Occupational Therapy Knowledge Research Articles

Identifying Facilitators of and Barriers to Referrals to Occupational Therapy Services by Israeli Cancer Health Care Professionals: A Qualitative Study.

Persons living with and beyond cancer (PLWBC) are rarely referred to occupational therapy services despite their functional difficulties. An understanding of the barriers to and facilitators of occupational therapy referrals from the perspective of cancer health care professionals could help minimize referral gaps. To explore cancer health care professionals' perspectives on and knowledge of occupational therapy's role in cancer care, identify the barriers, and explore solutions to optimize referrals. Multiexplanatory qualitative case study. Community and hospital cancer clinics in Israel. Six in-person focus groups of cancer care Israeli nurses and social workers, totaling 28 participants. Two main themes were identified: (1) barriers to occupational therapy referrals and (2) partial facilitators of occupational therapy referrals. The four barriers subthemes were (1) gaps in knowledge about symptoms' effects on daily functioning, (2) gaps in knowledge regarding occupational therapy's role in cancer care, (3) bureaucratic and organizational barriers, and (4) unavailability of occupational therapy services. The two facilitators subthemes were (1) collaborations and communication with occupational therapists and (2) awareness of occupational therapy services. Participants suggested practical solutions for improving occupational therapy referrals, interdisciplinary collaboration and communication, and integrating occupational therapy into cancer care. Barriers to referrals included gaps in participants' knowledge that link side effects to functional difficulties indicating a need for referral to occupational therapy. Participants' suggestions to bolster referrals can be implemented by occupational therapists to reduce patients' unmet needs and bridge existing gaps in cancer care. Plain-Language Summary: This research helped to identify barriers and facilitators regarding insufficient knowledge about occupational therapy's role in cancer care and adds a better understanding of gaps in referrals to occupational therapy. In addition, cancer health care professionals who participated in the study suggested practical solutions for reducing barriers and maximizing support for referral. With these nuances, occupational therapy practitioners can work with medical cancer care units (i.e., acute care hospitals, medical cancer centers, and community health care clinics) to target the use of strategies that work for their units to ensure that persons living with and beyond cancer receive needed occupational therapy services.

Establishing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Priorities for Occupational Therapy Research

Abstract In this State of the Science column, we examine evidence that aligns common applications of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and occupational therapy research and suggest areas of focus to advance a culturally affirming and antiracist science of occupation. More specifically, we describe why DEI is important to the study of occupation, identify DEI gaps in the occupational therapy knowledge base, suggest DEI priorities for occupational therapy research and their implications for practice, and recommend practical strategies for occupational therapy scholars to apply in more immediate efforts to address DEI in their research endeavors.

Drawing on critical disability and universal design perspectives within occupational therapy

Background Critical perspectives which focus on socio-political influences on occupation have gained increased attention within the occupational therapy profession. Critical disability studies (CDS) question prevailing assumptions about disability and how disabling ideologies and practices are perpetuated in society. Universal Design (UD) is a design approach that aims to operationalise issues of inclusion and justice. Aim To identify and discuss how the tenets of CDS and UD can contribute to occupational therapy practice and research. Methods and Results Drawing on the writings of leading scholars within CDS, UD and occupational therapy, we demonstrate the intertwined barriers faced by disabled children, youth, and adults who have participated in our studies and provide ideas on how practice can be guided by the tenets of CDS and UD to promote social equity. Conclusions Incorporating CDS and UD perspectives in occupational therapy practice and research requires a change in mindset and ways of working. Occupational therapy knowledge needs to be expanded to scrutinise disabling hindrances hidden within social and structural spaces, and implemented in services. We recommend working with disability communities to raise awareness and combat disabling barriers at various level of society, as mandated by policy.

Profiling occupational therapists’ preference for an international master’s program in occupational therapy: A needs analysis study

Background: To advance occupational therapy knowledge and practice in Southeast Asia, it is pivotal that quality master’s degree programs in occupational therapy are in place. Such a program must respond to the needs of the region in terms of occupational therapy education, practice, and scholarship. By recognizing the diversity of the occupational therapy education and training in the region, it has become possible to consider alternatives in establishing a graduate program in occupational therapy through partnerships and consortia. In order to make an informed decision to decide whether co-creating a master’s program in occupational therapy through an international consortium within the region is possible or not, a needs assessment is warranted. Objectives: To describe the profile of occupational therapists living and working in the Southeast Asian region who would like to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy via an international consortium. Materials and methods: An online survey design was used to produce data that would be used to inform the co-creation of an international master’s program in occupational therapy. The survey questionnaire was designed specifically for this study and included three sections: 1) information and consent form; 2) demographic information; and 3) information about the need for and preferences on a master’s program in occupational therapy. Participants were recruited through professional organizations and various social media platforms of national and international occupational therapy groups. Results: Eighty-five final-year occupational therapy students and 143 occupational therapists from the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and other countries completed the survey. Majority (62%) of the respondents was interested in pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy because they perceived that an advanced degree can enable specialization in practice, promote personal and professional development, and help generate new knowledge for the field. The characteristics of the envisaged international master’s program must be: 1) completed ideally in 1.5 to 2 years, 2) taken by part-time students who are also working practicing, 3) delivered via a hybrid arrangement (i.e., online and face-to-face) with a fixed weekly schedule, and 4) matriculated for USD 1,000 per semester. Conclusion: While this cross-sectional survey cannot encapsulate the totality of occupational therapists’ needs in terms of their professional development, the survey provided an empirical basis to inform decisions in the creation of a master’s program in occupational therapy jointly offered by an international consortium of Southeast Asian universities.

Atuação da terapia ocupacional com puérperas nas ações do núcleo de apoio à saúde da família

Abstract Introduction Occupational Therapy works in Primary Care through the Family Health Support Center, collaborating to promote comprehensive health monitoring for the population served by SUS. Among the people assisted are women in the puerperium, the period between childbirth until the next six and eight weeks is marked by several changes for those who experience it. Objective To investigate the role of occupational therapists with postpartum women in Primary Care actions at Family Health Support Center in Recife-PE. Method A qualitative exploratory study, carried out between April and May 2022, with eight occupational therapists working in Recife-PE. As a research instrument, a semi-structured interview script was produced. For analysis, the Collective Subject Discourse technique was used. Results The professionals report difficulties to work as a team with postpartum women due to the lack of knowledge of the possibilities of assistance on the part of the Family Health Teams. Despite this, they carry out several actions aimed at the field of action and the core of knowledge of Occupational Therapy. Among the actions carried out are home visits, individual and shared care, group care, breastfeeding support, guidance to postpartum women and support network, mental health care, guidance and resumption of occupational roles, routine structuring and guidance or support for daily activities. Conclusion Based on the understanding of occupation and occupational performance, the practice of occupational therapists at team represents benefits to the health of women assisted during the puerperium.

Patient Satisfaction with Occupational Therapy Services for Wheeled Mobility and Seating Devices

Satisfaction of 81 patients was evaluated before and after receiving occupational therapy services. There was a statistically significant difference between patients’ scores before and after receiving occupational therapy services (p < .05). Over 85% indicated a high satisfaction in relation to quality and health outcomes attributed to occupational therapy services, 44% reported barriers related to limited availability, accessibility, and knowledge of occupational therapy services, and 35% made suggestions for improvements. Patient-therapist communication and easy access to occupational therapy services can enhance occupational therapy knowledge, lead to positive patient experience and quality health outcomes, and higher patient satisfaction.

Cognition Mediates Playfulness Development in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Study of Typically Developing Children.

Play, children's central occupation, and playfulness, its behavioral manifestation, are the foci of occupational therapy intervention. However, information about the development of playfulness behavior and the role of cognitive function is limited. To explore the development of playfulness and its relation to cognitive functioning from infancy to toddlerhood. Longitudinal study with data collected at ages 6 mo, 18 mo, and 24 mo. Laboratory (age 6 mo) and home (ages 12 and 18 mo). Eighty-six typically developing children drawn from a convenience sample of 109 low-risk families of middle to upper socioeconomic status. The Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) to assess cognitive functioning and the Test of Playfulness (ToP) to assess children's playfulness. ToP scores were significantly higher at age 24 mo than at age 6 mo, t(88) = -60.30, p < .001, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-1.47, -1.38]. Correlation analysis revealed that the more playful the infant was at age 6 mo, the higher their cognitive functioning was at age 18 mo and the more playful they were at age 24 mo. Toddlers with higher cognitive performance at age 18 mo demonstrated more playful behavior at age 24 mo (β = 0.120, SE = 0.05, 95% CI [0.0377, -0.2276]). Children's playfulness is evident as early as age 6 mo and continues to develop through toddlerhood, depending on their cognitive growth. Occupational therapists play a key role in working with families with young children, promoting cognitive development to further the development of playfulness behaviors. What This Article Adds: Understanding the development of playfulness and exploring its relationship with cognitive functioning in typically developing children fills important gaps in occupational therapy knowledge and contributes to delivery of early intervention, especially when cognition or playfulness are at risk. Our findings confirmed that cognitive functioning contributes to the development of playfulness.

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

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

An anthropophagic proposition in occupational therapy knowledge: Driving our actions towards social life

ABSTRACT This year Brazil celebrates 100 years of a landmark in Modernism. The Manifesto Anthropophagic, by Andrade, is part of this and proposes that a real process of knowledge production stems from alterity, the coexistence of cultures, understanding the other and, from the ‘devouring’ of knowledge, building the new. Inspired by this, I propose the discussion of an anthropophagic knowledge construction in occupational therapy, starting from questioning the locus and the purpose of professional actions. Loci of practice are discussed in terms of four concepts: occupation, human activity, cotidiano (everyday life), and ways of life. Purpose is discussed through the concepts of occupational engagement, social insertion/inclusion, emancipation/autonomy, and social participation. Coming from social occupational therapy, I advocate the relevance of directing our actions towards social life. To this end, it is necessary to recognise the plurality of vocabularies, histories, and cultures within the profession, which can be achieved through a construction that can unite us.

Um mosaico de experiências e narrativas sobre práticas coletivas na terapia ocupacional: considerações metodológicas

Abstract In the last decade, studies in occupational therapy have emphasized aspects of collective construction in narrative research that reflect on the ethical precepts essential to the anonymity of participants, while guaranteeing their protagonism. This article discusses a methodological approach that is little used, namely, the narrative constructed through non-anonymous collaboration between participants and researchers, seeking to identify the challenges and potential of shared elaboration. Therefore, the article presents: 1. description of the study's conceptions and its general characteristics, notably the theoretical and methodological references that support the reflexive, dialogic and collective construction of the stories; 2. potentialities and difficulties of the participatory approach in the construction of knowledge in occupational therapy. One of the central points of the adopted methodology, the revelation of the participants' identities, which emphasizes the writing of stories in the first person, is not yet consolidated in the current designs of participatory studies carried out with occupational therapists and can be considered an innovative action for the field of occupational therapy. Technical training requirements are presented, such as communication skills and political agreement, as well as the ethical and epistemological consequences of the professionals' experience. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that, when narrating in the first person, without pseudonyms, the trajectory of the professionals, we face several challenges, such as the fine line between personal and professional life, as well as the social commitments and political consequences of the participants' actions, in addition to the involuntary exposure of third parties, who would not necessarily authorize their actions to be made public.

Development of a questionnaire on awareness about occupational therapy among health-care professionals: A cross-sectional survey

Background: Occupational therapists are recognized as essential members of the health-care team. Occupational therapy treatments are required to deliver better services and to promote a comprehensive service approach. Occupational therapy awareness is critical for providing high-quality care to all patients. There is, however, a paucity of studies aimed at determining occupational therapy awareness and knowledge. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire to assess health-care professionals' (HP's) awareness and knowledge of occupational therapy. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a reliable questionnaire to assess HP's awareness and knowledge about occupational therapy. Study Design: This study was based on a cross-sectional design. Methods: The questionnaire was created in three stages. Initially, the first stage was to do a literature review for item generation. The second stage was to circulate a draft of the questionnaire among experts for face validity, and stage three was to test the reliability of items. Results: The generated items underwent face validity by ten experts. After face validation, the final questionnaire consisting of two sections (awareness and knowledge about OT and advocacy) were circulated to fifty health-care professionals. A statistical analysis (Cronbach's alpha) was done to analyze internal consistency, which indicates α = 0.78. Conclusion: This study concludes that the questionnaire is reliable for exploring awareness and knowledge about occupational therapy.

Uso de substâncias e significados: transformando participação ocupacional e experiências

Abstract Introduction We draw on activity theory of concepts to examine ‘meaning of occupation’ and ‘substance use’ beyond preconceived notions of inherent positive or negative experiences. Objective To explore nuanced meanings of substance use and associated occupations. Method An online survey and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from professionals about prevalence of substance use, substance effects, and personal experiences. In analyzing the interview data, we attended to substance use as a discrete occupation in itself, substance use co-occurring with other occupations, and substance use altering the performance, participation, and experience of occupations. Results Three broad themes related to meaning: i) complex meanings attributed to substance use, ii) meanings of substance use as shifting and variable, and iii) meanings of substance use in the context of other occupations. Substance use enhances occupations, transforms meaning of occupations, and mitigates less desired aspects of occupations. Work, construed as positively meaningful and valued in occupational therapy literature, was a source of stress, unhappiness, and worry; substance use facilitated relaxation and pleasure. Conclusion This study furthers occupational therapy knowledge with respect to implications for conceptualization that extend beyond dualist framings and implications for occupational therapy education, practice, and policy.

From domestication to imperial patronage: Deconstructing the biomedicalisation of occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy knowledge emerged in the 19th century as reformist movements responded to the industrialisation of society and capitalist expansion. In the Global North, it was institutionalised by State apparatuses during the First and Second World Wars. Although biomedicine contributed to the rapid expansion and establishment of occupational therapy as a health discipline, its domestication by the biomedical model led to an overly regulated profession that betrays its reformist ideals. Drawing on the work of Deleuze and Guattari, our aim in this article is to deconstruct the biomedicalisation of occupational therapy and demonstrate how resistance to this process is critical for the future of this discipline. The use of arts and crafts in occupational therapy may be conceptualised as a 'nomad science' aesthetically resisting the domination of industrialism and medical reductionism. Through the war efforts, a coalition of progressive nurses, social workers, teachers, artisans and activists metamorphosed into occupational therapists. As it did with nursing, biomedicine proceeded to domesticate occupational therapy through a form of 'imperial' patronage subsequently embodied in the evidence-based movement. 'Occupational' jargon is widely used today and may be viewed as the product of a profession trying to establish itself as an autonomous discipline that imposes its own regime of truth. Given the symbolic violence underlying this patronage, the future of occupational therapy should not mean behaving according to biomedicine's terms. As a discipline, occupational therapy must resist the appropriation of its 'war machine' and craft its own terms through the release of new creative energy.

Exploring the Praxis of Occupational Therapy-Community Development Practitioners.

Background. A growing body of occupational therapy knowledge and practice focuses not on health but on social transformation, and couples occupational therapy with community development. A tension in both these fields is the disconnect between what practitioners espouse and what they do, limiting the potential of practice. To address this, practitioners are encouraged to engage in praxis-the critical synthesis of theory and practice. Purpose. To explore whether and how Australian occupational therapy-community development practitioners engage in critical praxis. Method. A critical dialogical method was employed to complete multiple in-depth interviews with four occupational therapy-community development practitioners. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings. Practitioners appeared capable of praxis but were not consistently employing it. Findings were grouped into themes: disjointed praxis, authentic praxis, supporting praxis, and praxis challenges and solutions. Implications. Occupational therapists need to be supported to develop, use, and maintain skills in critical praxis.

An approach to developing oral health knowledge for allied health students.

Oral health competency-based education approaches have been proposed as a mechanism to address oral health outcomes and equity issues. Recommendations for oral health education for allied health professional students include practices to increase team members' knowledge and skills in the integration of oral health and primary care practice (IOHPCP) initiative's oral health clinical competencies for primary care providers. This study aimed to examine changes in self-reported knowledge of occupational students in the topics of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems following participation in a series of webinars and a community-engaged learning project. This study utilized an oral health education program through webinars and a community-engaged learning project for occupational therapy students. Program evaluation measures were utilized to assess the oral health education activities through self-reported knowledge in oral health topics aligned with IOHPCP domains along with topics identified by the community partner organization. Findings demonstrate that asynchronous webinars can increase self-reported knowledge in occupational therapy students. Recommendations for inclusion of oral health education for allied health students related to knowledge of oral health, the dental profession, and dental healthcare systems are shared. Asynchronous webinars have the potential to increase self-reported oral health knowledge for allied health professionals.

Knowledge and awareness about occupational therapy among healthcare professionals in Al-Ahsa

Introduction and Aim: Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health care profession in which assist persons with physical, mental, or cognitive impairments through the therapeutic use of daily activities. In addition, the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) is aimed to enable the individual or groups to involve them in roles, customs and routines in home, college, place of business, society, and other settings by occupational therapist [1]. OT considers the only health care profession that enables people to do the activities they want and important for them via the therapeutic use of everyday activities [2]. Occupational therapists capacitate people of all ages to assist them by enhancing their health and inhibiting or adjusting with the injury, illness, or disability [3]. The aim of the study is to evaluate the knowledge of Occupational Therapy among healthcare professionals of National Guard Health Affairs in Al-Ahsa. Method: The study is cross-sectional study; the research was conducted in National Guard Health Affairs in Al-Ahsa. The healthcare provider’s knowledge about OT was assessed by the survey. The questionnaire consisted of seventy-five closed statements in five different aspects. The five-point Likert Scale (1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree) was used to measure the healthcare provider’s knowledge about OT. Results: The total numbers of participants were 218 participants, and 167 participants completed the survey showing a high response rate of 76.6%. The study found that the total knowledge among healthcare professionals about OT is moderate. Conclusion: The healthcare professionals of National Guard Health Affairs in Al-Ahsa have a moderate to minimal knowledge about OT. Further studies are needed on the importance of developing OT in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in general and in Al-Ahsa in particular.

What Are Predictors for Passing the OT Licensing Exam?

Abstract Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. The predictors of success on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) were investigated by analyzing OT students' graduate-level course grades and their Occupational Therapy Knowledge Exam (OTKE) scores. The researchers found that pedagogy styles and success in foundational courses had no significant indication of overall first-time pass rates on the NBCOT. The best predictor of success on the NBCOT continues to be the OTKE. Primary Author and Speaker: Rebekah Wilson Additional Authors and Speakers: Hawii Mekonnen, Alexis Gaatz, Elizabeth Holmgren Contributing Authors: Kathy Lemley, Reivian Berrios Barillas

Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Post-Graduate Resident Doctors and Speciality Medical Officers in Tertiary Healthcare Centre

Occupational Therapy (OT) is an essential speciality in healthcare system that aims to maximize people’sfunctional abilities and performance. Knowledge about OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY among healthcareprofessionals is essential for the delivery of quality care services. Since Occupational Therapy is not awell understood profession, this survey represents assessment of awareness of Occupational Therapyamong Post Graduate Residents (PG) and Speciality Medical Officer (SMO) in a tertiary health carecenter in Mumbai. In this survey there were 145 participants from various specialties and who haveOccupational Therapy as a part of patient management team in the hospital. All participants completed aquestionnaire regarding awareness and knowledge of Occupational Therapy containing 16 questions. Theresults revealed that 78.55% had distinctive awareness about Occupational Therapy, 18.75% had average&amp; 2.7% had poor awareness of Occupational Therapy. Maximum awareness was found in departmentsof General Medicine&amp;Psychiatry (79%), while poor awareness was found in department of Obstetrics &amp;Gynecology (51%). The preliminary findings suggest that Most participants perceived that OccupationalTherapy domain of practice only includes orthopaedics, mental health, hand rehabilitation and adult andpaediatric neurology while overlooking the areas of wellness and gerontology. Such a result reflects lackof communication channels between Occupational Therapists and other healthcare professionals which canrestrict interdisciplinary work. Therefore, more interprofessional interactions and collaborative activitiesneeds to be incorporated within the curriculum and placements of all healthcare professionals.

AWARENESS OF THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNITS AMONG OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS - A SURVEY

BACKGROUND: Occupational Therapist is an integral part of Neonatology team. The purpose of this research is to explore and promote the awareness of the role of Occupational Therapy (OT) within Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). A survey was created to determine and assess the awareness of neonatal care guidelines by occupational therapists using a stratied random sample, distributed to occupational therapists working in Government Hospitals, Private Hospital Settings and in Private Practice throughout India. Study Design: Survey Research Design. METHODS: A survey was created by the researchers using Google Forms based on a thorough literature review of the topic. The survey consisted of 20 quantitative and qualitative items. After pilot testing, the survey was sent via social media through WhatsApp link to occupational therapy practitioners working in various healthcare setups throughout India. Data was collected from 26th May 2020 to 5th June 2020. Total 54 responses were received. RESULTS: Out of 54 therapist responses 60% were from tertiary care Government hospitals, out of which 3.8% were working full time in NICU, among all 29 % therapist had comprehensive knowledge about practical applications, but 50% therapists were interested in gaining indepth knowledge. All the therapists were aware about commonly used practices such as positioning, Kangaroo Mother Care etc. CONCLUSION: This survey helped to assess Occupational Therapy knowledge about the role of occupational therapist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and also provided awareness to the therapists about the various approaches used for intervention in NICU. Many therapists are aware about this developing branch in Occupational therapy, but have restricted scope to practise in the highly specialised area. The results may guide and facilitate further research of this important speciality area of occupational therapy practise.

Contemporary Perspectives of Occupational Therapy in Latin America: Contributions to the Glocal Dialogue

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The contemporary perspectives of occupational therapy in Latin America focus on an epistemic, political, and plural field under construction and in dispute. It is about the notions of knowing and doing designed to appoint the theoretical and methodological aspects that support the reading and intervention of the complex realities PURPOSE: This paper explores a glocal dialogue about the production and dissemination of knowledge in occupational therapy in Latin America KEY ISSUES: The dialogue includes issues and trends in the global scientific and social scenario, without neglecting aspects of different local realities around the world. By focusing on the profession in Latin America, using different perspectives, such as Critical Occupational Therapy; Occupational Therapy and Social Issues; Occupational Therapy and Culture; Territory and Community Occupational Therapy; Southern Occupational Therapies; and Occupational Science in Latin America. It further discusses the relationship between the theoretical perspectives and the coloniality of knowledge in occupational therapy and the contradictions based on neoliberal models in the production and dissemination of knowledge CONCLUSION: The hegemonic neoliberal model and the glocalisation theoretical framework appeared to support and circumvent the production of scientific knowledge in occupational therapy, and placed Latin America on the periphery of the global debate Keywords: professional practice of occupational therapy; theoretical framework, theoretical perspective, coloniality of knowledge, critical occupational therapy, occupational science.