Evidence-based Occupational Therapy Research Articles

실행증의 작업치료

Purpose: Apraxia is a target of occupational therapy because it negatively affects a person ability and independence in performing basic and instrumental activities of daily living and the person’s social participation. We aimed to provide comprehensive information related to apraxia to effectively provide occupational therapy for patients with apraxia. Subjects: Diagnosis of apraxia involves evaluation through clinical observation, such as the ability to pantomime, imitate, and complete multi-step tasks, and standardized evaluation tools, such as the Test of Upper Limb Apraxia (TULIA) and the Apraxia Screen of TULIA (AST). Evidence-based interventions for apraxia include gesture and strategy training. Although evidence is still lacking, interventions using virtual reality or mirrors are also being introduced to treat apraxia. Interventions based on functional cognition concepts can also be applied to the treatment of apraxia. Functional cognitive interventions include tasks/habits and strategies and indirect interventions. Conclusion: Apraxia can cause difficulties when attempting to perform intentional movements, thereby reducing a participant's ability to perform functional activities. Accordingly, implementing patient-centered occupational therapy tailored to the special needs of patients with apraxia is necessary. Findings of this study will be meaningful for the implementation of evidence-based occupational therapy for apraxia.

Promoting meaningful activities by occupational therapy in elderly care in Belgium: the ProMOTE intervention

BackgroundOlder people want to age in place. Despite advancing functional limitations and their desire of aging in place, they are not always faithful to therapy that maintains independence and promotes safety. Occupational therapists can facilitate aging in place. Occupational therapy is defined as the therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation.AimTo describe the content a high-adherence-to-therapy and evidence-based occupational therapy intervention to optimize functional performance and social participation of home-based physically frail older adults and wellbeing of their informal caregiver, and the research activities undertaken to design this intervention.MethodsA roadmap was created to develop the occupational therapy intervention. This roadmap is based on the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework and is supplemented with elements of the Intervention Mapping approach. The TIDieR checklist is applied to describe the intervention in detail. A systematic review and two qualitative studies substantiated the content of the intervention scientifically.ResultsThe application of the first two phases of the MRC framework resulted in the ProMOTE intervention (Promoting Meaningful activities by Occupational Therapy in Elderly). The ProMOTE intervention is a high-adherence-to-therapy occupational therapy intervention that consists of six steps and describes in detail the evidence-based components that are required to obtain an operational intervention for occupational therapy practice.ConclusionThis study transparently reflects on the process of a high-quality occupational therapy intervention to optimize the functional performance and social participation of the home-based physically frail older adult and describes the ProMOTE intervention in detail. The ProMOTE intervention contributes to safely aging in place and to maintaining social participation. The designed intervention goes beyond a description of the ‘what’. The added value lies in the interweaving of the ‘why’ and ‘how’. By describing the ‘how’, our study makes the concept of ‘therapeutic use-of-self’ operational throughout the six steps of the occupational therapy intervention. A further rigorous study of the effect of the ProMOTE intervention on adherence, functional performance and social participation is recommended based to facilitate the implementation of this intervention on a national level in Belgium.

Occupational therapists who are experts in their field gathered at the "3rd Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices"

Occupational therapists who are experts in their field gathered at the "3rd Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices"

Psychometric evaluation of the Finnish version of the Worker Role interview (WRI-FI)

Background The assessment of work ability with reliable, thoroughly tested instruments, is central to evidence-based occupational therapy practice. Aims/Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the WRI with a focus on construct validity and measurement precision. Material and Methods Ninety-six WRI-FI assessments were performed by 19 occupational therapists in Finland. A Rasch analysis was conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties. Results The WRI-FI presented an overall fit to the Rasch model, with good targeting and separation among persons. The four-point rating scale structure was supported by the Rasch analysis, except for one item with disordered thresholds. The WRI-FI indicated stable measurement properties across gender. Seven of the 96 persons showed misfit, which slightly exceeds the criteria of 5%. Conclusions The findings from this first psychometric evaluation of the WRI-FI provided evidence of construct validity and support for measurement precision. The hierarchy among items corresponded with previous studies. The WRI-FI can offer occupational therapy practitioners a valid tool to evaluate psychosocial and environmental perspectives of persons’ work ability.

Reductions in Depression and Anxiety Among Autistic Adults Participating in an Intervention to Promote Healthy Relationships

Some autistic adults experience depression and anxiety related to their social relationships. There is a need for evidence-based occupational therapy interventions that decrease depression and anxiety and improve the health of social relationships for autistic adults. To determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Healthy Relationships on the Autism Spectrum (HEARTS) intervention, a six-session, group-based psychoeducational intervention for the improvement of relationship health. One-group pretest-posttest design with a 3-mo follow-up after baseline. United States; online intervention through community organization. Fifty-five adults, ages 20 to 43 yr, with a professional or self-diagnosis of autism and the capacity to independently participate in an online, group-based, participatory class. Participants received 6 90-min weekly sessions that addressed healthy relationship topics, including recognizing abuse, meeting people, maintaining relationships, setting interpersonal boundaries, neurohealth for relationships, and ending relationships. A psychoeducational approach that provided education and involved guided discovery and strategy acquisition was used. All measures were self-administered through an online survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using instruments from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. Fifty-five participants completed the intervention. Postintervention scores revealed statistically significant improvements in depression and anxiety. HEARTS is a promising intervention for improving depression and anxiety among autistic adults and should be investigated further. What This Article Adds: HEARTS offers a potentially effective, nonpharmacological, psychoeducational group-based intervention option to promote healthy relationships for autistic adults. Positionality Statement: This article uses identity-first language (autistic person) in accordance with the preference of autistic self-advocates (Autistic Self Advocacy Network, 2020; Kenny etal., 2016; Lord etal., 2022).

A protocol for Removing Environmental Barriers to Independent Living (REBIL): An adapted evidence-based occupational therapy intervention to increase community participation for individuals aging with long-term physical disabilities.

People aging with long-term physical disabilities (PAwLTPD) are living longer and experiencing the challenges of aging, including the onset of secondary and age-related health conditions. PAwLTPD are at high risk of falls, fall injuries, diminished functional abilities, and compromised participation. However, no available programs support PAwLTPD to participate safely at home and in the community. The proposed study is to examine the feasibility and efficacy of an adapted intervention: Removing Environmental Barriers to Independent Living (REBIL). A single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted. Participants who are 45-65 years old; self-report difficulty with ≥2 daily activities; have had a physical disability for ≥5 years; and live within 60 miles of the research lab are eligible. All participants will receive an initial in-home evaluation before randomization. The treatment group will receive REBIL (total five visits), which is tailored. The waitlist control group will be offered the same intervention after 6-month follow-up. Expected outcomes are high acceptability, fidelity, and adherence; low safety risk; improved community participation and daily activities performance; and fewer environmental barriers and fall hazards. Findings will serve as preliminary evidence for occupational therapy community practice. Outcomes will also inform future large, pragmatic trials. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04589988.

The Impact of an Evidence-Informed Spinal Cord Injury Activities of Daily Living Education Manual (SADL-eM): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic injury associated with functional loss and life-threatening complications. Many people with SCI in the Gaza Strip of Palestine are discharged from inpatient rehabilitation to the community while still lacking many daily life skills. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) seeks to test the impact of the Spinal Cord Injury Activities of Daily Living Education Manual (SADL-eM)—an evidence-based occupational therapy patient educational intervention—on rehabilitation outcomes.ObjectiveThe proposed trial aims to evaluate the SADL-eM intervention compared with standard treatment among people with SCI.MethodsThis is a parallel RCT with two study arms: intervention and control. A total of 90 patients treated in inpatient rehabilitation settings will be randomly allocated to two study groups. Both groups will receive standard care. The intervention group will also use the SADL-eM with their treating occupational therapist during rehabilitation. The SADL-eM is a comprehensive activities of daily living (ADL) educational tool that was codeveloped with people with SCI and stakeholders across Gaza. The self-report version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure will be used on admission (ie, baseline measure) and after 6 weeks as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes include the third version of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure, the Private Religiousness Practices Scale, the Organizational Religiousness Short-Form, additional ADL domains covered by the education manual, and adherence to the intervention. The effect of the intervention will be determined using repeated-measures analysis of variance.ResultsThis study will be conducted from April 2021 through December 2022, with results expected to be available in January 2023.ConclusionsIf the SADL-eM is demonstrated as clinically effective, this will have significant implications for occupational therapy interventions in low- and middle-income countries.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04735887; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04735887

A Survey of Interventions for Cancer Survivors Provided by Occupational Therapy Practitioners

Purpose: Currently, there is a lack of research exploring evidence-based occupational therapy intervention practices at the activity level in survivorship care, which is important to identify for future research and clinical needs of the profession. The purpose of this study was to describe what activity level interventions OT practitioners are using and report any practice trends that might exist. Method: A cross-section design was used with non-probability purposive sampling to recruit occupational therapy practitioners working with adults living with and beyond cancer. A three-phase process for survey development and implementation was used, as recommended by the literature, for improving content validity and minimizing measurement error. Results: A total of 267 surveys were distributed and 70 surveys returned (26.20% response rate). Given the range and frequency of responses, it is suggested that occupational therapy practitioners focus on individual needs for function and participation and are not limiting practice to physical impairments. There were several areas that only a small percentage of respondents identified addressing with clients, including shopping (range 5.83-9.23%), driving and community mobility (range 5.90-9.58%), and financial management (range .74-10.20%) that typically fall into outpatient and community health practice settings. Conclusion: We reviewed current oncology intervention and referral practice trends for occupational therapy and pose several implications for advancing clinical practice in oncology. Future research into interventions not supported by literature that occupational therapists identified currently using in practice is needed.

Pilot Study of the Cognitive-Functional Intervention for Adults (Cog-Fun A): A Metacognitive-Functional Tool for Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often experience chronic challenges in their life roles. There is a need for evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to help enhance their functioning. To determine the preliminary effectiveness of the Cognitive-Functional Intervention for Adults (Cog-Fun A), a metacognitive-functional occupational therapy tool for the improvement of occupational performance (OP) and quality of life (QoL) in adults with ADHD. One-group pretest-posttest design with a 3-mo follow-up. Community setting in Jerusalem, Israel. Fourteen adults, ages 18-60 yr, with a valid diagnosis of ADHD and an indication of executive function (EF) impairment. Participants received 15 1-hr weekly sessions that addressed self-awareness of strengths and challenges through education and guided discovery as well as strategy acquisition and implementation within a context of occupational goal attainment. The Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version, an adult ADHD QoL measure, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the Self-Regulation Skills Interview were administered. Twelve participants completed the intervention. Posttreatment scores revealed statistically significant improvements in EF, awareness, OP, and QoL. Gains in QoL showed a modest reduction at the 3-mo follow-up. The Cog-Fun A is a promising intervention for improving OP and QoL among adults with ADHD and should be investigated further. What This Article Adds: The Cog-Fun A offers an effective nonpharmacological, metacognitive-functional, occupation-centered treatment option for adults with ADHD.

Exploration of a Short-term Learning Community Focused on Evidence-based Occupational Therapy Interventions for Children and Youth with Autism

Continuing education (CE) for occupational therapists typically takes place in workshops, seminars, or webinars with little support for practice change after the event concludes. Continuing education that occurs over an extended time with opportunities for social learning and competence assessment may improve knowledge translation. This study explored how pediatric occupational therapists who participated in a short-term, online learning community acquired new knowledge about evidence-based interventions from learning activities and how they applied this new knowledge to practice. Weekly modules with facilitated discussions, competency self-assessment, and peer-reviewed journal article readings occurred over a six-week period. An exploratory design included content analysis of participants’ online discussion postings, goal-setting activities, reflections, and a researcher-developed evaluation survey. Of the 19 participants who completed the evaluation survey, 17 participants indicated that the case simulation helped to assess their competence and that readings on evidence-based interventions obtained from ProQuestTM were helpful. All participants (n = 19) agreed that the learning community enriched their understanding of how to work with children and youth with autism spectrum disorder and they planned to apply new knowledge to their practice. Qualitative data analysis yielded two themes: becoming evidence-based and integrating evidence into practice. A community of occupational therapists with shared interests who participated in socially mediated learning opportunities with multiple educational components increased understanding and application of evidence-based interventions. Future research should investigate the relationship between engagement in a short-term learning community and application of evidence-based interventions with follow-up.

Implementation strategies and outcomes for occupational therapy in adult stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review

BackgroundStroke survivors often encounter occupational therapy practitioners in rehabilitation practice settings. Occupational therapy researchers have recently begun to examine the implementation strategies that promote the use of evidence-based occupational therapy practices in stroke rehabilitation; however, the heterogeneity in how occupational therapy research is reported has led to confusion about the types of implementation strategies used in occupational therapy and their association with implementation outcomes. This review presents these strategies and corresponding outcomes using uniform language and identifies the extent to which strategy selection has been guided by theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs).MethodsA scoping review protocol was developed to assess the breadth and depth of occupational therapy literature examining implementation strategies, outcomes, and TMFs in the stroke rehabilitation field. Five electronic databases and two peer-reviewed implementation science journals were searched to identify studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers applied the inclusion parameters and consulted with a third reviewer to achieve consensus. The 73-item Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation strategy taxonomy guided the synthesis of implementation strategies. The Implementation Outcomes Framework guided the analysis of measured outcomes.ResultsThe initial search yielded 1219 studies, and 26 were included in the final review. A total of 48 out of 73 discrete implementation strategies were described in the included studies. The most used implementation strategies were “distribute educational materials” (n = 11), “assess for readiness and identify barriers and facilitators” (n = 11), and “conduct educational outreach visits” (n = 10). “Adoption” was the most frequently measured implementation outcome, while “cost” was not measured in any included studies. Eleven studies reported findings supporting the effectiveness of their implementation strategy or strategies; eleven reported inconclusive findings, and four found that their strategies did not lead to improved implementation outcomes. In twelve studies, at least partially beneficial outcomes were reported, corresponding with researchers using TMFs to guide implementation strategies.ConclusionsThis scoping review synthesized implementation strategies and outcomes that have been examined in occupational therapy and stroke rehabilitation. With the growth of the stroke survivor population, the occupational therapy profession must identify effective strategies that promote the use of evidence-based practices in routine stroke care and describe those strategies, as well as associated outcomes, using uniform nomenclature. Doing so could advance the occupational therapy field’s ability to draw conclusions about effective implementation strategies across diverse practice settings.

Using Virtual Collaboration and Education to Increase Teachers’ Ability to Promote Self-regulation

ABSTRACT The aim of this evidence-based occupational therapy (OT) project was to answer the question, “Does education and scheduled collaboration on the use of sensory tools in the school environment increase general education teachers’ understanding of OT’s role in self-regulation?” Evidence supports the use of asynchronous learning modules for professional development. Research indicates that the addition of an interactive element enhances learning. Collaboration is supported by evidence for enhanced effectiveness of sensory tools in schools. The project was implemented over the course of 7 weeks. Teachers participated in 5 weeks of intervention with a weekly 30-min asynchronous web-based learning module and a 30-min individual or group collaboration session. Results showed increased positive perceptions with 5 of 10 Likert scale questions showing a statistically significant increase. In addition, data showed a statistically significant positive change in teachers’ knowledge related to OT’s role in schools, self-regulation, and social-emotional skills. Data from open-ended questions revealed an increase in teachers’ understanding of different causes of student behaviors and increased knowledge of self-regulation tools. The results suggest teachers’ understanding of OT’s role in self-regulation increases through the use of asynchronous virtual learning and scheduled collaboration sessions with an occupational therapist. Further research is recommended to increase the generalizability of results and to identify the most effective use of collaboration to enhance teachers’ understanding of self-regulation.

Optik Disk Hipoplazili Bir Çocukta Kanada Okupasyonel Perfomans Modeli’ne Göre Ergoterapi Müdahalesinin Etkinliğinin İncelenmesi: Olgu Çalışması

Optic disc hypoplasia (ODH) is a non-progressive condition that can develop unilaterally or bilaterally, with decreased retinal nerve fiber count and normally developing retinal tissue. Decreased vision, visual field changes and defects in color vision mau be seen in individuals with ODH. A 3-year-old male pediatric case with ODH in the right eye was included in the study. The Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (CMOP) was used for the holistic evaluation of the individual, environmental and ocupational factors of the case, and the Visual Perception Reference Frame was used for the intervention application. The problem areas within the scope of CMOP were determined as difficulty in holding cutlery and therefore eating by spilling food, inability to distinguish small pictures on paper, weakness in perception of color and figure-ground, and weakness in gross motor skills (standing on one leg, jumping in place). The short-term goals in the 8-week intervention plan, development of visual discrimination (recognition, matching, classification) skills, development of color perception and figure perception, increasing the level of independence in eating with the help of auxiliary equipment (thickened cutlery); the long-term goals were determined as the development of figure-ground perception, the development of visual attention and the development of visual motor integration. With the target spesicif occupational therapy intervention program, the case was able to eat independently with the help of thickened cutlery, to be able to combine simple figures, large pieces and brightly colored puzzle pieces, to increase the time to stand on one leg, and to jump on two legs. There is a need for more evidence-based occupational therapy studies including visual perception studies in diagnoses affecting the visual field such as ODH.

Interventions Within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Activities of Daily Living, Rest, and Sleep in People With Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review.

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly experience difficulty in performing activities of daily living (ADLs), which affects their perceived quality of life. To examine the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy to improve performance and participation in ADLs, rest, and sleep in adults with PD. Databases searched were MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, OTseeker, and Cochrane Collection. Included articles were published between January 2011 and December 2018. Study Selection and Data Collection: Articles describing Level 1b, 2b, and 3b studies that examined outcomes related to ADLs, rest, and sleep in people with PD were included following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Forty-five articles (10 Level 1b, 27 Level 2b, and 8 Level 3b) met the inclusion criteria. Strong strength of evidence was found to support inpatient multidisciplinary intensive rehabilitation treatment (MIRT) to improve ADLs, and moderate strength of evidence that MIRT improves sleep performance. Low strength of evidence was present for outpatient occupational therapy to improve ADL and sleep outcomes. Low strength of evidence was found for resistance exercise programs to improve ADLs, but moderate strength of evidence indicates that multimodal exercise programs and targeted exercise programs can improve ADLs. Low to moderate strength of evidence suggested that alternative therapies and cognitive-behavioral therapy have a positive impact on ADLs and sleep. These results can be used to inform evidence-based occupational therapy practice. What This Article Adds: This article provides information for practitioners on the effectiveness of interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve ADLs and sleep.

Supporting People With Dementia in the Community: Occupational Therapy Service and Reimbursement Innovations

The wide range of services needed to support a safe and quality life among people living with dementia at home is growing and extends beyond the bounds of traditional reimbursement models. Within the context of a health care system that is not designed to reimburse for these types of services, federal grants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Programs Initiative (ADPI) funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) have supported the delivery of home- and community-based services (HCBS) for people with dementia and their care partners with a pragmatic emphasis on sustainability, such as establishing successful reimbursement pathways. Drawing lessons from ACL’s ADPI program and from the Health Resources & Services Administration Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program and Geriatrics Academic Career Award program, this symposium examines opportunities and strategies for providing services to people living with dementia in the community and highlights occupational therapy as a valuable dementia care service that has potential for sustainable delivery and opportunities for professional expansion. Papers address needed workforce development for delivering HCBS to diverse populations living with dementia and examine occupational therapy roles in delivering HCBS to persons with dementia and their care partners. Additionally, papers examine the implementation and outcomes of evidence-based occupational therapy and interprofessional interventions for persons living with dementia in the community. Reimbursement mechanisms for occupational therapy services delivered to people with dementia in the community are described. Discussion addresses how these innovative interventions and reimbursement mechanisms align with the recent surge of National Institute on Aging funding for pragmatic trials.

Current practices and factors affecting evidence-based occupational therapy practice for patients with dementia in Japan.

Objective/backgroundThe rapidly increasing incidence of patients with dementia in Japan is creating an urgent demand for evidence-based occupational therapy (EBOT), which has been reported to improve clinical efficacy. This study aimed to examine the current practice of EBOT for patients with dementia in Japan and clarify factors influencing its application.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire survey by mail. The participants were 432 occupational therapists treating patients with dementia at 432 designated medical institutions nationwide. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multiple regression analysis was performed to clarify the factors influencing the present application of EBOT.ResultsThe response rate was 31.3%. Among the participants, 46.3% responded ‘somewhat frequently’ or more (5, 6, and 7 on a 7-grade scale) to a question on the frequency of practice of EBOT. Using multiple regression analysis with the stepwise method, we selected the model with the highest degree of fit. This model extracted three factors, namely, ability to understand scientific papers, sufficiency of means of getting information, and availability of advice, which had standardized partial regression coefficients (β) of 0.419, 0.214, and 0.158, respectively.ConclusionsThe three factors extracted using the multiple regression analysis indicate that in order to encourage EBOT for patients with dementia, occupational therapists need to acquire reading comprehension skills, so that they can assess the quality of scientific papers. Furthermore, it is important to create environments where they have access to publications and can discuss research with superiors and colleagues.

Occupational therapy consensus recommendations for functional neurological disorder

BackgroundPeople with functional neurological disorder (FND) are commonly seen by occupational therapists; however, there are limited descriptions in the literature about the type of interventions that are likely to be...

Which models can be used as a clinical education model in occupational therapy? Introduction of the models: A scoping review study.

Background: Clinical education is a vital part of occupational therapy education process. High clinical education quality in fieldwork settings leads to higher clinical competency and occupational proficiency. One of the most effective clinical education methods in equalizing the conditions of clinical education to students is the correct use of educational models related to each field of medical sciences. In the field of clinical education, various models have been designed with a specific subject. However, limited research has been done on the introduction of the usability of these models in occupational therapy settings. This study was conducted to determine which models have the potential to be used as clinical education models in occupational therapy. Methods: A scoping review was conducted and studies published in English between 2000 and 2018 that examined clinical education models were selected. Results: A total of 8 articles were entered in the review, and a central theme of implementing clinical education models in occupational therapy was determined by thematic analysis. This central theme consisted of 3 categories: (1) evaluative models, (2) acting models, and (3) evaluative/acting models. Conclusion: Occupational therapists, especially who work as educators should be aware of the different types of clinical education models and try to use these models in clinical education process and minimize the variation of teaching methods in fieldwork settings to promote the clinical education quality. However, more research should be done to improve evidence-based occupational therapy practice in clinical education.

Pilot Study of Let's Get Organized: A Group Intervention for Improving Time Management.

There is a need for evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to enhance time management in people with time management difficulties. To pilot test the first part of the Let's Get Organized (LGO) occupational therapy intervention in a Swedish context by exploring enhancements of time management skills, aspects of executive functioning, and satisfaction with daily occupations in people with time management difficulties because of neurodevelopmental or mental disorders. One-group pretest-posttest design with 3-mo follow-up. Outpatient psychiatric and habilitation settings. Fifty-five people with confirmed or suspected mental or neurodevelopmental disorder and self-reported difficulties with time management in daily life. Swedish version of Let's Get Organized (LGO-S) Part 1, with structured training in the use of cognitive assistive techniques and strategies using trial-and-error learning strategies in 10 weekly group sessions of 1.5 hr. Time management, organization and planning, and emotional regulation were measured with the Swedish version of the Assessment of Time Management Skills (ATMS-S). Executive functioning was measured with the Swedish version of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity, and satisfaction with daily occupations was assessed with the Satisfaction With Daily Occupations measure. Participants displayed significantly improved time management, organization and planning skills, and emotional regulation, as well as satisfaction with daily occupations. Aspects of executive functioning were partly improved. ATMS-S results were sustained at 3-mo follow-up. LGO-S Part 1 is a promising intervention for improving time management skills and satisfaction with daily occupations and should be investigated further. This study shows that LGO-S Part 1 is feasible for use in psychiatric and habilitation outpatient services. The results are promising for improved time management skills, organization and planning skills, and satisfaction with daily occupations and need to be confirmed in further studies.

The “Managing Fatigue” programme for people with multiple sclerosis – acceptance and feasibility with Swedish occupational therapists

Background: Fatigue is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and significantly influences engagement in occupations. The Managing Fatigue (MF) programme is an evidence-based occupational therapy group-based intervention, utilising self-management science that provides people with tools to manage fatigue. Although the national MS-guidelines in Sweden cite this as best practice, a Swedish version is not available.Aim: To translate and investigate the feasibility of a Swedish MF programme delivered by occupational therapists working with MS clients in Sweden.Material and methods: We used a mixed-methods design. Eight recruited occupational therapists, participated in a workshop prior to delivering the MF programme. Following programme delivery, they completed a questionnaire and participated in focus group interviews.Results: Each therapist conducted one programme with 5–9 MS clients. Overall, therapists were satisfied with programme content, and delivery was followed. Minor improvements were suggested, specifically in relation to how cognitive fatigue can be managed. Therapists acknowledged challenges moving from “expert” to supporting self-management.Conclusion: The MF programme is feasible in Sweden, and its client-centred and occupation focus is consistent with therapists’ scope of practice. In the future, acceptability and satisfaction from the perspectives of MS participants should be examined. Larger, more robust intervention studies evaluating effectiveness are also warranted.