Occupational Therapy In Australia Research Articles

Neonatal Occupational Therapy in Australia: A Survey and Recommendations for Developing Guidelines for Clinical Practice

Aim and Background: Occupational Therapists form an essential part of the development and care of infants and families in Neonatal Units (NNU) across the world, however, little is documented about their practice in Australia. This article aims to develop a greater understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy in NNU in Australia, compared with international practice guidelines, and recommends the adoption of UK guidelines until Australia specific guidelines emerge. Method: An online questionnaire was developed from a systematic scoping review and piloted by an expert panel. Invitations were sent to thirty Occupational Therapists working in NNUs around Australia. Data analysis included using descriptive statistics and qualitative themes. Results: Twenty two (73%) of NNU Occupational Therapists responded to the survey, representing all levels of NNU. Results describe the current Occupational Therapy role in Australia as encompassing assessment, intervention, teamwork and a variety of ‘other’ activities, all of which required advanced knowledge, skills and paediatric experience, and involved ongoing high-level professional development. Occupational Therapy has a unique role to play in neonatal units. Future development of the role is reliant upon good advocacy and promotion, specialised training opportunities, prospects for networking, support and mentorship for the many Therapists working part-time, and ongoing research. The Australian Occupational Therapy NNU role compares similarly with those cited internationally (UK & US). The development of guidelines for evidence based clinical practice of neonatal Occupational Therapy in Australia was highly sought by clinicians. The adoption of the ‘Occupational Therapy in neonatal services and early intervention: practice guideline’ (RCOT 2017) is proposed until the emergence of specific Australian guidelines.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of embedded simulation in occupational therapy clinical practice education: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundClinical placements are a critical component of the training for health professionals such as occupational therapists. However, with growing student enrolments in professional education courses and workload pressures on practitioners, it is increasingly difficult to find sufficient, suitable placements that satisfy program accreditation requirements. The professional accrediting body for occupational therapy in Australia allows up to 200 of the mandatory 1000 clinical placement hours to be completed via simulation activities, but evidence of effectiveness and efficiency for student learning outcomes is lacking. Increasingly placement providers charge a fee to host students, leading educators to consider whether providing an internal program might be a feasible alternative for a portion of placement hours. Economic analysis of the incremental costs and benefits of providing a traditional versus simulated placement is required to inform decision-making.Methods/designThis study is a pragmatic, non-inferiority, single-blind, multicentre, two-group randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an embedded economic analysis. The RCT will compare a block of 40 hours of simulated placement (intervention) with a 40-hour block of traditional placement (comparator), with a focus on student learning outcomes and delivery costs. Six universities will instigate the educational intervention within their respective occupational therapy courses, randomly assigning their cohort of students (1:1 allocation) to the simulated or traditional clinical placements. The primary outcome is achievement of professional behaviours (e.g. communication, clinical reasoning) as assessed by a post-placement written examination. Secondary outcomes include proportions passing the placement assessed using the Student Practice Evaluation Form-Revised, changes in student confidence pre-/post-placement, student and educator evaluation of the placement experience and cost-effectiveness of simulated versus traditional clinical placements. Comprehensive cost data will be collected for both the simulated and traditional placement programs at each site for economic evaluation.DiscussionUse of simulation in health-related fields like occupational therapy is common, but these activities usually relate to brief opportunities for isolated skill development. The simulated clinical placement evaluated in this trial is less common because it encapsulates a 5-day block of integrated activities, designed and delivered in a manner intended to emulate best-practice placement experiences. The planned study is rare due to inclusion of an economic analysis that aims to provide valuable information about the relationship between costs and outcomes across participating sites.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616001339448. Registered 26 September 2016.

Experiences of international students from Asian backgrounds studying occupational therapy in Australia.

International students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds experience personal and academic challenges when studying health sciences in Australia. Given recent discussions about cultural specificity in occupational therapy and its status as an emerging profession in most Asian countries, this study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of international students from Asian backgrounds studying occupational therapy in Australia. A phenomenological approach was used to understand the experiences of participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight international occupational therapy students from Asian countries studying in Australia. Data were analysed using hermeneutic methods. Participants described three interlinked and ongoing experiences: (1) Discovering and engaging with occupational therapy; (2) Fitting into my new role; and (3) Anticipating my role at home. Whilst theoretical aspects of occupational therapy were seen as compatible with participants' home cultures, application was seen as problematic due to the differences in structure and institutional culture of the healthcare systems. Although students made adaptations to fit in as occupational therapy students in Australia, they continued to see themselves as different, and their adaptation also influenced how they saw themselves in relation to their home culture. Findings can contribute to creating culturally sensitive education for occupational therapy students from Asian countries. To best serve these students, educators should consider ways to facilitate transitions both out of and back into students' home cultures.

Research priorities in mental health occupational therapy: A study of clinician perspectives.

The evidence to support mental health occupational therapy has proliferated in the early years of this century, but this growth has tended to be organic rather than targeted. Previous efforts to identify research priorities in this area of practice are either out dated, or encompass discrete areas of practice. The aim of this study was to identify priority areas for research in mental health occupational therapy from clinician's perspectives. A Policy Delphi method was used to enable occupational therapists to define and differentiate their perspectives on research priorities. Forty-two occupational therapists took part in the first two rounds of this method, with 69% (n=29) going on to complete the third and final round of data collection. A Likert scale was used to rate the importance of each priority, and descriptive quantitative analysis undertaken to identify those most consistently identified as being highly important. Four research priorities were identified as being highly important in this study: (i) working in an occupationally focussed way; (ii) consumer experience of therapy groups; (iii) identifying factors which increase consumer engagement in occupation; and (iv) engaging patients on the inpatient unit in meaningful and positive occupation. Two of the priority areas are already the subject of substantial evidence bases, but there has been far less research into consumer experiences of groups and occupational engagement in acute settings. Collaboration between research teams and greater consumer inclusion are recommended for the future. This study provides an updated indication of research priorities for mental health occupational therapy in Australia.

A case against generalisation of mental health occupational therapy in Australia

In 2009, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists International Advisory Group on Mental Health conducted a global survey that yielded data on mental health occupational therapy practice. The Australian dataset reflected aspects of the current situation of the Australian mental health occupational therapy workforce. Of particular interest were resource availability, workforce recruitment and retention, and perception of the future of mental health occupational therapy. Using a cross-sectional survey design, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered electronically over a one-month period. Manual analysis indicated themes common to mental health occupational therapists across a framework of professional areas. Findings suggested that role blurring negatively affected workforce retention. Workforce recruitment and retention were complicated by resource shortages. Some Federal Government initiatives were perceived as only partially beneficial to the profession. Survey respondents believed that mental health occupational therapy was a potential growth area particularly where occupational therapy specific skills were retained.

Sylvia Docker Lecture“Occupational Therapy in Australia - The Formative Years”

Australian Occupational Therapy JournalVolume 14, Issue 1 p. 29-44 Sylvia Docker Lecture“Occupational Therapy in Australia — The Formative Years” GWENDOLINE E. SIMS Dip. Occ. Ther., GWENDOLINE E. SIMS Dip. Occ. Ther.Search for more papers by this author GWENDOLINE E. SIMS Dip. Occ. Ther., GWENDOLINE E. SIMS Dip. Occ. Ther.Search for more papers by this author First published: January‐March 1967 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.1967.tb00193.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume14, Issue1January‐March 1967Pages 29-44 RelatedInformation

Fifty Years of Occupational Therapy at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital

This paper has been written to acknowledge the significant contribution of the Occupational Therapy Department at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Victoria to the history of Occupational Therapy in Australia. Established in 1941, the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital had one of the first Occupational Therapy Departments in Australia and pioneered many new trends in occupational therapy. Information for this article was collected between 1989 and 1991 by questionnaires sent to former staff members, taped interviews with key people and the recollections of current staff. Together they provide valuable insight into the first fifty years of occupational therapy from the perspective of Australia's veteran community.

Die Handlungsqualifikationen der Ergotherapie im Rahmen der Gesundheitsförderung in Österreich

INTRODUCTION: This publication deals with the prerequisites and qualifications of occupational therapists within the health promotion programme in Austria. The master thesis focused on investigating current health promotion projects of occupational therapy in Australia and evaluated how they may be implemented into the Austrian health promotion concept. An additional goal was to identify possible future areas of specialty for occupational therapists as a result of implementing these projects in Austria. METHOD: A systematic review of existing literature was performed in order to address the question of this research. The results were analysed qualitatively with SMART-criteria - an analysis tool of project management. RESULTS: The results revealed six areas of specialization for occupational therapists within the field of health promotion in Australia. These occupational therapy work fields were then analyzed according to their possibility of implementation into the Austrian health promotion concept. CONCLUSION: In conclusion three settings were found to be appropriate to meet the research question: working with children of migrants and asylum seekers in kindergarten and schools, working within workplace health promotion, as well as working with caretakers of elderly dependants suffering from dementia.

Evidence-based practice and rehabilitation: occupational therapy in Australia and New Zealand experiences

Evidence-based practice has become the dominant paradigm in the delivery of rehabilitation programme. However, occupational therapists in Australia and New Zealand have been slow in making the transition to become evidence-based practitioners. Collaboration between the university/tertiary institute and clinical setting is one way that clinicians can be assisted with incorporating research into their practice. Two case examples are presented outlining how collaborative practice can result in improved outcomes for all concerned.

Mental health recovery and occupational therapy in Australia and New Zealand

Every individual with mental illness has the right to be safe and cared for. Most people will receive the love and care from their families and friends, but they will also expect mental-health professionals, occupational therapists and the community to work together to provide the necessary services to support their recovery from mental illness. This article highlights the development of the recovery approach for people with mental illness in Australia and New Zealand. The implications of recovery concepts for occupational therapy, in the areas of individualized approach, participation of service users and carers, person-centred assessment and intervention, intersectoral links and mental-health promotion, are discussed. There are a number of key areas requiring further research and debate, notably the most effective means of implementing and evaluating recovery-focused interventions.

OZ OT EBP 21C: Australian occupational therapy, evidence‐based practice and the 21st century

Occupational therapy in Australia is entering the 21st century as a dynamic and growing profession. The adoption of evidence‐based practice is an important feature to ensure the profession’s continued success. There are also other issues evident in Australian occupational therapy today that need to be considered to ensure the profession’s continued growth. These are: the terminology that is and could be used in occupational therapy; the possibility of ‘collateral damage’ to occupational therapy concepts and processes if deterministic elements of evidence‐based practice predominate; and the importance of making explicit our national position on occupational therapy core concepts and processes. Regarding the latter, the author proposes that this position is best described as ‘finding unity in diversity’. This position reflects the national heritage, character and social/health priorities facing Australian occupational therapy. The implications of these issues are explored.

The contribution of occupational therapy to the fabric of Australian rural and remote communities

Social justice has provided a basis for the underlying values of occupational therapy in Australia. In the 1990s, changes in health issues and delivery of services are causing occupational therapists to reconsider their values and the ways they deliver their services. By any measure, the health status of individuals in rural and remote communities of Australia is poorer that their urban counterparts. The issues associated with the poor health status of these communities will best be addressed through a combined strategic approach by governments, organizations and professional groups, including occupational therapy. Identification of some of the key issues affecting the supply of occupational therapists in rural and remote communities and how they might be addressed are discussed. It is proposed that the development of cohesive national strategies and actions aimed at enhancing the contribution of occupational therapy to rural and remote communities ought to include, among other things, adoption of the primary health care approach, fundamental changes in the education and preparation of practitioners for practice, and identification of competencies and standards for effective rural and remote practice.

A survey about completing an honours degree and future occupational therapy career paths

Factors associated with completing an occupational therapy honours degree were investigated by comparing graduates who had completed honours with graduates who had chosen not to complete honours. Fifty‐five honours graduates and 55 degree‐only graduates from a 10 year period were surveyed by mail with response rates of 80 and 56%, respectively. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics to allow comparison between the groups. The subjects' most frequent reason for doing honours was an interest in research and in gaining research skills. Financial reasons were the most commonly cited for not doing honours. A higher percentage of honours graduates than degree‐only graduates occupied in‐charge positions or were full‐time students. A higher percentage of degree‐only graduates were in grade 2 positions. Perceived ability to conduct research, participation in research, and the number of journal publications were greater among honours graduates. Honours graduates also indicated slightly higher satisfaction with their current jobs and with occupational therapy as a career. The implications of completing honours in terms of some career path factors are hypothesized on the basis of the results. The survey provides some preliminary information to assist students with decision making and suggestions for further research on honours degrees in occupational therapy in Australia.

Occupational Therapy in Australia — Where Are We Going and How do We Get There

The occupational therapy profession has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1940s. It is now 1990: where do we want occupational therapy to be in another 50 years? Our profession can have control over its future. To do this we must acknowledge and analyse the internal and external environment, establish short and long term plans, and learn to utilise power to play and win the political games. The possibilities await us. As a profession we must choose a course of affirmative action, co‐ordinated by the profession's hierarchy, in consultation with all the members of the profession. All occupational therapists need to play their part.

Occupational Therapy in Australia: A Changing Profession and Changing Attitudes

This article reports the main findings of the Victorian Occupational Therapy Labour-Force Survey in 1986, and compares them where possible with data obtained in a national survey conducted four years earlier by Lansbury.1 Recent socioeconomic changes in Victoria have led to a considerable growth in demand for occupational therapists. The main reserve labour force consists of women caring for dependent children, many of whom would welcome the opportunity to return to work if their needs for flexible hours and on-site child care were catered for. Whilst the changes in patterns of employment and career attitudes could be interpreted as indicators of a decrease in labour-force problems, the profession's continued acceptance of traditional working conditions suggests that problems may be perpetuated rather than alleviated.

A Review of the Professional Position of Occupational Therapy in Australia

The professional development of occupational therapy in Australia is a cause for celebration. I propose now to tell you why I believe this to be so.

‘Fair Dinkum’: Two British Occupational Therapists' Experience of Community Occupational Therapy in Australia

This article is not intended as a criticism of either the British or the Australian system, but as an observation to facilitate an exchange of ideas and to prepare anyone who may be anticipating working abroad. It comprises two sections, one written by each occupational therapist, and describes their separate experiences in two different areas of community occupational therapy in Australia.

Occupational Therapy 1981–1986: Trends and Implications

This article reports the main findings of a Victorian occupational therapy labour force survey (1986). The survey was conducted in two parts. The first part sought information from heads of departments of occupational therapy and sole practitioners and focused on current and proposed future staff establishments and recruitment and retention problems. The second part sought data from both practising and nonpractising occupational therapists on career patterns, career and professional development plans and reasons for temporary or permanent withdrawal from the labour force. The findings of the survey are placed in the context of occupational therapy in Australia and their implications for educators, employers and practitioners are discussed.

Geography Moulds Occupational Therapy in Australia

Geography Moulds Occupational Therapy in Australia

EDITORIAL

Australian Occupational Therapy JournalVolume 15, Issue 2 p. 6-7 Free Access EDITORIAL SYLVIA B. DOCKER M.B.E., A.P.A., N.S.W., M.A.O.T., SYLVIA B. DOCKER M.B.E., A.P.A., N.S.W., M.A.O.T.Search for more papers by this author SYLVIA B. DOCKER M.B.E., A.P.A., N.S.W., M.A.O.T., SYLVIA B. DOCKER M.B.E., A.P.A., N.S.W., M.A.O.T.Search for more papers by this author First published: April‐June 1968 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.1968.tb00249.x Miss Sylvia Docker, M.B.E., A.P.A. (N.S.W.), M.A.O.T., needs no introduction to Australian Occupational Therapists. Her work for Occupational Therapy is set out in The Sylvia Docker Lecture — “Occupational Therapy in Australia — The Formative Years”, in the January-March, 1967, issue of this Journal. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume15, Issue2April‐June 1968Pages 6-7 RelatedInformation