British Journal of Occupational Therapy最新文献

Aim: This study examined the viewpoints of occupational therapy educators in higher education regarding ableism and its impact on occupational therapy practice. It forms part of a wider study which also explored occupational therapy student perspectives, published separately.

Method: An online survey involved the administration of Likert-scales and open-ended survey questions, enabling a comprehensive examination of occupational therapy educators' perspectives on ableism in occupational therapy.

Findings: The sample comprised 32 teaching staff actively engaged in occupational therapy degree-level education. Most participants (72%) perceived occupational therapy as inherently ableist. Content analysis showed variations in how respondents understood the term 'ableism', and this appeared to be a compounding factor in respondents' views as to whether the profession is ableist. Most (89%) respondents agreed that the profession focuses on independence, affirming past critiques. Themes, including cultural sensitivity, challenges with engaging in disability studies, and power dynamics within occupational therapy education, emerged.

Conclusion/impact: This study provides insight into educators' opinions of occupational therapy practices and their promotion of ableism. Future qualitative research should aim to unravel additional understanding of ableism within occupational therapy, including its origins, so future systemic changes required to address the harm of ableism can begin to be addressed.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1177/03080226241229298.].

Objects: The Empathic Communication Coding System (ECCS) is a promising measure of such behaviors, yet its reliability remains largely unestablished. The aim of the study was to examine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the ECCS.

Methods: Transcripts of occupational therapy audio recordings were used to examine the reliabilities. Two occupational therapists were trained to evaluate the data for inter-rater reliability, and one of them evaluated the data twice for intra-rater reliability. Transcripts of 20 patients treated by 18 therapists were evaluated for intra-rater reliability. Transcripts of 25 patients treated by 22 occupational therapy interns were evaluated for inter-rater reliability. Adult rehabilitated patients with basic verbal communication ability were recruited. The percentage of agreement and Cohen's κ were calculated as the indices of reliability.

Results: The results showed acceptable intra-rater reliability but poor inter-rater reliability of the ECCS.

Conclusions: The ECCS demonstrates potential as a reliable tool for assessing empathic behaviors over time when evaluated by the same raters.

Introduction: Increased cancer survivorship has prompted focus on optimising quality of life, including work reintegration. Despite frequently cited return-to-work barriers for women with breast cancer, there are no conclusive work-focused interventions for this cohort. The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and acceptability of a self-management intervention supporting return-to-work for women with breast cancer.

Methods: A mixed-methods single-arm feasibility study evaluated intervention feasibility. Participants completed an online occupational therapy-led 'Work and Cancer' intervention over 6 weeks. Feasibility was determined by recruitment, adherence, retention and acceptability. Acceptability was also assessed through semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

Results: Ten out of twelve participants who were approached, participated in the study. Retention and adherence was 100% and 90%, respectively. Every participant completed pre- and post-measures. Qualitative data indicated online and group format as enablers to intervention completion and juggling employment as a barrier.

Conclusion: It is feasible to recruit and retain participants to the 'Work and Cancer' intervention which was widely accepted by women with breast cancer. Large-scale evaluation will determine intervention effectiveness on work and health-related outcomes.

Introduction: Professional reasoning is important in making informed and autonomous decisions and practice-based learning provides an opportunity for students to develop this. This study explores the experience of professional reasoning during practice-based learning from the student's perspective.

Method: A dialogical approach was used, and this is a qualitative approach rooted in the analysis of dialogue and subjectivity. It is based on the philosophy of Mikhail Bakhtin. Bakhtin suggests speech is composed of different genres indicating how we position ourselves in relation to others. Twelve occupational therapy students were interviewed after their final practice placement.

Findings: Professional reasoning during practice-based learning was experienced as complex, multifactorial and contextually influenced. It was a means of enacting, affirming, and negotiating a professional identity, and of being socialised into the reasoning of the profession. Person and occupation-centred values, narrative and empathy influenced students' reasoning but could conflict with educator and institutional demands. The findings also illustrate the emotionality of learning to reason.

Conclusion: Both the cognitive and affective aspects of learning to reason need consideration when supporting students. Educators and universities need to address the emotionality associated with reasoning and support students to develop person and occupation-centred practice within the pragmatic constraints of practice.

Introduction: In the United Kingdom, ethnic minority mothers experience increased risk of mental illness compared to white women of British heritage. However, there is insufficient research to guide perinatal mental health occupational therapists to develop services that are accessible and meet the diverse needs of service users. This study explored perinatal mental health occupational therapists' perceptions of the barriers and enablers to an inclusive service provision for ethnic minority mothers.

Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken. Recruitment via social media used non-probability sampling. Semi-structured interviews collected data which were then analysed thematically.

Results: Eight occupational therapist participated in the study. Three main themes were identified: observation of caseloads; experience of providing occupational therapy; influence of the therapist's culture. Participants perceived stigma, fear, language and cultural perceptions created barriers for ethnic minority mothers.

Discussion: Limited workforce diversity, ineffective mandatory training and insufficient referral to occupational therapy by other healthcare professionals were believed to negatively impact service delivery. Cultural experience and reflective practice were felt to enable inclusive practice. Recommendations to inform perinatal mental health occupational therapy practice in the United Kingdom and internationally include collaborations to gain a more diverse workforce, improved mandatory training and strategies to increase cultural sensitivity and competence.

Introduction: Individuals with systemic sclerosis experience difficulties in perceived occupational performance and satisfaction in daily life activities, largely due to the various symptoms associated with the disease.

Methods: Twenty-nine individuals with systemic sclerosis participated in the study. Occupational performance and satisfaction levels were evaluated before and after the program were performed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. The self-management program, guided by the COPM activities, was tailored to the patients' needs and informed by relevant literature. The program consisted of eight sessions over 8 weeks, with one 45-minute session per week.

Results: A statistically significant increase was found in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure performance and satisfaction scores before and after the guided training (p < 0.001). Analysis of the occupation distributions revealed that self-care constituted 31.97%, productivity 45.90%, and leisure time 22.13%.

Conclusion: The self-management program delivered via telerehabilitation positively impacted the perceived occupational performance and satisfaction of individuals with systemic sclerosis. It is believed that self-management intervention can be effectively used to enhance the occupational performance and satisfaction of these individuals.