Tool For Occupational Therapists Research Articles

Assessing work speed using MODAPTS: A tool for occupational therapists.

The importance to be able to work is recognised as one of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. Occupational therapists working in vocational rehabilitation require cost effective, valid, and reliable tests that offer flexibility during the work evaluation process. The use of self-developed work samples standardized using Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS) as an objective measure of work speed could meet this need. Evaluate the face, content, and criterion validity of MODAPTS work samples to assess work speed. We conducted a quantitative cross-sectional, descriptive study. Occupational therapists completed electronic surveys to evaluate face and content validity. We evaluated criterion validity during a multiphase process that involved a realist synthesis, online survey, and comparing MODAPTS to Methods Time Management (MTM) time standards using three work samples that measured work speed. MODAPTS had good face validity for measuring work speed. We also confirmed the content and criterion validity of codes used to analyse basic movement and handling of smaller and larger articles as well as other body actions. MODAPTS demonstrated adequate face, content and criterion validity of tasks involving basic movements, handling of articles and other body actions.

The Feasibility of Interventions Based on Meaningful and Psychologically Rewarding Occupations in Improving Health and Well-Being

We investigated the feasibility of interventions based on the guidelines for use of meaningful and psychologically rewarding occupations as a means of improving perceived health and well-being among 21 students, faculty, and staff at a US midwestern University. Using a repeated measures design, we used the RAND SF-36, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, and Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment to gather data on four variables. There was a main effect of interventions on perceived well-being, F (2, 40) = 3.74, p = .03, ɳ 2 = .40, and energy/fatigue, F (2, 40) = 4.57, p = .02, ɳ 2 = .43. The guidelines show promise as a tool for occupational therapists.

Utilisation of strategic analysis and planning by occupational therapy services

Many occupational therapists in practice can testify to the continually changing environments that impact on the delivery of effective services in the modern human service delivery system. It is within this context that occupational therapists are urged to regularly undertake strategic planning to keep track of and deal with these ongoing changes. In the present article, strategic analysis and planning will be discussed as a tool for occupational therapists in practice. The first step in strategic planning is an analysis of the external and internal environments of a particular service. The current article will provide an example of an environmental analysis as first step. This is followed by a discussion of the second step: the consideration of appropriate strategies and models of service delivery. The aim of the present article is to emphasise the importance of critical reflection by practitioners in order to adapt to the environmental changes influencing occupational therapy service delivery.

Strategic planning: positioning occupational therapy to be proactive in the new health care paradigm.

Strategic planning can be a powerful tool for occupational therapists seeking to position themselves to be leaders in the rapidly changing health care environment. The philosophical base and values of occupational therapy are consistent with those embraced by the emerging health care paradigm. However, occupational therapy staff at Victoria Hospital, an acute care university-affiliated health care institution, identified obstacles to seizing the opportunities offered by this shift in health care. In reviewing the literature, it was discovered that these obstacles were not unique to one particular facility, but were in fact common issues faced by the profession. The strategic planning process described in this paper provided a framework for addressing the identified barriers and positioning occupational therapists to play a proactive role in the evolving health care paradigm.