Beyond the Ramp: Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Universal Accessibility.

History, Current Practice, and the Future of Wound Care for Occupational and Physical Therapists.

IntroductionThe number people in custodial settings (i.e., jails and prisons) is increasing globally. In addition to detention and supervision, rehabilitation and skill development are often key goals of corrective services. The high care needs and vulnerability of detainees can often make this challenging, requiring input from a variety of health‐care professionals, including occupational therapists. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesise the peer‐reviewed literature regarding the role of occupational therapists in custodial settings, the challenges occupational therapists experience in custodial settings, and the impact of occupational therapy on outcomes for people in custody.MethodsA scoping review guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute approach was undertaken. Three online databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Criminal Justice Database [PROQUEST]) were searched from January 2013 to May 2024. Studies were included if the Population was occupational therapist(s), the Context was a custodial setting (jail/prison/correctional facility), and the Concept was the role of, challenges to, and the outcome/s of occupational therapy. The Mixed Methods Assessment Tool was used to appraise study quality.Consumer and Community InvolvementThere was no consumer or community involvement.ResultsEleven studies were included in this review; three mixed methods studies, one participatory research design, and one critical reflection, with the quality of evidence varying. The role of occupational therapists was primarily in providing direct care. Challenges experienced by occupational therapists were classified into four categories: (i) engagement, (ii) environmental, (iii) governance, and (iv) resourcing. Acts of violence and recidivism rates decreased in detainees who received occupational therapy.ConclusionDespite the often‐restrictive nature of jails and prisons, occupational therapists working in custodial settings are in a unique position to develop and implement interventions that support detainees with developing life skills and improve post incarceration employment opportunities. This in turn is suggested to contribute to reduced recidivism.PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYPeople held in prisons and jails often have health and social care needs. Not meeting these needs can lead to housing and job problems after being released. Occupational therapists have an important job. Little is known about what occupational therapists do in custodial settings. This review sought to understand this. Findings showed that staff and detainees liked having occupational therapists. They helped with managing the detainees' feelings and reduce anger. They also helped detainees to get a job and housing after being released.

Background: Occupational therapists working in the field of occupational health in South African private industrial sectors may findthemselves involved in management of medical incapacity due to their expertise in vocational rehabilitation.Aim: In this study, the authors explored how South African Acts guide the role and scope of occupational therapists in medicalincapacity management, in addition to determining the scope, role and value of occupational therapy in medical incapacity managementfrom the perspectives of occupational therapists currently working in the field.Method: An exploratory qualitative design with use of two concurrent methods of data collection (document analysis and semistructured interviews) was undertaken. Data were analysed thematically, via deductive reasoning, and pooled to provide a picture ofhow occupational therapists can function within medical incapacity management.Results and Discussion: Six themes emerged from the data. Occupational therapists' role and scope within legislature appearsto lack detail with a disjuncture between legislation that guides medical incapacity management and current practice of occupationaltherapists. Notwithstanding this, the findings of this study show that occupational therapists play a critical role within managementof medical incapacity.Key words: Vocational rehabilitation, medical incapacity management, occupational therapy

Background: Occupational therapists working in the field of occupational health in South African private industrial sectors may find themselves involved in management of medical incapacity due to their expertise in vocational rehabilitation.Aim: In this study, the authors explored how South African Acts guide the role and scope of occupational therapists in medicalincapacity management, in addition to determining the scope, role and value of occupational therapy in medical incapacity management from the perspectives of occupational therapists currently working in the field.Method: An exploratory qualitative design with use of two concurrent methods of data collection (document analysis and semistructured interviews) was undertaken. Data were analysed thematically, via deductive reasoning, and pooled to provide a picture of how occupational therapists can function within medical incapacity management.Results and Discussion: Six themes emerged from the data. Occupational therapists' role and scope within legislature appears to lack detail with a disjuncture between legislation that guides medical incapacity management and current practice of occupational therapists. Notwithstanding this, the findings of this study show that occupational therapists play a critical role within management of medical incapacity. Key words: Vocational rehabilitation, medical incapacity management, occupational therapy

Introduction: According to South Africa's key education policies, all children can learn and need support, necessitating collaboration between occupational therapists and educators. Collaboration between occupational therapists and educators within the classroom is however a relatively new practice in South Africa and there is a dearth of literature that report on studies in this regard. The aim of this study was thus to explore occupational therapists' and educators' experiences in adopting a classroom approach in three primary mainstream schools in the Metro North education district in the Western Cape. Methodology: A qualitative research approach andexploratory descriptive design was utilised. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and focus groups with educators and occupational therapists who participated in the curriculum of support in the classroom programme. Thematic data analysis was conducted. Findings: Three themes highlighting the meaning and value the participants assigned to classroom collaboration, andfactors that facilitate or limit the implementation of the curriculum of support emerged from the analysis. Conclusion: The study is useful in expanding the understanding of the changing role of occupational therapists within the context of inclusive education and contributes to the development of educator support strategies utilising the whole classroom approach. This approach entails the educator and occupational therapist working together in implementing activities in the classroom to all learners. These learning activities are based on curriculum themes and occupational therapy principles and components. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Occupational therapists' roles in the education practice context are expanding from traditionally working in special school settings to providing support to educators within public mainstream schools. The role of the occupational therapist within public mainstream schools is evolving from a consultative role and providing input into the individual support of learners to providing hands-on support to educators and collaborating with them within the classroom.

IntroductionInterprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for students in healthcare professional programs as they learn the roles and responsibilities of different professions within the healthcare system. However, most IPE studies focus on professional identity; very few focus on whether students are learning the professional roles of their own profession and colleagues'. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether first‐year allied health students could adequately identify the roles of occupational therapists (OT), physical therapists (PT), and physician assistants (PA) following an interprofessional anatomy course.MethodsAn IRB‐approved mixed methods study was conducted in a gross anatomy course for first semester allied health students at Indiana University in PA, PT, and OT programs. Students were asked to participate in a pre‐/post‐test survey which asked them to identify to which professional a patient in different scenarios should be referred as a measure of students' understanding of PA, PT, and OT roles in patient care. The percent of incorrect responses for each student cohort were evaluated using Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Kruskal‐Wallis tests. The survey also asked students to briefly summarize the roles of the three professions. These responses were qualitatively evaluated using thematic analysis. In a response to quantitative findings (outlined below), the definitions of the OTs' roles provided by the students were further compared to the definition provided by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).ResultsQuantitative results indicated that students had a better understanding of their own profession's role compared to the roles of the other two professions. More students struggled with identifying the roles of OT (p=0.016) than the roles of PA or PT. Lastly, participation in the interprofessional anatomy course did not significantly affect the students' ability to correctly identify to which health professional the patient should be referred (p=0.729). Qualitative results revealed a vast majority of the OT students' definitions correlated with three major themes from the AOTA's definition: helping with activities of daily living, tasks based on patient's goals, and coping with life changes after injury. PA and PT students' answers had more variation and fewer specific phrases found within the AOTA definition, however most responses mentioned helping patients with activities of daily living and coping after permanent injuries. Both PA and PT students had multiple responses identifying treating hand or upper limb deficits as an important role of OTs, although the AOTA and most OT students did not reference this theme.ConclusionsOverall, PA and PT students were found to be less familiar with the roles that OTs play within the healthcare system. Since the OT field recently began transitioning towards a doctoral‐level single point of entry profession in 2014, it is not surprising that the students had less familiarity with the roles of OTs. Ongoing analyses will include thematic analyses of the definitions of PTs and PAs, and further investigation of role formation and identification within first year allied health students.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Teachers are the main partners of pediatric occupational therapists in special schools. Their understanding of occupational therapy influences the provision of occupational therapy programmes in schools. Two hundred and sixty‐three special school teachers were surveyed about their perception of occupational therapy in four areas: definition of occupational therapy, occupational therapists' clientele, domain of concern, and treatment media. Results showed a poor understanding. The majority of respondents did not recognise the contribution of occupational therapists' in the treatment of children with mental handicap or emotional difficulties. More than half of the respondents knew neither occupational therapists domain of concern nor the treatment media. Occupational therapists were seen to work solely with children with physically disabilities in the aspects of work and home related functions. The best known role of occupational therapists was prescription of aids and equipment. The results indicated that occupational therapists should direct their effort to educate and promote occupational therapy to other professionals and to the public. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

In the United States, childhood obesity continues to increase at unprecedented rates. School-based occupational therapists can play a more significant role in health promotion and obesity prevention efforts in the school setting. Since this is a relatively new role for occupational therapists, there is still a tremendous gap in the literature regarding occupational therapy’s impact on obesity. This article explores the role occupational therapists can play in health promotion and obesity prevention efforts in schools. It will explain how occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to lead and support these school-based health initiatives and how these efforts can help improve children’s overall health and wellness. The hope is that these efforts will help promote more successful educational outcomes for all students.

Purpose: To identify and inform the experience and roles of occupational therapists (OTs) in the contexts of a natural disaster. Method: This scoping review was conducted via five steps: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant academic articles published between 2000 and 2014 in English, (3) select articles based on the inclusion criteria, (4) chart the data and (5) collate, summarise, and report the results of the selected articles. The results were presented using descriptive numerical and thematic analyses. Results: OTs can prepare a plan for evacuation of people with disabilities and their accommodation before a disaster occurs. Immediately after a disaster, they can provide emergency services for injuries and provide education and training in coping skills for psychological distress via a community-based rehabilitation approach. Consistent services for survivors’ mental health and for building the OTs’ capacity as part of disaster management are focussed on in the recovery phase. Conclusion: The potential roles of OTs across the spectrum of a natural disaster were identified via this scoping review. This review will help OTs to become involved in a disaster management system for vulnerable groups across the three phases of preparedness to, respond to and recovery from a disaster.Implication for RehabilitationOccupational therapists can be involved in disaster management to prepare for, respond to and recover from a natural disaster.Consistent services for psychological distress are needed for people affected by a disaster to return to normalcy.Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) is an important approach to help a wider group of people respond to a natural disaster in a timely manner.

Slovenia is following the World Health Organization's guidelines for the development of community-based services by establishing interdisciplinary teams in mental health centres. The literature indicates that occupational therapy in these teams actively contributes to promoting engagement and participation in meaningful occupations that support well-being in the community. The purpose of this study is to highlight the early stages of the development of these teams and the role of occupational therapy in this process. This qualitative study explored occupational therapists' perspectives on the challenges and their role in practice in community-based mental health (CbMH) centres. Three occupational therapists participated in the first focus group and 4 in the second. Two occupational therapists participated in semi-structured interviews. In total, 9 occupational therapists from 14 menthal health centres participated in the study. The results underline the importance of developing CbMH centres that provide services within clients' living and working environments. These centres enable occupational therapists to practice in community settings, presenting both opportunities and challenges in integrating occupational therapy into the deinstitutionalisation process. Data analysis identified 3 key thematic areas: the role of the interdisciplinary mental health team in CbMH centres challenges faced by occupational therapists within these teams, and the development of an occupational therapy service model. This study highlights the need to expand CbMH centres across Slovenia and secure additional funding to strengthen existing teams. Key steps for better integration of occupational therapists include advocating for financial recognition, adapting successful international programmes, improving education and training and ensuring the participation of occupational therapists in all interdisciplinary mental health teams.

The development of motor skills is vital for the functional and social progress of children with disabilities and those in special education settings. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners meticulously design motor skill development programmes, incorporating specific needs of children and families to promote holistic growth. In recent years, the use of sport as a therapeutic tool has received renewed attention as it provides an active, enjoyable context for motor learning. This research focuses on the role of occupational therapists in providing sports-based motor skill interventions for children who are developmentally atypical. Methodology: A qualitative exploratory design was adopted. It consisted of 16 participants from four special education schools, including 8 occupational therapists, 4 adaptive physical education teachers, and 4 school administrators. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, non-participant observation of therapy sessions, and document review. Thematic analysis was performed using a framework approach to determine the constituents of an identified theme. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) sports activities integrated with individualised therapy services; (2) participation enhanced by supporting task and sensory strategies; (3) planning done collaboratively between OTs and PE teachers; and (4) positive changes in motor and psychosocial skills observed. Other identified barriers included a lack of resources and time, as well as inadequate awareness among stakeholders. Discussion: Study findings support the application of sports into occupational therapy as a versatile, inclusive, and effective client-centred approach aimed at enhancing motor skills. The research underlines the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships and adaptive sports programming within special education to enhance children’s motor skills and motor engagement. However, sustained implementation still requires supportive infrastructure and policies. Conclusion: The role of occupational therapists using sports as a therapeutic tool for attaining defined goals in special education contexts is one of great impact. Other school system stakeholders must actively support furthering the scope of these practices through their involvement, training, and inclusive frameworks. The findings demonstrate the need to consider sports within occupational therapy service delivery frameworks in schools to aid in the comprehensive development of children with disabilities.

INTRODUCTION: The Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa commissioned a task team to gather evidence that would inform the upcoming National Health Insurance policies on the role and practice of occupational therapists. This rapid review aimed to identify level 1 and 2 peer-reviewed published evidence that describes occupational therapists' practice and intervention in adult palliative care. METHOD: Systematic reviews and randomised control trials were searched for through the Stellenbosch University library. CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library (Wiley) and OTSeeker databases were used and hand searching of references in selected articles was done. Rayyan.ai was used forthe screening and selection of articles. The CASP appraisal tool was used for quality assessment of the selected articles. Data was captured in Excel and Word and analysed and synthesised in Excel and Taguette. RESULTS: 15 articles were identified for data extraction in this rapid review. The CASP quality appraisal showed a good rating. Occupational therapists working in palliative care were reported to address: Functionality, activity participation and quality of life, symptom management related to disease and the treatment thereof, environmental modification and adaption, assistive devices and equipment, education and caregiver support and education, lifestyle adaptation, return to work or higher education/training. CONCLUSION: South Africa has a unique palliative burden of care due to diseases that shorten life expectancy. Due to the unique and varied beliefs held by South Africans about illness and end of life, evidence from high income countries needs to be supplemented with local knowledge to frame the role and intervention of occupational therapists in palliative care. Evidence to support and define the role of occupational therapists claims this needs to be a matter of priority. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE • Contextually relevant palliative care intervention needs to be included in the undergraduate curriculum for occupational therapists and once they go to community service, they need to be supported in this. • Development and upskilling of occupational therapy clinicians in contextually relevant palliative practice at all levels of care need to be an available and accessible continuous professional development (CPD) activity. • Occupational therapy clinicians working on the frontlines of palliative care need to be encouraged and supported to collect and present evidence for their practices in formats and at forums where it can be used to shape policies that affect palliative adult care locally and globally.

Introduction: The Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa commissioned a task team to gather evidence that would inform the upcoming National Health Insurance policies on the role and practice of occupational therapists. This rapid review aimed to identify level 1 and 2 peer-reviewed published evidence that describes occupational therapists’ practice and intervention in adult palliative care. Method: Systematic reviews and randomised control trials were searched for through the Stellenbosch University library. CINAHL (EBSCO), MEDLINE (EBSCO), the Cochrane Library (Wiley) and OTSeeker databases were used and hand searching of references in selected articles was done. Rayyan.ai was used for the screening and selection of articles. The CASP appraisal tool was used for quality assessment of the selected articles. Data was captured in Excel and Word and analysed and synthesised in Excel and Taguette. Results: 15 articles were identified for data extraction in this rapid review. The CASP quality appraisal showed a good rating. Occupational therapists working in palliative care were reported to address: Functionality, activity participation and quality of life, symptom management related to disease and the treatment thereof, environmental modification and adaption, assistive devices and equipment, education and caregiver support and education, lifestyle adaptation, return to work or higher education/training. Conclusion: South Africa has a unique palliative burden of care due to diseases that shorten life expectancy. Due to the unique and varied beliefs of South Africans to illness and end of life, evidence from high income countries needs to be supplemented with local knowledge to frame the role and intervention of occupational therapists in palliative care. Evidence to support and define the role of occupational therapists claims this needs to be a matter of priority. Implications for practice Contextually relevant palliative care intervention needs to be included in the undergraduate curriculum for occupational therapists and once they go to community service, they need to be supported in this. Development and upskilling of occupational therapy clinicians in contextually relevant palliative practice at all levels of care need to be an available and accessible continuous professional development (CPD) activity. Occupational therapy clinicians working on the frontlines of palliative care need to be encouraged and supported to collect and present evidence for their practices in formats and at forums where it can be used to shape policies that affect palliative adult care locally and globally.

BackgroundThis study reviewed the role of occupational therapist's in palliative and hospice care over the past 20years.MethodsA scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's five stages was undertaken using PubMed, OTseeker, Scopus, Elsevier, Cochrane Library-Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, Web of Science and Google Scholar.ResultsA total of 41 articles were reviewed. The most publications occurred in 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2023. The majority of the studies (48.7%) were of qualitative design. Various roles of occupational therapists have been defined in palliative care: discovering occupational meaning in the last periods of life and supporting occupational participation, management of persistent physical and psychological symptoms, especially pain and fatigue, improving or supporting the quality of life for individuals under palliative care, supporting mental well-being, supporting social participation, use of adaptive technologies, providing individuals with confidence and comfort. Occupational therapists also have various duties in maintaining palliative-hospice care at home include evaluating the individual at home and supporting home care and rehabilitation after discharge. Interventions for caregivers or supporting caregivers who have lost their roles, occupations or jobs in the care process are also among the roles of occupational therapists.ConclusionOccupational therapy within the context of palliative care aims to assist individuals in attaining their highest level of independence in important occupations. Occupational therapists play a crucial role in coordinating and facilitating safe transitions from the hospital to home, aiming to improve the overall quality of life and reduce hospital stays.

Background Urban planning for age-friendly environments is an important issue, and occupational therapists and occupational scientists could contribute to planning such environments; however, knowledge of the potential roles of occupational therapists is limited. Aim To explore the potential roles of occupational therapists in urban planning for age-friendly environments in Japan from the perspectives of occupational therapists and stakeholders. Materials and methods A Q-methodology study was conducted to gain viewpoints from occupational therapists and stakeholders regarding their roles in the urban planning of age-friendly environments for older people in Japan. Participants included eight occupational therapists and seven stakeholders who completed the Q-sorting process. Results Three viewpoints emerged which are interpreted as roles of occupational therapists: (1) Promote older people’s participation in everyday activities in their communities, (2) Advocate for older people towards policy-making to reflect their occupational needs or perspectives, and (3) Arrange neighbourhood environments towards enhancing participation in occupation through adjustments to compensate for functional limitations. Conclusion and significance Results reveal the potential roles of occupational therapists in urban planning for age-friendly environments in Japan. These roles can be a guide in the continuing professional development of occupational therapists in the fields of urban planning for older people.