Background: Research utilization and evidence-based practice (EBP) in occupational therapy rely on essential scientific skills. Despite prior research exploring factors influencing EBP, a gap remains in understanding the specific scientific competencies crucial for effective EBP application.
Objectives: To (1) describe the level of scientific skills for EBP and research application, and (2) investigate the factors influencing higher scientific competence among 1159 Spanish-speaking occupational therapists.
Material and methods: We assessed the scientific skills using the HACTO-Screen online survey. Recruitment was conducted through a non-probability convenience sampling method between April to June 2020, using social networks and email dissemination to education and professional organizations in Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.
Results: Out of a total score of 115 points, participants showed a moderate level of scientific skills (mean: 62.7, SD: 21.6), with literature searching skills ranking the highest and scientific writing skills ranking the lowest. Associations were found between greater scientific competence and advanced degrees, ongoing research training, and on-the-job research.
Conclusions: Continuous research training, higher academic degrees, and active research engagement are essential for enhancing scientific competence among occupational therapists.
Significance: Targeted training to enhance scientific skills and promote research utilization are crucial in advancing EBP in occupational therapy.
Background: There is a lack of knowledge about how persons with cerebral palsy (CP) perceive their 'process of doing' while performing everyday occupations. As described in the Model of the Process of Doing (MPoD), performing an occupation is a complex process consisting of six phases (generate idea, plan, initiate, enact, adjust, end) and time management.Aim: To collect the experiences of young adults with CP, classified at Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level I or II, regarding how they perceive challenges in their occupational performance in relation to the different phases of the 'process of doing'.Method: Semi-structured interviews were performed with ten participants with CP aged 19-30 years, MACS level I or II. The interview material was related to the MPoD phases using directed content analysis.Results: The participants' descriptions of how they perceived their personal 'process of doing' showed problems in all MPoD phases. All participants experienced difficulties in one or more phases, but none had difficulties in all phases. Difficulties were more frequent in some phases than in others.Conclusion/Significance: To understand the complexity of doing everyday occupations in young adults with CP, there is a need to address all phases of the 'process of doing'.
Background: Mental health problems (MHP) are a major public health challenge. Conventional healthcare has shown limitation on reducing MHP and there is a call for offering methods beyond healthcare as well as improve access to healthcare.
Aims: To explore experiences among people having MHP of (i) taking part in existential conversations in groups beyond conventional healthcare and (ii) seeking and receiving conventional healthcare.
Materials and methods: Four focus group interviews were conducted after finishing existential conversations in groups. Data was analyzed following thematic analysis.
Results: The theme Access to a community for exploration and acceptance describes communication through impressions and expressions together with others. A reflective perspective on everyday life, describes re-evaluation through reflection. Within the theme Experiences of healthcare related encounters, referring to the second aim, participants recollected feelings of disconnectedness, difficulties verbalizing MHP and dealing with rigid, standardized measures.
Conclusion: Existential conversations in group may contribute to a more reflected doing in accordance with one's own values as well as improved mental health literacy. Design and measures within healthcare need to explicitly address MHP and consider individual's own preferences.
Significance: This study contributes to understanding of coping with MHP in everyday life from an existential perspective.
Background: Pedagogically sound curricula are needed for occupational therapy (OT) students to adopt evidence-based practice (EBP) principles and internalise EBP within their professional identities. Exploring students' perceptions of this knowledge area can contribute to effective curriculum design.
Aims/objectives: To explore the evolution of pre-registration OT student perceptions of research and EBP over the course of their engagement with undergraduate teaching and learning.
Materials and methods: The Q-sort approach synthesises different viewpoints regarding a sample of statements, using by-person factor analysis (respondents = variables; statements = sample). Final year pre-registration OT students completed the same Q-sort at three timepoints (pre-dissertation [n = 18]; post-dissertation submission [n = 12]; post-student research conference [n = 6]). Q-sort responses were intercorrelated and factor-analysed; extraction of factors with an eigenvalue of ¬>0.9 and varimax rotation identified majority viewpoints.
Results: Significant factors were revealed at each timepoint: 1a: 'Evidence-inseparable from OT practice', 1b: 'Research for research's sake-inseparable from the occupational therapy identity', 2: 'Who am I to question the gurus?', 3: 'I can do it with confidence…but so what?'
Conclusions: Opportunities for completing 'authentic' student research projects, with 'ownership' of results, may enhance research and EBP confidence and professional identity.
Significance: Findings expand current knowledge regarding effective use of pre-registration educational opportunities to support future research and EBP.
Background: The challenges of returning to work after sickness absence demands a wide conceptual understanding of what hinders the employee's work participation. Thus, there is a need to know more about self-perceived barriers for Return to Work (RTW).
Aim: This study aimed to investigate RTW barriers experienced by employees on long-term sick leave, through the lens of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO).
Material and methods: The study was a large-scale qualitative interview study (n = 85) using semi-structured telephone interviews. Eligible participants had received sick leave benefits for between 6 months and 1.5 years. The data were analysed with quantitative and qualitative content analysis. A deductive approach using the MOHO concepts guided the analysis process.
Results: The study generated 941 coded meaning units describing barriers for RTW, of which we were able to code 895 within the framework of MOHO. In the person-specific concepts, performance capacity barriers were most often described (n = 303), followed by volitional barriers (n = 165) and barriers related to habituation (n = 66). Barriers related to the environmental components amounted to 361. Barriers in the occupational environment was dominant (n = 214).
Conclusion: Experienced barriers related to both environmental components and person-specific concepts.
Significance: The habituational and volitional perspective on barriers can contribute to the identification and communication of performance capacity-related barriers not previously identified.
Aims: To analyse the measurement properties of the Spanish version of the COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) in older adult rehabilitation inpatients.
Method: A sample of 172 users from 17 inpatient care facilities for older adults (47% nursing homes) participated in a quantitative prospective study. We examined validity by correlating the COPM with the Barthel Index (BI), the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (IADL), the EuroQol-five domains-three level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), and the Client-Centred Rehabilitation Questionnaire (CCRQ) and by examining associations with demographic variables. Reliability was evaluated through test-retest and responsiveness through differences in change scores in two types of care facilities.
Results: Participants prioritised 637 occupational performance problems, mainly in the area of self-care (70.5%). The COPM scale scores were significantly correlated with BI, IADL, EQ-5D-3L (except the pain dimension), and CCRQ (except the family involvement and continuity dimensions). COPM scores did not show statistically significant differences concerning educational level. Regarding reliability, high test-retest correlations were obtained (>.80). Nursing home users showed less responsiveness to rehabilitation than other users (change score < 2 vs. > 2 points).
Conclusion and significance: The Spanish COPM provides satisfactory measurement properties as a client-centred instrument in older adult rehabilitation inpatient.