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Occupational Therapy Practice (occupational + therapy_practice)
Selected AbstractsClosing the gap: collaborative learning as a strategy to embed evidence within occupational therapy practiceJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2 2006Amanda Welch Dip COT Pg Dip ED MSc Abstract Rationale, The principles of clinical governance apply as guidelines for good practice to all practitioners. However, evidence-based practice (EBP) is proving a challenge for practitioners who lack the confidence to consume published research. For therapists not wishing to undertake formal study there is a risk of becoming disempowered within a culture of EBP. Opportunities to develop skills in consuming research have focused on the information dissemination model that has limited effect. Mutual reflective learning processes are recommended to empower practitioners to bridge the theory-practice gap. Aim, An action research approach investigated practice based collaborative learning as a catalyst to increase therapist's competence and confidence in consuming research and to explore the transition toward EB practitioner. Method and Results, A diagnostic survey reaffirmed therapist's lack of confidence in EBP. Formative interviews (n = 5) found an over reliance on professional craft and personal knowledge. Research knowledge was not included in participants' construct of a good practitioner and engagement in higher order critical reflection was limited. Collaborative learning groups (n = 6) embedded in practice integrated research, theory, practice and critical reflection. Supported by the collegial learning environment, a learning package developed participants' confidence and competence in consuming published research. Summative interviews (n = 5) evaluated the group and found that therapists were empowered to incorporate propositional knowledge into their clinical reasoning, engage in critical reflection and challenge their practice. They felt confident to incorporate EBP into their continuing professional development plans. Sustainability of these changes requires commitment from the therapists and the workplace. [source] Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settingsOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2001Dr Susan D. Griffin Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences Abstract A national sample of occupational therapists was surveyed to explore the nature of Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settings. Self-care was the major client need that therapists reported they addressed, with an initial interview being the most common assessment procedure. Client education was the most frequently used intervention. The most important skills therapists reported for effective practice in acute care were time management, quick clinical reasoning and lateral thinking. Important workplace characteristics included a cooperative health-care team and early referral. Therapists reported that their most important resources were supportive senior therapists and a well-resourced equipment pool. Three attitudinal factors emerged. Therapists in interdisciplinary teams and those with more experience had more positive attitudes. Younger therapists experienced more concern about not being able to do more for their patients. Results suggest a need for graduates to be better prepared in some skill areas and to have more realistic expectations of practice in this area. Department managers need to ensure younger therapists receive adequate support from senior therapists. Further research is needed to determine how best to provide this support and to further examine the influence of the education experience on practice expectations. Copyright © 2001 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] Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines in occupational therapy practice: Recommendations from the research evidenceAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2010Mary Stergiou-Kita Background:,Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) are prominent tools in evidence-based practice which integrate research evidence, clinical expertise and client input to develop recommendations for specific clinical circumstance. With the push to use research evidence in health care, it is anticipated that occupational therapists will become increasingly involved in implementing CPGs in practice. The research evidence has revealed several factors that can affect guideline uptake, and a variety of strategies that can facilitate implementation. Methods:,This narrative review examines the health-related literature in CPGs to answer the following questions. Based on the research evidence, (i) what are the factors that may influence guideline implementation? (ii) What implementation strategies may enhance guideline implementation? Results:,Factors within the guideline itself (e.g. quality, complexity and clarity), within the practitioner (e.g. experience, perceptions and beliefs), the patient (e.g. expectations and preferences) and the practice context (e.g. resource availability, organisational culture and opinion leaders) can all affect implementation success. Currently, there is no conclusive evidence to support the use of one implementation strategy over another, in all situations. The choice of implementation strategy must take into account the guideline to be implemented, the practice context and the anticipated challenges to implementation. Conclusions:,By understanding the factors that can influence implementation and the strategies for successful implementation, occupational therapists will be better prepared to implement guidelines. Recommendations to assist with guideline uptake and implementation are provided. [source] Application of the occupational adaptation framework in child and adolescent occupational therapy practice.AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007A case study Background:,The occupational adaptation frame of reference asserts that a person's occupational functioning may be improved through positive changes in his/her adaptive processes. This framework's authors advocate that occupational adaptation theory can be applied to practice with clients of all ages (Schultz & Schkade, 1992). Published literature to date has been focused on the application of this framework with adults and adolescents. Method:,This paper reviews the major theoretical constructs and guide to practice of occupational adaptation theory whilst interweaving descriptions of its application to a paediatric case study conducted within a child and adolescent mental health unit. Conclusion:,While it was shown through the case study that the occupational adaptation frame of reference can guide occupational therapy practice with a child nearing adolescence critical reflections about the experience suggest some challenges for the practitioner and students. [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] Special Issue Mental Health: occupational therapy practice, education, and researchAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007Ellie Fossey No abstract is available for this article. [source] Changing face of entry to occupational therapy practice: Some personal reflections from a Person Environment Occupation perspectiveAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2005Sue Baptiste No abstract is available for this article. [source] Maintaining and developing friendships following severe traumatic brain injury: Principles of occupational therapy practiceAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2005Libby Callaway First page of article [source] Understanding play: The Implications for play assessmentAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004Karen Stagnitti This article reviews the current literature on play and play assessment in occupational therapy. The concept of play and play theories are examined and reasons are investigated for the low use of play assessment in paediatric occupational therapy practice. Within contemporary occupational therapy practice, the concept of play is being readdressed and play behaviour is understood to be important in child development. Available assessments of play in occupational therapy assess the child in a familiar environment to the child. Since many paediatric occupational therapists work in clinical settings, it is concluded that a clinically viable assessment of observation of play behaviour is required within occupational therapy. Parameters for such an assessment are proposed. [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] Values of urban Aboriginal parents: Food before thoughtAUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2000Alison Nelson Using qualitative methodology, this study investigated values of urban Aboriginal parents, particularly with respect to parenting and child development. Data were collected from five urban-dwelling Aboriginal parents aged between 25 and 55 years. Participants were parents of children aged between 18 months and 25 years. All participants were also employed in the fields of education or health where they had frequent involvement with other indigenous parents through welfare support or school or health programs. Each informant participated in either an individual interview or focus group. Supplemental data were also collected from participant observation in a kindergarten setting. Descriptions of Aboriginal parents' values and parenting styles are reported. The main values included an emphasis on maintaining social relationships and cultural identity with an overriding need for survival and security. Implications for occupational therapy practice and further research with urban Aboriginal families are suggested. [source] Governing the Majority World?AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Critical reflections on the role of occupation technology in international contexts Background:,Within occupational therapy, increasing attention has been focussed on international development work. However, many have critiqued the focus of knowledge development within occupational therapy and occupational science, arguing that it is focussed on Western values. Questions arise about how occupational therapy and occupational science, and the knowledge and therapeutic technologies that are associated with these communities, will affect the ,developing' world, which, recently, some have described as the Majority World. Aim and method:,Using Foucauldian analytical tools, this paper reflects on specific discourses that are foundational for development work. Specifically, this paper attempts to better understand how concepts like ,occupational justice' and the ,occupational being' are presented in the literature and relate to practices in international contexts. Within this analysis, attention is focussed on how practices associated with occupational development work might also be enmeshed in power dynamics. Results:,This paper outlines how occupational discourses may shape and order life in particular ways and challenges researchers and practitioners to develop a better understanding of how power can operate through occupational discourses and occupational therapy practices. This paper also adds to the literature through the interpretation and explication of various theories that may underpin work in international contexts. Conclusions/future directions:,Suggestions for future directions that will enable the development of more politically and culturally sensitive knowledge and practices are also explored. It is crucial that as a community we become more aware of how our theoretical frameworks may impact and shape practice. [source] | ||||||||||