Search

Occupational therapists are an essential healthcare profession and play a vital role in rehabilitating patients in the activities of daily life. Nevertheless, many occupational therapists in Sweden are leaving the profession and this jeopardises occupational therapy services. To explore factors that cause occupational therapists to seriously consider leaving their profession. As part of a larger national study of Swedish occupational therapists' health and work environment, qualitative content analysis with a summative approach was applied to explore the reasons for considering leaving their profession among 1279 Swedish occupational therapists. Three themes emerged: (1) facing work environment deficiencies, (2) pursuing own development and (3) Personal factors and external constraints. The largest category, belonging to theme 1, was stress and high work pressure given 344 times as a reason to consider leaving the profession. This article provides new and important insights on the reasons why occupational therapists may seriously consider leaving their profession. The results are significant for managers and employing organizations to consider in order to prevent a shortage of occupational therapy services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this project, we have used new technologies to create a new channel of communication between doctors and patients in the treatment of mental disorders. We have created a web application using an adaptable design accessible from any mobile device, which allows doctors to adapt their patients’ therapy to real-time knowledge of their current condition. In turn, patients can express their mood state with respect to the component elements of their therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diversity in Europe has both increased and become more complex posing challenges to both national and local welfare state regimes. Evidence indicates specific barriers for migrant, faith and minority ethnic groups when accessing healthcare. However, previous studies of health in diverse cities in European countries have mainly adopted an ethno-national focus. Taking into account the new complexity of diversity within cities, a deeper and multi-faceted understanding of everyday health practices in superdiverse contexts is needed to support appropriate healthcare provision. Methods/Design: This protocol describes a mixed method study investigating how residents in superdiverse neighbourhoods access healthcare. The study will include participant observation and qualitative interviewing as well as a standardised health survey and will be carried out in eight superdiverse neighbourhoods - with varying deprivations levels and trajectories of change - in four European countries (Germany, Portugal, Sweden and UK). In each neighbourhood, trained polylingual community researchers together with university researchers will map formal and informal provision and infrastructures supportive to health and healthcare. In-depth interviews with residents and healthcare providers in each country will investigate local health-supportive practices. Thematic analysis will be used to identify different types of help-seeking behaviours and support structures across neighbourhoods and countries. Using categories identified from analyses of interview material, a health survey will be set up investigating determinants of access to healthcare. Complex models, such as structural equation modelling, will be applied to analyse commonalities and differences between population groups, neighbourhoods and countries. Discussion: This study offers the potential to contribute to a deeper understanding of how residents in superdiverse neighbourhoods deal with health and healthcare in everyday practices. The findings will inform governmental authorities, formal and informal healthcare providers how to further refine health services and how to achieve equitable access in diverse population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]