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This methodological paper explains the process of occupational therapy management of displaced persons due to disaster influence. It is yet to be part of the occupational therapy practice domain even in recent decades with the advancement in occupational therapy research evidence and development. It is based on the current knowledge and developments in occupational therapy client centered practice. This methodological and conceptual based study describes and illustrates the occupational therapy practice model of rehabilitating displaced persons due to disaster influence. The present paper explores the occupational therapy role in rehabilitating displaced persons through People’s Environmental Occupation, Ecology of Human Performance (EHP), and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. These are integrated as a single conceptual model to describe how and process of occupational therapy practice area during the rehabilitation process of a displaced person(s). The paper finally presented a sequenced framework to guide occupational therapists practice in this new emerging practice area of rehabilitation. This study was developed based on three different theories to support the occupational therapy treatment process of a displaced person due to disaster of any nature. Its concept based without any statistical analysis.

Question In people with bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, do feedback-guided exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen hasten return to work, reduce healthcare usage and improve clinical recovery more than a home exercise program prescribed on paper? Design Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants Seventy-four workers with limited functional ability due to bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers. Intervention Participants in the experimental and control groups received the same in-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Participants in the experimental group received a home exercise program using the ReHand tablet application, which guides exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen with feedback, monitoring and progression. Participants in the control group were prescribed an evidence-based home exercise program on paper. Outcome measures The primary outcome was the time taken to return to work. Secondary outcomes included: healthcare usage (number of clinical appointments); and functional ability, pain intensity, and grip and pinch strength 2 and 4 weeks after randomisation. Results Compared with the control group, the experimental group: returned to work sooner (MD –18 days, 95% CI –33 to –3); required fewer physiotherapy sessions (MD –7.4, 95% CI –13.1 to –1.6), rehabilitation consultations (MD –1.9, 95% CI –3.6 to 0.3) and plastic surgery consultations (MD –3.6, 95% CI –6.3 to –0.9); and had better short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength. Conclusion In people with bone and soft-tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, prescribing a feedback-guided home exercise program using a tablet-based application instead of a conventional program on paper hastened return to work and improved the short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength, while reducing the number of required healthcare appointments. Trial registration ACTRN12619000344190

Resumo Introdução O Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (TCC) tem a finalidade de aproximar o aluno da prática de pesquisa e da vivência com os aspectos éticos pertinentes à propriedade intelectual e à pesquisa com seres humanos. Sua elaboração oportuniza a investigação de um problema e a elaboração de soluções que consolidam o conhecimento adquirido ao longo do curso. Objetivo Caracterizar os TCCs da graduação em terapia ocupacional de uma universidade pública. Método Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, com abordagem quali-quanti, que utilizou para coleta de dados informações descritas em 154 documentos, assim como em questionários respondidos por 24 professores orientadores. Resultados Os trabalhos eram majoritariamente pesquisas de revisão de literatura ou documental, com abordagem qualitativa, que utilizaram o caderno de campo como instrumento de coleta de dados. As áreas mais frequentemente estudadas foram a de Contextos Hospitalares e Saúde de Família, em trabalhos relacionados aos temas vivenciados pelos alunos em projetos de extensão, pesquisa, disciplinas ou estágio. As orientações foram realizadas apenas pelo professor orientador, dentro de suas áreas de pesquisa, e o problema mais encontrado foi a dificuldade no processo de escrita do aluno. As bancas de avaliação foram constituídas por professores efetivos ou temporários do próprio curso, que sinalizaram a metodologia como a principal falha dos trabalhos. Conclusão Os dados mostraram que os alunos necessitam de mais oportunidades para exercitar e preparar um texto científico antes do momento da elaboração do TCC, e que os professores precisam apoiar seus orientandos na busca de objetos de pesquisa, instrumentos e metodologias mais diversificados. Abstract Introduction: The final paper has the purpose of bringing the student closer to the practice of research and experience with the ethical aspects which are relevant to intellectual property and research with human beings. Its elaboration facilitates the investigation of a problem and the elaboration of solutions that consolidate the knowledge acquired during the course. Objective Featuring the graduation final paper in occupational therapy of a public university. Method This is descriptive, qualitative-quantitative research that used data which were collected in 154 documents, as well as in questionnaires answered by 24 advisors. Results The works were mostly literature review or documentary research, with a qualitative approach, which used the field notebook as a data collection instrument. The most studied areas were the Hospital Context and Family Health, in works related to the themes experienced by the students in projects of extension, research, disciplines or internship. The orientations were carried out only by the advisor, within their research areas, and the most found problem was the difficulty in the student’s writing process. The examination boards were made up of effective or temporary teachers from the own course, who signaled the methodology as the main failure of the work. Conclusion The data showed that students need more opportunities to exercise and elaborate a scientific text before the moment of the final paper creation and those teachers need to support their pupils in the search for more diversified research objects, instruments, and methodologies.

Background Executive skills refer to a set of cognitive skills that allow individuals to engage in goal directed behavior. They encompass planning, initiation, inhibition, monitoring and flexibility in approach to tasks, and are necessary for functional competence. Executive skills are vulnerable to disruption with damage to the brain, as occurs with dementia. Methods Participants were recruited from a tertiary memory assessment and support Service. The Assessment of Motor & Process Skills (AMPS), a standardised observational assessment of occupational performance (1Fischer, 2003) was administered by trained Occupational Therapists. In addition, the EXIT-25, a pen & paper based assessment of executive skills (2Royall et al, 1992) was administered. Process scores from the AMPS, and overall score from the EXIT 25 were utilised for correlation analysis. Results 22 participants, 12 male and 10 females, age range 60-91 (mean 75.5 years), was analysed using Spearman’s Rho correlation (-.2). Results did not identify a strong correlation Conclusion Dementia is commonly regarded as a disorder of memory. However, diagnosis is dependent on functional decline related to cognitive decline. The AMPS provides a formal assessment of functional skills, in terms of motor & process skills with cut off scores regarding safe independent living. The results of this study indicate that the AMPS is not associated with executive scores on formal cognitive assessments, highlighting the value of an extensive multi-component MDT approach (also incorporating history taking, imaging, bio marker testing etc.) in assessing and diagnosing a dementia.

DDEUIT

There are a growing number of older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) for whom technology holds promise in supporting their engagement in daily activities. Despite the growing presence of technologies intended to support older adults with ARVL, there remains high rates of abandonment. This phenomenon of technology abandonment may be partly explained by the concept of self-image, meaning that older adults with ARVL avoid the use of particular technologies due to an underlying fear that use of such technologies may mark them as objects of pity, ridicule, and/or stigmatization. In response to this, the proposed study aims to understand how the decision-making processes of older adults with ARVL, as it relates to technology adoption, are influenced by the negotiation of identity. The study protocol will justify the need for this critical ethnographic study; unpack the theoretical underpinnings of this work; detail the sampling/recruitment strategy; and describe the methods which included a home tour, go-along, and semistructured in-depth interview, as well as the collective approach taken to analyze the data. The protocol concludes by examining the ethical tensions associated with this study, including a focus on the methods adopted as well as the ethical challenges inherent when working with an older adult population experiencing vision loss.

Objectives: The blind and visually disabled people form a predominant group in the disabled society and hence, need greater attention. Most of the rehabilitation therapists, especially occupational therapists, do not focus on this group. Thus, the aim of the study is to shed light on the issue of negligent attitude of rehabilitation therapists, especially occupational therapists, toward blind and visually-impaired people. Methods:To perform this study, a systematic, evidence-based process (Duffy 2005) was used. Data for the study was gathered from the following sources: Electronic databases: Medline PubMed, CINAHL, OVID Medline, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Databases of Systematic Reviews, ProQuest, UpToDate, Web of Science, OT Search, OTDirect, PEDro, SID, Magiran, IRAN MEDEX, MEDLIB, and IRANDOC. Results: From accessible databases, 112 articles related to blind and people with low vision in Iran were found; of these, only 17 articles have been included in this study. Discussion: Proper assessment of the visually disabled is required to implement the appropriate intervention technique. Occupational therapists need to pay special attention to the visually disabled people.&nbsp

Este artigo versa sobre uma experiência clínica denominada Oficina Terapêutica de Mosaico de Papel, concebida para atendimento grupal de pessoas com deficiência física, em situação de exclusão e vulnerabilidade social. Esta intervenção, ainda em curso, ocorre no âmbito da Terapia Ocupacional, orientando-se no pensamento psicanalítico, sobretudo em Winnicott. O artigo discute os temas: escolha e uso dos materiais na terapia ocupacional, análise do potencial terapêutico e alcance deste enquadre clínico. Aproxima-se destas questões por meio da narrativa da construção coletiva do primeiro quadro da oficina. Os encontros abriram novas dimensões da experiência da clínica e das condições existenciais e dos sofrimentos experimentados pelos participantes. A efetividade terapêutica dessa intervenção, que transita na interface entre arte e produção de saúde, mostra-se pela possibilidade de novos fazeres, de novos papéis diante do outro, de participar mais de perto da vida comunitária. This paper examines a clinical intervention model, Paper Mosaic Therapeutic Workshop, developed to assist people with physical disability and experiencing exclusion and social vulnerability. This ongoing intervention belongs to the field of occupational therapy and is based on psychoanalytical theory, specifically that of Donald Winnicott. The choice and use of materials in occupational therapy and analysis of the therapeutic potential and reach of this intervention are discussed. These topics are approached through a narrative of the collective construction of the first workshop paper mosaic. The group meetings opened new dimensions regarding clinical experience and existential conditions and suffering experienced by the participants. The therapeutic effectiveness of this intervention, operating in the interface between art and health production, was confirmed by the acquisition of new abilities and roles in relation to others, and closer participation in community life. Este artículo versa sobre una experiencia clínica: el Taller Terapéutico de Mosaico de Papel para la atención grupal de personas con discapacidad física en situación de exclusión y vulnerabilidad social. Esta práctica transcurre como Terapia Ocupacional y se orienta según el pensamiento psicoanalítico, basándose en Donald Winnicott. Se abordan estos temas: elección y uso de los materiales en terapia ocupacional, análisis del potencial terapéutico y alcance del encuadre clínico. Se efectúa una aproximación a través del relato de la construcción colectiva del primer cuadro en el taller. Los encuentros abrieron nuevos mundos en la clínica en relación con los sufrimientos de los participantes y sus condiciones existenciales. El alcance de nuevos quehaceres, nuevas posturas frente al otro, un cierto acceso y la convivencia con la comunidad muestra la eficacia terapéutica de esta propuesta situada en la interfaz arte-producción de salud.

The present study aims at identifying how the everyday life concept is used in the Occupational Therapy field in the English language literature and at making considerations in relation to the Brazilian literature on the subject. A systematic review of the international literature on the everyday life concept in the Occupational Therapy field was carried out and, from the results of this phase, reflections about the differences and similarities noticed in the use of this concept in the field of occupational therapy in Brazil are presented. Twenty articles selected from the CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) database were elected for analysis. This analysis found that English speaking authors, on the issue of everyday life rupture, focus on the assistance needed to help individuals to be able to perform their former occupations in an autonomous way. Besides, the way people live their everyday lives is an element that constitutes the person’s identity; people become what they are from their occupations. Everyday life is described in occupational terms; it is understood by the meaningful things people do in their lives. It is pointed out that, as opposed to the national literature, the international literature does not focus on the connection between everyday life and the social-political-cultural context. Thus, we discuss that the understanding about the contextualized everyday life is shared with Brazilian occupational therapists, and it has the potential to be presented as a construct on which the Brazilian contemporary occupational therapy identity is built.

The future of occupational therapy in mental health has been a topic of reflection and debate. The Education and Research Board (now the Education and Practice Board) of the College of Occupational Therapists created a Working Group to develop a position paper on the way ahead for research, education and practice in mental health. Following consultation, the Working Group reviewed literature, examined current research and surveyed practitioners, managers and educators. From these findings, recommendations have been made which will create a firmer evidence base for the practice of occupational therapy in mental health, leading to a more effective use of the expertise of occupational therapists and an improved service for users.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapy students are exposed to occupational therapy conceptual models in lectures, and are expected to practice application of these models during clinical fieldwork placements. During fieldwork, they are exposed to practitioners' approaches to the use of occupational therapy conceptual models, and are often confronted with a gap between theory and practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of conceptual models by occupational therapy practitioners in the Free State, South Africa, to inform collaborative efforts in the process of reinforcing the link between theory and practice, by enhancing the use of occupational therapy conceptual models. METHODS: A cross sectional study was done in two phases: by means of a questionnaire survey, with practitioners responsible for fieldwork supervision of students; and a workshop survey completed by practitioners attending a workshop on occupational therapy models. RESULTS: Results in the first phase describe the perceptions of 22 supervising practitioners around occupational therapy conceptual models; and their own and students' application thereof in practice. These results were used as the basis to design a workshop on the application of occupational therapy conceptual models. In the second phase, workshop survey questionnaires completed by 20 participants, indicated that they perceived the workshop as enabling with regard to applying new occupational therapy conceptual models with more confidence and competence, and that they felt more confident to supervise students in applying occupational therapy conceptual models during fieldwork. CONCLUSION: This study and its resulting workshop show how collaboration between practitioners and academics can improve the link between theory and practice, benefiting practitioners' professional identity and ultimately impacting on undergraduate training. Key words: Occupational therapy; occupational therapy conceptual models; occupational therapy practitioners supervising students; theory practice link; fieldwork education

Objective – To determine whether the quality of sources used for a research paper will improve after a student receives one-on-one instruction with a librarian. To test citation analysis and a rating scale as means for measuring effectiveness of one-on-one consultations. Design – Citation analysis. Setting – Academic library of a large American university. Subjects – Papers from 10 courses were evaluated. In total, 76 students were asked to meet with librarians. Of these, 61 actually participated. Another 36 students from the control group were not asked to meet with a librarian (although 1 partook in a consultation). Methods – Librarians invited faculty to participate in a new service to help improve quality of student research papers. Eligible courses included those with a required research paper component where papers could be evaluated at different times in the project. Faculty instructed students in the class to meet with the librarian after a first draft of a paper was written. Students from seven courses were asked to meet with a librarian. Courses included English Composition (2), Geography (1), Child Development (1), Occupational Therapy (1), Marketing (1) and Women Writers (1). Three courses acted as control groups (all English Composition). After meeting with students to make recommendations, librarians used a rating scale (measuring relevancy, authority, appropriate dates and scope) to review the quality of sources in both drafts and final papers. Main Results – One-on-one consultations with a librarian resulted in sources being of a higher quality in the final paper. With the exception of authority, the differences between draft and final paper were statistically significant in all measures (overall quality, relevance, dates and scope). Those in the control group showed no improvement in quality of sources between draft and final paper. Conclusion – Quality of sources in final paper improves after one-on-one consultations with librarians. The use of a rating scale is helpful in objectively measuring quality of sources, although there is potential for subjective interpretation.