerging theory. These processes, along with data analysis, open, axial and theoretical coding led to the identification of a core category and the construction of the principal components model. Methods., Fifty-three participants (24 men and 29 women) were recruited and all consented to be interviewed. The sample included nurses (n = 24), chaplains (n = 7), a social worker (n = 1), an occupational therapist (n = 1), physiotherapists (n = 2), patients (n = 14) and the public (n = 4). The investigation was conducted in three phases to substantiate the emerging theory and the development of the model. Results., The principal components model contained six components: individuality, inclusivity, integrated, inter/intra-disciplinary, innate and institution. Conclusion., A great deal has been written on the concepts of spirituality and spiritual care. However, rhetoric alone will not remove some of the intrinsic and extrinsic barriers that are inhibiting the advancement of the spiritual dimension in terms of theory and practice. Relevance to clinical practice., An awareness of and adherence to the principal components model may assist nurses and health care professionals to engage with and overcome some of the structural, organizational, political and social variables that are impacting upon spiritual care. [source] TRIP: a psycho-educational programme in Hong Kong for people with schizophreniaOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2007Sunny Ho-Wan Chan Abstract ,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 significantly better insight and health than a comparison group during post-study measurement. Participants in the TRIP programme had significantly fewer re-admissions in the 12-month follow-up period than those who attended the WOT programme. In summary the TRIP programme, as led by an occupational therapist, was effective in improving insight, awareness of health and in having a lower re-admission rate than a traditional occupational therapy programme. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The impact of time aids on independence and autonomy in adults with developmental disabilitiesOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2006Gunnel Arvidsson Abstract The aim of this study was to describe how people with developmental disabilities experienced the use of time aids one year after their introduction by an occupational therapist. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The analysis was performed using a phenomenographic qualitative approach. The results showed that independence and autonomy should be considered as two separate phenomena. Increased independence did not always lead to increased autonomy or vice versa. Four different relationships between these two phenomena were found. They all illustrate the different priorities of the participants and different levels of independence and autonomy. Concerning the usability of time aids, the occupational therapist has to recognize the importance of having frequent communication with the client to understand the phenomena that may affect the use of the aids. The occupational therapist should always try to involve both the client and significant support persons while introducing time aids. Future research in time aids with clients with developmental disabilities could involve multiple interviews with participants combined with participant observations and interviews. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A strategy for supervising occupational therapy students at community sitesOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005Susan Mulholland Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education Abstract Within the field of occupational therapy various innovative strategies have been used to provide students with effective clinical education (fieldwork) opportunities. One of the more unusual strategies involves the student participating in a placement at a site where there is no occupational therapist and no well-defined role. The University of Alberta, Canada developed and piloted a new fieldwork supervisory position. Feedback was collected from both the sites and students to explore the impact of this position on the fieldwork experience for stakeholders. As well, sites and students were asked to give their opinions on more general aspects of these placements. Both sites and students positively endorsed the fieldwork educator for independent community placement's role. Most recommendations for improvement revolved around increasing the time dedicated to this position and making it permanent. Caution must be taken in generalizing the results of this study, as there may be various considerations that make this an appropriate supervision strategy in Alberta, Canada but not in other locations. Further research is required to determine whether this supervision strategy could be used with other students or professions in other locations. Copyright © 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||