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Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and meaning of digital technology in daily life by stroke survivors. Materials and methods: A phenomenological study design helped to collect rich and in-depth understanding of stroke survivors’ experiences and meaning of digital technology in their daily life and their perspective of applying digital technology in the implementation of stroke-related telerehabilitation services. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Findings: An overarching theme emerged: A spectrum of challenges, personal preferences, strategies to manage, and attitudes towards the use of digital technology in daily life. Conclusion: The findings revealed that participants’ different experiences influenced their perceived meaning of digital technology in daily life and the interest to participate in telerehabilitation services. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Digital technology provides easy access to information for stroke survivors, but can sometimes be difficult to use. Stroke survivors have contrasting preferences for face-to-face and virtual interactions with health professionals. Digital technology has different meanings for different people. Client-centred practice within telerehabilitation for stroke survivors could be enhanced by understanding the clients’ preferences, experiences, and meanings in digital technology.

Introduction: Participating in family gatherings can provide enjoyment and quality time together as a family. However, being the primary carers, mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder may experience this phenomenon differently. The purpose of this study is to explore how available literature describes mothers' experiences of participation in family gatherings and social events with their children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: A scoping review was used to explore available literature and identify studies describing mothers' experiences of family gatherings and social events with their children. A thematic synthesis was performed to analyse and synthesise the findings. Results: A total of 8 articles were included for review. The analysis of the included studies resulted in one central theme-Negative experiences despite strategies-and four analytical themes: Feeling fear, stress, and anxiety; Avoiding family gatherings; Enjoying less and becoming less confident; and Using strategies. Conclusion: These findings indicate that mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder experience difficulties during gatherings even when using strategies, hence limiting their participation.

Introduction: Supporting older adults’ digital engagement requires an understanding of how occupational performance and technology use are related, as well as having a range of methods that can assist occupational therapists while observing occupational performance and management of technology. The study objectives were to investigate how older adults’ ability to perform digital technology-mediated occupations and ability to manage digital technology could be measured and to examine the association between these two abilities. Method: Twenty-five older adults were observed performing digital technology-mediated occupations and managing digital technologies, and were scored on two instruments: the Assessment of Computer-Related Skills and the Management of Everyday Technology Assessment. FACETS was used to generate respective multifaceted Rasch measurement models for scores on the instruments. The Spearman correlation test was used to investigate correlation between person ability measures from respective Rasch models of the instruments. Results: The results include item, occupation, and technology difficulty estimates, as well as person ability measures that could illustrate older adults’ ability to perform occupations and to manage technology. There is also a strong positive correlation between these abilities. Conclusion: Insight into an older person’s ability to manage technology can provide information about his or her ability to perform digital technology-mediated occupations and vice versa., Originally included in thesis in manuscript form.

Professional resilience deals with a person’s capacity to overcome challenges in one’s work or practice and to use resulting experiences for personal and professional development. Digitalization has become one of the challenges occupational therapists encounter today. Concerns include meeting clients with occupational issues involving digital technology, improving one’s own and clients’ digital competence, using telehealth in the workplace, and keeping updated with e-health products or services. Building professional resilience involves finding opportunities for reflection, discussions, and a supportive environment. Thus, the objective of this workshop is to provide an opportunity to reflect on one’s practice and share ideas and strategies to deal with challenges emerging from digitalization. The workshop will start with information about results from research and development work, continue with reflection and small group discussions, and close with a summary of what has been discussed. By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to (1) identify at least one personal strength to meet an identified challenge, (2) identify at least one strategy that can be applied in their own practice, and (3) identify at least one resource that can serve as support., Workshop.

Background: For older adults to continue being healthy and active participants in an evolving digitalized society, there is a need to support their social participation through engagement in occupations that they need, want, or are expected to do in accordance to the roles that they assume. Occupational therapists together with other professionals face emerging challenges to promote older adults’ engagement in occupations mediated by digital technology. It is therefore relevant to acquire an understanding about how older adults continue to participate in their daily lives and engage in the occupations within their particular contexts. It is also relevant to explore ways to tailor supports for engaging in contemporary occupations and to measure the outcomes of such supports. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to develop knowledge to support older adults’ social participation through engagement in occupations mediated by digital technology. Developing knowledge entailed an exploration of older adults’ engagement in occupations mediated by digital technology (Study I), their contexts surrounding social participation (Study II), and tailoring supports for engagement (Study III). Additionally, part of developing knowledge also entailed an investigation of how outcomes of tailoring – specifically ability to perform occupation mediated by digital technology and ability to manage technology – could be measured and related (Study IV). Methods: Study participants were selected from rural and urban municipalities in Northern Sweden. In Study I, data was gathered through concurrent think aloud protocol and observations of ten older adults, aged 66-79 years, while they engaged in occupations that involved digital technology. Narrative inquiry was used to illuminate features in their occupational engagement and participation in daily life. In Study II, focus group interviews of eighteen older adults, aged 66-81 years, were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content an, Bakgrund: För att äldre personer ska kunna fortsätta att vara hälsosamma och aktiva medborgare i ett digitaliserat samhälle behöver det finnas stöd för social delaktighet genom engagemang i aktiviteter som de behöver, vill eller förväntas göra i enlighet med de roller de har. Arbetsterapeuter tillsammans med andra yrkespersoner står inför nya utmaningar för att främja äldre personers engagemang i aktiviteter som utförs med hjälp av digital teknik. Det är därför relevant att få en förståelse för hur äldre personer deltar i sitt dagliga liv och engagerar sig i aktiviteter i sin kontext. Det är också relevant att utforska metoder för att skräddarsy stöd så att de ska kunna engagera sig i aktiviteter och för att mäta resultaten av dessa stöd. Syfte: Det övergripande syftet med denna avhandling var att utveckla kunskap som kan användas för att stödja äldre personers sociala delaktighet genom engagemang i aktiviteter som utförs med hjälp av digital teknik. Detta har gjorts genom att utforska äldre personers engagemang i aktiviteter som utförs med hjälp av digital teknik (Studie I), deras kontext i samband med social delaktighet (Studie II) och skräddarsydda stöd för engagemang (Studie III). En studie syftade också till att undersöka hur förmågor kan mätas och relateras, särskilt förmågan att utföra aktiviteter med hjälp av digital teknik och förmågan att hantera teknik när skräddarsytt stöd har givits (Studie IV). Metoder: Studiernas deltagare kommer från olika kommuner i norra Sverige. I Studie I samlades data in med hjälp av tänka-högt metoden och observationer av tio äldre personer, i åldern 66–79 år, när de genomförde aktiviteter som involverade digital teknik. Narrativ metod användes för att belysa aspekter av deras engagemang i aktiviteter och delaktighet i det dagliga livet. I Studie II genomfördes och analyserades fokusgruppsintervjuer med arton äldre personer, mellan 66–81 år, genom kvalitativ innehållsanalys. I Studie III användes flerfallstudier som inkluderad

Background: With the evolution of contemporary occupations mediated by digital technologies (DTs), there is a need for occupational therapists to develop and structure knowledge on how to support older adults’ engagement in occupations and social participation in a digitalised society. Objective: The objective of this study is to explore how tailoring to support older adults’ engagement in DT-mediated occupations could be schematised. Material and methods: The study employed a multiple case study methodology. There were nine cases, with each case involving an older adult undergoing a collaborative process to support engagement in DT-mediated occupations. The collaborative process was initiated through questionnaires, observations, and dialogues. Meetings and tailoring strategies were documented in fieldnotes and memos on tailoring, respectively. Semi-structured interviews concluded data collection. Cross-case synthesis was used in data analysis. Results: The result is a proposed scheme for tailoring to support older adults’ engagement in digital technology-mediated occupations, wherein strategies undertaken in the collaborative processes were synthesised and described. Conclusion and significance: The proposed scheme for tailoring could contribute to occupational therapists’ knowledge on how to support older adults’ engagement in contemporary occupations. Testing the model in various practice settings is recommended in order to enhance occupational therapy practice., Originally included in thesis in manuscript form.

Social participation and digital engagement can contribute to health and well-being among older adults. Because of older adults’ decline in abilities, coupled withcomplex technology and its perceived insufficient relevance to daily life, there is a need to create and tailor social opportunities and services that are supported by digital technologies for older adults to continue participating in society. Thus, it becomes relevant to explore older adults’ perceptions about contexts surrounding their social participation in a digital society. This exploration used a qualitative research design with focus group interviews and qualitative content analysis. Eighteen older adults, aged 66-81 years, from rural communities in Northern Sweden, participated in this study. The analysis resulted in three categories: Experiencing conditions for social participation in a state of flux, Perceiving drawbacks of urbanization on social participation, Welcoming digital technology that facilitates daily and community living.These categories were encapsulated in the theme –The juxtaposition of narrowing offline social networks and expanding digital opportunities for social participation. The findings suggested that co-creating usable digitalized services and facilitating satisfactory use of digital technologies could support older adults’ social participation through activities that they find relevant in their lives, and subsequently, might enable them to live longer at home.

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The ubiquitousness of digital technology in everyday life has resulted in emerging roles for occupational therapists. However, many occupational therapists do not take on the challenge of exploring clients’ use of digital technology in daily occupations. Apart from the likelihood of experiencing organizations’ allocation of resources to prioritized outcomes as a restrictive factor, occupational therapists’ own knowledge of and experiences with digital technology limit them from probing issues that they think they cannot deal with themselves. The objective of the presentation is to introduce digital literacy in the approach to assessing engagement in occupations involving digital technology and to identify competencies that are already present in the occupational therapists’ toolbox that can assist in assessment. The intention of the presentation is to inspire the audience to become more open to exploring occupational issues involving digital technology with clients.

Promoting social participation among older adults requires creating opportunities for meaningful social roles and reciprocal relationships. To facilitate this, it is important to understand the impact of environmental factors on older adults’ engagement in social activities. Digital technology has proved to be a useful tool in engagement in many social activities. In promoting social participation through digital technology, it also becomes important to understand how access to services and systems through digital technologies can be improved. The aim of the study is to identify environmental factors that older adults perceive as relevant in their occupational engagement in order to promote social participation mediated by digital technology. Participants in this study were recruited through purposive sampling of older adults 65 years or older who were interested in contributing to the development of Internet-based services in rural municipalities in Northern Sweden. Focus group interviews and qualitative content analysis were methods used to gather and analyze the data for this study. This study is intended to expand the knowledge base on environmental factors surrounding social participation, more specifically those factors which older adults perceive can impact their current and desired social activities. The results from this study will be utilized in the planning of digital technology-mediated services in the community.

Facets of participation have changed with the growing pervasiveness of digital technology in daily life. To enable older adults as active participants in an evolving digital society, it is relevant to examine how they engage in and situate digital technology-mediated occupations in daily life. Narrative inquiry was used to elucidate features in older adults’ engagement in occupations involving digital technology situated in everyday life. Analysis was based on data gathered through concurrent think aloud protocol and observations from 10 older adults in Northern Sweden. In line with narrative analysis, findings were presented as three stories about negotiating needs and values while interacting with the technological and social environments, entitled playing by the rules, being on the same wavelength, and calling the shots. Looking at these stories with an occupational lens resulted in an understanding that older adults’ participation involving digital technology likewise deals with negotiating and refining identities, as well as finding and experiencing meaning in daily life. There is potential for older adults to become active participants through digital technology, and new challenges in research and practice emerge., Social participation online

Rationale Fieldwork is a critical element in occupational therapy education, intended to provide students opportunities to apply knowledge and skills in practical contexts. Students can further develop professional behaviors necessary for working life, such as clinical reasoning, independence and resourcefulness. To prepare students to respond to both existing health care and emerging social needs, fieldwork placements should include traditional and non-traditional settings. Traditional placements provide clinical experiences in client care, while non-traditional or role-emerging placements challenge students to explore potential roles of occupational therapists in new arenas. Objective To present student and teacher reflections on the content and organization of combined clinical and role-emerging international fieldwork placements under the Linnaeus-Palme student exchange program 2014-2015. Description of Project Two Filipino students participated in the Linnaeus-Palme student exchange program at Umeå University for 12 weeks. The students were assigned to clinical and role-emerging placements with an individualized study plan. Results The placements were at the Hand and Plastic Surgery Unit at the University Hospital in Northern Sweden and the Department of Computing Sciences at Umeå University. Learning activities included occupational therapy assessment and intervention in direct client care and the development of assistive technology in collaboration with knowledge engineers. The placement periods overlapped, such that students could have assignments in both facilities under the same week. Coordination and consultation between the students and occupational therapy program‟s international coordinator at Umeå University ensured structure in learning activities and goal attainment. A reflective discussion on students‟ learning experiences increased their awareness on occupational therapists‟ roles and importance of collaboration in responding to existing health ca, Social participation online - Older persons' occupational adaptation and relative mastery in information and communication technology-supported activities

Bakgrund: Samhällets utveckling har inneburit att internet och sociala medier nu spelar en viktig roll för att vara aktiv, social och delaktig i samhället. För den äldre delen av befolkningen har dock tekniken ännu inte fått ett stort genomslag och hur detta nya aktivitetsområde fokuseras bland arbetsterapeuter som jobbar med äldre är tämligen oklart. Syfte med workshopen: Syfte med workshopen är att beskriva kunskapsläget när det gäller möjligheter och hinder för äldre att vara aktiva genom modern teknologi och genom debatt dela erfarenheter om vilken roll arbetsterapeuten bör ha inom detta aktivitetsområde samt vilken kompetens som krävs. Tillvägagångssätt vid workshopen: Workshopen inleds med en litteraturgenomgång i området samt exempel från pågående forskningsprojekt därefter delas gruppen upp för att diskutera givna frågeställningar om arbetsterapeutens roll, tillvägagångssätt och hur kompetensförsörjningen inom området bör se ut. Förväntat resultat av deltagandet workshopen: Deltagarna förväntas, som ett resultat av workshopen, få grundläggande förståelse för de vetenskapliga belägg som finns om hur aktivitet bland äldre kan påverkas av att använda modern teknologi. Vidare förväntas deltagarna genom diskussionerna fått dela med sig av sina erfarenheter och fått inspiration och idéer som kan bidra till utvecklingen av utbildningsprogrammen liksom det professionella arbetet. Det är väsentligt att detta relativt nya aktivitetsområde belyses så att arbetsterapeutens roll kan tydliggöras.

The Assessment of Computer Related Skills (ACRS) was developed to aid occupational therapists in evaluating computer skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ACRS’ internal scale validity, person response validity, inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability when used for persons with rheumatic diseases. A convenience sample of 20 participants with rheumatic diseases were observed and scored using the ACRS by three raters. Based on the scores from the observations a Many-Faceted Rasch (MFR) model of the ACRS was generated. Eighty-one percent of skill items, 90% of participants, all tasks, and all raters demonstrated goodness-of-fit to the MFR model of the ACRS. The results showed evidence of validity and reliability, which indicates that ACRS has the potential to be used to assess computer abilities of persons with rheumatic diseases.

Rapporten innehåller en litteraturstudie av befintlig kunskap om vägutformning med hänsyn till gående och cyklande personer med kognitiva funktionsnedsättningar. Den sammanfattar kunskap och ger förslag till forskning, utveckling och demonstration i syfte att ge bättre tillgänglighet i trafikmiljön för nämnda grupp.

The purpose of this essay is to describe the term occupation, the basic and most important concept in occupational therapy (OT), and to urge the translation of OT concepts in Filipino. OT is a branch of rehabilitation that deals with the improvement or maintenance of a person's skills to perform daily activities. The profession started in the Philippines more than 40 years ago, and the medium of its instruction is English. Until now, there is no official register of OT terminology in Filipino, which may have resulted in a mixing of the two languages when communicating with clients. This may have led to the misunderstanding of the client on the role of OT in improving quality of life, and to the difficulty of the therapist to encourage clients to take active part in their own therapy. To facilitate service delivery, the therapist should be able to communicate in a language which is used and understood by the Filipino client. A register of OT terms in Filipino and its dissemination among therapists in practice and academe is the proposed solution.