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Occupational Therapy Intervention (occupational + therapy_intervention)
Selected AbstractsOccupational therapy intervention, involving preventive health promotion, maintained an improvement in well being in older independent-living adults 6 months following completion of interventionAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2003Margaret Wallen Introducing a new department in the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal: Critically Appraised Papers or CAPs. This department arose from a demand for critical appraisal of relevant research literature to keep occupational therapists up-to-date with advances related to practice. The broad aim is to publish two CAPs on a theme; one an RCT or systematic review, the other qualitative research. Each CAP will consist of a structured abstract of the content of the research and a commentary completed by an expert in the field. The commentary will critically appraise the research, place it in context with existing research and discuss practice implications. [source] Occupational therapy and early intervention: a family-centred approachOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003Margaret A. Edwards Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify factors that encourage or inhibit family-centred practice in the occupational therapy intervention process. A qualitative paradigm using grounded theory methodology was utilized to gather and analyse data. Participants included six families and four occupational therapists. Data analysis from the family interviews identified six categories: education, communication, relationship, parental roles, follow through, and scheduling. With further analysis two central themes of time and support were extracted from these categories. Analysis of the occupational therapists' interviews revealed six categories: education, communication, relationship, sibling/family participation, follow through, and empowerment. The central themes emerging from these categories are time and natural routine. The themes obtained from the families and occupational therapists were then compared and family individuality was identified as the core concept. Viewing families as a unique entity is necessary to assist occupational therapists in providing the most effective family-centred occupational therapy. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Design and testing of a virtual environment to train stroke patients with unilateral spatial neglect to cross a street safelyOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2003Health Studies, Professor Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss Faculty of Social Welfare Abstract Virtual reality (VR) entails the use of advanced technologies, including computers and various multimedia peripherals, to produce a simulated (that is, virtual) environment that users perceive as comparable to real world objects and events. In recent years, virtual reality technologies have begun to be used as an assessment and treatment tool in occupational therapy, in part because of the ability to create environments that provide patients with opportunities to engage in meaningful, purposeful tasks that are related to real-life interests and activities. The objective of this study was to determine the suitability and feasibility of using a PC-based, nonimmersive, VR system (that is, a system in which the user has a reduced sense of actual presence in and control over the simulated environment) for training individuals with unilateral spatial neglect to cross streets in a safe and vigilant manner. A virtual environment, consisting of a typical city street, was programmed using Superscape'sÔTM 3D-Webmaster, a 3D web-authoring tool. Twelve subjects, aged 55 to 75 years, participated in the initial feasibility study and, to date, a further eight subjects have participated in the intervention study. Six of the initial subjects and all eight of the intervention subjects had sustained a right hemispheric stroke at least 6 weeks prior to the study. The remaining subjects were healthy age-matched adults who were independently mobile and had no difficulty in crossing streets. The results show that this virtual environment was suitable in both its cognitive and motor demands for the targeted population and indicate that the virtual reality training is likely to prove beneficial to people who have difficulty with crossing streets. The generalizability of these results, and recommendations regarding the use of virtual reality as an occupational therapy intervention, must be substantiated by further studies using a range of VR platforms with people with different cognitive and motor disabilities. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Description of self-care training in occupational therapy: case studies of five Kenyan children with cerebral palsyOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2001Susanne Guidetti Abstract The purpose of this prospective case study design was to describe the changes in dressing skills for five Kenyan children with cerebral palsy who participated in a 10-week occupational therapy intervention programme. The training sessions were individually designed to meet the needs of the child. The children's performances on undressing and dressing and the time these tasks took was used as a baseline and outcome measure. These measurements were documented by video films and then analysed using visual inspection and converted into the scores of the Klein-Bell Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale. The results for each child were analysed using a simplified version of the Reliability Change Index. The results showed that four of the five children improved their ability to dress and that the children increased their time to undress significantly (p<0.05). Three children needed more time and two children needed less time for dressing (p<0.05). The results were influenced by the activity limitations among these children and the environmental, social backgrounds, cultural and economic situation unique to Kenya. It is recommended that case study research be used to validate clinical practice in paediatric occupational therapy and to understand cultural differences and its impact on health care. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Multicontextual occupational therapy intervention: a case study of traumatic brain injuryOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2001Belkis Landa-Gonzalez Abstract Cognitive deficits after a traumatic brain injury can result in significant functional limitations in all areas of daily living. An individual's ability to generalize learning may be limited, thus making it harder to live independently in the community. Assessing a client's metacognitive skills and awareness level may help to establish a baseline understanding about the supervision required and the most suitable living arrangements. This study describes a multicontextual, community re-entry occupational therapy programme directed at awareness training and compensation for cognitive problems in a 34-year-old man with traumatic brain injury. Intervention consisted of metacognitive training, exploration and use of effective processing strategies, task gradations and practice of functional activities in multiple environmental contexts. Strategies such as self-prediction, self-monitoring, role reversal and the use of checklists were used. Results after six months of intervention show improvements in the client's awareness level, enhancement of his occupational function, increased satisfaction with performance and a decrease in the level of attendant care. Additional studies are recommended to validate the findings. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Occupational narratives and the therapeutic processAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004Karen Goldstein Clients' occupational narratives reveal the overall meaning of life events, signifying their place in a plot that integrates past, present and future. Occupational narratives have also been demonstrated to predict how clients respond to therapy. A closer examination of the details of occupational narratives and how they unfold in the therapeutic context has the potential to give new insights into the experience of therapy by clients. This paper presents narratives of two clients in a vocational program for persons living with AIDS. Comparing their occupational narratives enables us to shed light on the differences between narratives that account for different client outcomes and the extent to which narratives can be impacted upon through occupational therapy intervention. [source] Time use, tempo and temporality: Occupational therapy's core business or someone else's businessAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2003Louise Farnworth A primary assumption underlying occupational therapy intervention is that peoples' use of time, or their participation in activities, is related to their overall well-being and quality of life. However, the translation of this assumption into occupational therapy practice often is not only invisible, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain in current health care practices. This paper outlines current research and literature related to relationships between peoples' time use, tempo and temporality, and their well-being, and will discuss implications for occupational therapy theory, practice and research. [source] Exploring the factors that influence the goal setting process for occupational therapy intervention with an individual with spinal cord injuryAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2002Linda Barclay This paper investigates the factors that influence the process that occurs between an individual with a spinal injury and his/her occupational therapist when setting goals for therapy intervention. A single case study design was adopted using a combination of in-depth semistructured interviews with a therapist and patient, and observation of occupational therapy treatment sessions. After analysis of the results, the following four categories emerged as influencing the goal setting process: the context for setting goals; the concept of independence; the features of goals; and the process dimensions of goal setting. The study highlights that the patient and therapist's respective views of independence, and their understanding of the features of goals may influence the success of the goal setting process. Further investigation into these areas is indicated. [source] Measuring the outcome of occupational therapy: Tools and resourcesAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2000Carolyn Unsworth Current pressures to document outcomes and demonstrate the efficacy of occupational therapy intervention arise from fiscal restraints as much as from the humanitarian desire to provide the best quality health care to consumers. However, measuring outcomes is important in facilitating mutual goal setting, increasing the focus of therapy on the client, monitoring client progress, as well as demonstrating that therapy is valuable. The aims of this article are to provide the reader with an overview of what outcomes research is and to provide resources to aid the selection of outcomes assessments in a variety of practice areas. This article adopts the latest version of the World Health Organisation's health classification system (International Classification of Impairments, Activities and Participation), as an organizing framework, and promotes the use of this framework when undertaking outcomes research. [source] Post-stroke fatigue: qualitative study of three focus groupsOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2010Nancy A. Flinn Abstract 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 indicated that exercise (such as walking and water aerobics) and use of assistive technology were helpful strategies in reducing fatigue. The occupational performance and role impact identified by participants in this study can inform the design of effective occupational therapy interventions and further quantitative study of persons with post-stroke fatigue. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hospital discharge among frail elderly people: a pilot study in Sweden,OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Ingrid Söderback Abstract 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 contacts. The participant's responses indicated that occupational therapy interventions, that is, assessment of home environment (n = 6), improvement of housing accessibility (n = 3) and prescription of assistive devices (n = 4), contributed to their ability to live at home. The results are limited owing to the small number of participants. Future investigations of the care that patients discharged from hospitals receive are recommended to explore supplementary assessments of spouses' care burden and participants' quality of life, and the psychometric functions of the conceptual framework. In summary, the conceptual framework described may be a viable tool for evaluating the discharge process among frail elderly people discharged from hospitals to their homes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Goal, intervention and outcome of occupational therapy in individuals with psychoses.OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2000Content analysis through a chart review Abstract The purpose of the study was to analyse the content of occupational therapy records documenting treatment for individuals with psychoses. A retrospective content analysis of occupational therapy records regarding treatment goals, interventions and outcome was undertaken using a coding scheme, the Template of Occupational Therapy (TOT). Twenty-five occupational therapists chosen at random contributed 64 occupational therapy records, generating 2992 statements. The patients' disorders and functional and activity limitations (n=1723) were comprehensively described. Ability to manage self-care and the home environment, and to engage in a daily occupation, emerged as the prominent treatment goals. The content of the occupational therapy interventions was characterized by descriptions of a wide range of activities, which were used as therapeutic resources. The occupational therapist had a client-centred approach, combining the use of the current activity with the use of herself/himself as a resource. A few statements in the records were interpreted as relating to outcomes of treatment for this patient group. Statements related to outcome were the patients' self-reports and how they were able to manage activities of daily living. This retrospective study was found to be a useful conceptual model for designing studies of evidence-based occupational therapy in mental health. Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||