Part Of Rehabilitation Services Research Articles

Auditory Training for Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Survey and Cost Analysis Study.

The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to describe audiologists' practices toward auditory training (AT) for adult cochlear implant (CI) users with a postlingual hearing loss; and (b) to assess the cost of different AT methods for clients and service providers in comparison with no AT delivery. A survey was distributed to approximately 230 Australian CI audiologists to investigate the range, magnitude, and rationale of AT practices adopted as part of rehabilitation services with adult CI users. The cost of these different AT practices was then estimated from the perspectives of both clients and service providers, and compared against no AT delivery. Seventy-eight audiologists responded to at least one section of the survey (16% to 33% response rate), of which 85.5% reported that they viewed AT as a necessary component of rehabilitation. Home-based and face-to-face were the methods most frequently adopted to deliver AT. Methods used during training, such as stimuli type, feedback, and encouragement for training adherence, varied across respondents. The cost analysis indicated that home-based training resulted in the lowest program costs, whereas face-to-face AT (when delivered independently from routine appointments) was the method with highest cost for clients and service providers. The type of AT, recommended frequency of sessions, and overall duration of programs varied widely across respondents. Costs incurred by clients depended mainly on whether the AT was home-based or clinician-led (i.e., face-to-face, group-based), program fees, and travel arrangements made by clients, as well as clinicians' wages and the method chosen to deliver AT.

A student-facilitated community-based support group initiative for Mental Health Care users in a Primary Health Care setting

Background: South African Mental Health Care (MHC) legislation advocates for supportive rehabilitative services in Primary Health Care (PHC) settings. PHC settings are often understaffed and MHC nurses in these settings overburdened with high patient loads. Alternative cost-effective psycho-social intervention strategies must be explored to supplement the overstrained MHC sector to meet the rehabilitative and supportive needs of service users in community settings. Using a social constructionist epistemology, this study aimed to highlight the value of a community-based support group for MHC users at a Tshwane District Community Health Centre. This was done by exploring the meaning group members attached to the group. The intervention was a collaborative partnership between a local University Psychology Department and the Department of Health, Tshwane District, utilising post-graduate psychology students as group facilitators.Methods: Qualitative research methods were applied. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a collage-making and storytelling method. Thematic analysis highlighted the main themes representing the meaning the five participants ascribed to the group.Results: The findings suggest that the group offered the participants a sense of belonging and a means of social and emotional support. The group also created opportunity for learning, encouraged mental and physical mobilisation and stimulation, and served as an additional link to professional services. Conclusion: The findings suggest that student-facilitated support groups could offer a viable supplement for offering support to service users in PHC settings. The group assisted MHC users to cope with symptoms, social integration, and participating in meaningful activities as part of rehabilitation services.

A student-facilitated community-based support group initiative for Mental Health Care users in a Primary Health Care setting

BackgroundSouth African Mental Health Care (MHC) legislation advocates for supportive rehabilitative services in Primary Health Care (PHC) settings. PHC settings are often understaffed and MHC nurses in these settings overburdened with high patient loads. Alternative cost-effective psycho-social intervention strategies must be explored to supplement the overstrained MHC sector to meet the rehabilitative and supportive needs of service users in community settings. Using a social constructionist epistemology, this study aimed to highlight the value of a community-based support group for MHC users at a Tshwane District Community Health Centre. This was done by exploring the meaning group members attached to the group. The intervention was a collaborative partnership between a local University Psychology Department and the Department of Health, Tshwane District, utilising post-graduate psychology students as group facilitators. MethodsQualitative research methods were applied. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a collage-making and storytelling method. Thematic analysis highlighted the main themes representing the meaning the five participants ascribed to the group. ResultsThe findings suggest that the group offered the participants a sense of belonging and a means of social and emotional support. The group also created opportunity for learning, encouraged mental and physical mobilisation and stimulation, and served as an additional link to professional services. ConclusionThe findings suggest that student-facilitated support groups could offer a viable supplement for offering support to service users in PHC settings. The group assisted MHC users to cope with symptoms, social integration, and participating in meaningful activities as part of rehabilitation services.

Development of a Music Therapy Service in an Australian Public Rehabilitation Hospital

It is often challenging to find information about the details and development of clinical music therapy programs in other parts of the world. This article addresses a gap in the literature by describing the evolution of a neurological rehabilitation program over the past two years in Melbourne, Australia. After providing some local details on the development of rehabilitation music therapy in this part of the world, a brief rationale is offered for the place of music therapy in clinical rehabilitation services. This is followed by a detailed description of the implementation, operation and evaluation of the music therapy program established at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in 2004. Music therapy in adult neurological rehabilitation is still an emerging area of practice in Australia. Although the first music therapy service for adult rehabilitation was piloted and developed here over 13 years ago, few rehabilitation facilities currently employ music therapy as a standard part of rehabilitation service. Although research and practice of music therapy in rehabilitation internationally is relatively new, it has been practiced for around 20 to 30 years in the United Kingdom and the United States of America respectively. The scarcity of music therapy positions in rehabilitation facilities in Australia is possibly a reflection of the lack of understanding of music therapy on the part of funding bodies and the shortage of rigorous music therapy research in this field. The establishment of new music therapy positions in rehabilitation facilities reflects the development of music therapy in neurorehabilitation internationally in terms of research, clinical practice and publications.

Experience of a self-care unit as part of a hospital-based rehabilitation service

The nature, advantages and disadvantages, and cost of a hospital-based self-care unit as part of a rehabilitation service are described. The unit's operational policy is critically examined after analysing the records of 40 patients admitted consecutively over a 2-year period and conducting interviews with 27 patients between 4 and 48 weeks after discharge. It is concluded that, compared with a hospital ward, a self-care unit is inexpensive to run and helps to prevent patients from giving up their homes and being admitted to residential homes prematurely. In addition to an assessment and confidence-building role, the unit provides a more appropriate and acceptable environment for patients waiting housing alteration or rehousing than a hospital ward.