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The aim of this study was to examine leisure engagement among people in later life and the potential relationship between leisure engagement and self-rated health. A population-representative sample of 5,435 persons between 65 and 80 years of age, living in northern Sweden and Finland were included. Data were collected by a posted questionnaire survey. Results revealed that levels of leisure engagement decreased progressively between the youngest and the oldest age groups. A significant relationship was found between leisure engagement and self-rated health. The relationship between leisure engagement and health as well as implications for developing health promotion programs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this exploratory randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate three different occupation-focused interventions for well older people by estimating effect sizes for leisure engagement and ability in activities of daily living (ADL) and thereby identifying the most effective interventions. Methods: One hundred and seventy seven persons, 77-82 years old, living alone and without home help, were randomized to a control group (CG), an individual intervention (IG), an activity group (AG), and a one-meeting discussion group (DG). All interventions focused on occupational engagement and how persons can cope with age-related activity restrictions in order to enhance occupational engagement. Data were collected by blinded research assistants at baseline, three, and 12 months. Ordinal outcome data were converted, using Rasch measurement methods, to linear measures of leisure engagement and ADL ability. Standardized between-group effect sizes, Cohen's d, were calculated. Results: While all groups showed a decline in leisure engagement and ADL over time, the IG and the DG were somewhat effective in minimizing the decline at both three and 12 months. However, the effect sizes were small. Conclusions: The findings indicate that occupation-focused interventions intended to minimize a decline in leisure engagement and ADL were sufficiently promising to warrant their further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the internal scale validity, person response validity, and reliability of the newly developed Assessment of Computer-Related Skills (ACRS). Data from 32 healthy adult participants who performed two to three computer tasks were analysed to determine how well the participants fitted the many-faceted Rasch (MFR) model of the ACRS, as well as how well the ACRS skill items and tasks (a) fitted the MFR model of the ACRS, (b) matched the expectations for hierarchical ordering of their difficulties, and (c) differentiated persons into different levels of ability. Results indicated that with three skill items removed, the remaining 34 skill items, 8 computer tasks, and 30 participants demonstrated goodness-of-fit to the MFR model of the ACRS. The skills and tasks appeared to have logical hierarchical ordering and differentiated participants into at least three levels of ability. The findings affirmed the internal scale validity, person response validity and reliability of the ACRS for assessing persons' computer abilities. Future studies using a larger sample that includes individuals with disabilities and with difficulties with computer use are needed to further evaluate the validity and reliability of the ACRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To determine whether the Modified NPS Interest Checklist (MNPS) could be developed as a tool with linear measures of four dimensions of leisure: Interest, Performance, Motivation, and Well-being. Methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study including 156 volunteers born between 1904 and 1917 and living in urban or rural northern Sweden. Each participant was individually interviewed at her/his place of residence. Subsequent data were subjected to a series of Rasch analyses using FACETS. Major findings. The items and persons demonstrated acceptable goodness-of-fit across all four dimensions in the MNPS checklist. The Rasch equivalent of Cronbach's alpha was 0.98 for items, and ranged from 0.66 to 0.75 for persons. Principal conclusion. The MNPS shows evidence for acceptable internal scale validity, person response validity, and scale reliability. This study provides initial evidence that the MNPS is a valid tool for measuring leisure among the oldest old. While this study provides the first psychometric examination of an assessment designed to evaluate different dimensions of leisure, more research is needed to further assess validity and reliability of this tool with the elderly and with other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report the results from a Rasch rating scale analysis of the Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) implemented to evaluate internal scale validity, person response validity, separation reliability, targeting and responsiveness of the measures over time. Design: Longitudinal data (18 months) from a prospective study of development of capacity for myoelectric control in children and adults were used for the analysis. Patients: A consecutive sample of 75 subjects (43 males, 32 females) with upper limb reduction deficiency or amputation and myoelectric prosthetic hands referred for occupational therapy from September 2000 to March 2002. Participants' ages ranged from 2 to 57 years. Methods: Outcome measure was the ACMC. Occupational therapists completed 210 assessments at an arm prosthesis centre in Sweden. A two-faceted rating scale analysis of the data was performed. Results: All 30 ACMC items and 96.2% of participants demonstrated goodness-of-fit to the rating scale model for the ACMC. Separation and SE values suggested adequate reliability of the item and person estimates. Conclusion: The items demonstrated internal scale validity and the participants demonstrated person response validity. The ACMC was well targeted and sensitive enough to detect expected change in ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights the symposium on rehabilitation in Stockholm, Sweden. Importance of measurement and evaluation of outcomes in rehabilitation; Increase in the need for evidence-based medicine; Total number of participants.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of occupational competence and occupational value among a group of clients engaged in Individual Placement and Support (IPS)., Methods: The Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA), based on the Model of Human Occupation, was used with 65 men and women with mental illness, and 45 of these completed the study., Results: Rasch analyses showed that the participants perceived "Managing my finances", "Managing my basic needs", and "Doing activities I like" as the most valued occupations. Most competence was perceived in "Taking care of myself". Among the occupations where the participants perceived least competence, "Getting done what I need to do" and "Accomplishing what I set out to do" were the occupations that most stand out. Significant differences were also found between perceived competence and value in most of the occupations., Conclusions: Beyond those occupations valued as most important among the participants, it is essential also to pay attention to those in which they perceived least competence, as they are important for being able to achieve a desired occupation. Support related to perceptions of occupational competence can contribute to enabling clients in IPS to master a desired working life.

Objective: To evaluate aspects of internal scale validity and reliability of the Swedish version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy questionnaire (IPA-S) for use in people with spinal cord injury., Subjects: A total of 161 persons with spinal cord injury., Method: IPA-S psychometric properties were evaluated using Rasch rating scale analysis., Results: The results show that the IPA-S has 27 items for perceived participation and 6 items for perceived problems with participation, indicating 2 underlying unidimensional constructs for use in people with spinal cord injury, after removal of misfitting items. The established hierarchical order of the item calibration values in both scales appeared logical and the distances between the items, with a few exceptions in the problem scale, were appropriate. Both scales demonstrated good separation reliability. The range of item calibration values in both scales did not fully cover the range of measures of persons' perceived participation and problems thereof., Conclusion: The psychometric properties of IPA-S are promising and indicate that IPA-S has potential to be developed further.