Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT最新文献

Background: Psychological factors have been reported to affect chronic pain and may lead to inactivity after total knee arthroplasty. This study aimed to determine whether the use of an activity diary for goal setting during occupational therapy would reduce pain, and improve psychological and physical performance in patients after total knee arthroplasty.

Methods: A total of 41 total knee arthroplasty participants from two cohorts were recruited in the study and allocated by convenience to either the experimental group using an activity diary (n = 20) or the control group (n = 21). Occupational therapy intervention (1-2 weeks postoperatively) to promote goal achievement was performed in both groups, and self-monitoring was performed in the diary group by using the activity diary. The outcome indices were Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, pain (resting pain, walking pain), pain catastrophizing (rumination, helplessness, and magnification), anxiety, depression, pain self-efficacy, and physical activity level. Data were evaluated by using analysis of variance analyses with post hoc tests.

Results: A time-by-group interaction emerged for Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, walking pain, pain catastrophizing, anxiety, depression, and physical activity level (p < 0.05), both favouring the diary group. The diary group also showed greater improvement in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, walking pain, anxiety, and physical activity levels at four weeks postoperatively, compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The use of the activity diary in this study increased occupational therapy effectiveness, reduced patients' pain, and prevented a decline in physical performance. We believe that the use of an activity diary is an effective and feasible addition for total knee arthroplasty patients.

Background/objective: The ADL-focused Occupation-based Neurobehavioral Evaluation (A-ONE) can be used to evaluate both performances of activities of daily living (ADL) tasks and neurobehavioural problems that interfere with ADL task performance among clients with neurological disorders. Research studies have demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties of the original version of the A-ONE as well as the Rasch analysed version. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the A-ONE (A-ONE J).

Methods: Rasch analysis was performed on data obtained from eight different hospitals in Japan on performances of 150 individuals diagnosed with a stroke based on the functional independence (FI) scale items. The rating scale structure was investigated and internal validity and reliability were examined. Unidimensionality of the items was examined by mean square infit values and principal component analysis of residuals. The targeting between person ability and item difficulty was explored, as well as the separation reliability. Finally, psychometric values and item difficulty hierarchies obtained in this study were compared to the original Rasch analysis of the A-ONE.

Results: The rating scale structure might be improved by collapsing two categories twice (from five categories to three categories). Unidimensionality of the items was obtained for 20 items. Targeting was acceptable, and separation reliability for item calibrations was high and acceptable for people.Conclusion/limitations: This study provides important information regarding the possibilities for revising the ordinal A-ONE J FI Scale, converting it into a unidimensional scale. Further study with increased and more diverse sample is needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to introduce a standardised assessment tool by verifying the reliability of the translated Korean version of the Feeding Abilities Assessment (K-FAA), which was developed to suit Korean culture.

Methods: The research subjects were 65 patients with dementia living in nursing homes. The K-FAA was completed by verifying the suitability of translation and reverse translation. The validity of the K-FAA was established through content validity, while its reliability was analysed based on internal consistency reliability for the items, test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability.

Results: The content validity index determined, based on the assessment of professors, occupational therapists, and nurses, was more than .70. Cronbach's α was more than .929, showing good internal consistency. A test-retest reliability of .884 was derived using Pearson's correlation coefficient (p < .01), and an inter-rater reliability of .800 was derived using the kappa coefficients; intraclass correlation coefficient was .897, which also indicated good reliability.

Conclusion: The K-FAA was modified to fit the Korean domestic situation, and this assessment had high reliability. Therefore, K-FAA can evaluate the feeding ability of patients with dementia. Future studies should focus on providing evidence-based data to maintain or supplement the feeding ability of patients with dementia in Korea.

Rationale: Current knowledge in experiences and potential benefits of group-based activity programmes on people with dementia and their caregivers is inconsistent, depending on the quality of interventions. Lacking standardisation in the programme's content and structure, therefore, requires research in a structured group-based activity programme with more details.

Objectives: This study explored perspectives of spouses of people with dementia and older volunteers about Stepping Stones, involving a theme-based activity group and a support group.Methodology: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse individual interview data with 12 people.

Results: Findings suggest that (1) Stepping Stones promotes participation of people with dementia in a happy, comfortable and accepting environment; (2) Stepping Stones fulfils a deep need of family caregivers; (3) Stepping Stones is well organised with a purpose and expertise and (4) The partnership between the community and the university makes the programme unique.

Conclusion: Programmes like Stepping Stones can be beneficial by promoting participation of people with dementia and fulfilling a need of caregivers. These findings contribute to evidence of group-based activity programmes, in which activities were well planned by a faculty and students in occupational therapy.

Background/objective: Eye-hand coordination, which is essential for activities of daily living, develops with age. The objective of this study was to investigate the temporal patterns of visual fixation coupled with hands during manual action on objects in children and young adults.

Methods: Twelve eight-year-old children and 12 young adults performed the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTT) wearing eye-tracking glasses. The interval from the eye arrival time to the hand arrival time on an object was measured as eye-hand arrival span. The interval between the eye departure time and the hand departure time from the object was measured as eye-hand departure span. Eye-hand arrival span, eye-hand departure span and the performance time to complete the JTT were compared between children and young adults. Correlation between eye-hand arrival span and eye-hand departure span was analysed to identify the mechanism of eye-hand coordination.

Results: Compared with young adults, children showed longer performance time but shorter eye-hand arrival span and eye-hand departure span in the JTT. The difference in mean eye-hand arrival span of overall JTT between children and young adults was significant for both hands, whereas differences in the mean eye-hand departure span on the overall JTT and the total performance time were significant for the non-dominant hand. The eye-hand arrival span was positively correlated with the eye-hand departure span.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated temporal differences in eye-hand coordination between children and young adults. Temporal patterns of visual fixation coupled to object manipulation could be useful information about the sensorimotor system in the field of occupational therapy.

Background/objectives: Patient-reported outcome measures have been found to be an effective method of reflecting client perspectives on their personal health condition. The primary aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the self-reported Activities of Daily Living Scale (sf-ADLS) using Rasch analysis in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 455 people were included in this study; 224 were persons with mental illness and 231 were healthy adults. We applied Rasch analysis as the means of testing the psychometrics of the scale.

Results: The final version of the sf-ADLS used in this study included 14 items, with no differential item functioning being discernible on the gender variable. The scale was found to be of use in classifying the subjects into four levels of independence.

Conclusions: The revised sf-ADLS conforms to the Rasch measurement model in the formulation of a unidimensional scale. The scale can be used to measure the level of independence with acceptable reliability (internal consistency as 0.9) and validity.

Background/objective: Chemotherapy for cancer negatively affects activities of daily living and quality of life. This study aimed to validate and compare the efficacy of two different interventions in patients with haematopoietic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy: (1) occupation-based interventions, designed using the Aid for Decision-making in Occupation Choice (ADOC) (an iPAD application) and (2) impairment-based interventions. ADOC helps promote decision-making during activities and participation in occupation-based goal setting. The impairment-based intervention group served as the comparison group and underwent impairment-based interventions focusing on dysfunction.

Methods: In this single-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial, 19 participants received an occupation-based intervention (n = 9) or an impairment-based intervention (n = 10). The treatment period comprised two sessions. Recruitment, compliance and outcome completion rates were calculated for the study. Effect sizes were examined for outcomes regarding physical performance, instrumental activities of daily living and quality of life as evaluated by a blinded assessor.

Results: In this study, 24.8% (28/113) of the eligible patients with haematopoietic malignancies were enrolled, and 67.9% (19/28) of these were retained up to the post-assessment stage. Recruitment (25%) and compliance (68%) rates were satisfactory. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General emotional well-being and total scores were significantly higher for the occupation-based intervention group than for the impairment-based intervention group (both p < 0.05; d = 0.54, d = 0.51, respectively). Other outcomes showed no significant differences.

Conclusion: Occupation-based interventions designed using the ADOC application were useful for patients with haematopoietic malignancies.

Introduction: Studies on autism spectrum disorder in recent years have controversially indicated similarities with schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunction is present in both disorders, and while there is a rich array of interventions for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, there are few such treatments for autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we have investigated a potentially useful approach in autism spectrum disorder by comparing autism spectrum disorder with schizophrenia in regard to the characteristics of cognitive dysfunction and therapeutic response to cognitive remediation therapy.

Method: We studied seven patients with autism spectrum disorder and eight patients with schizophrenia, using a frontal/executive programme as the intervention. The characteristics of cognitive dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder before frontal/executive programme and the therapeutic response to frontal/executive programme in autism spectrum disorder patients were compared with those in schizophrenia patients, based on evaluation of cognitive function and social function. The changes in cognitive and social function after treatment in each patient group were compared using the Mann-Whitney's U test.

Results: The severity of cognitive dysfunction did not differ significantly between autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Frontal/executive programme was effective in autism spectrum disorder, with subjects showing about the same therapeutic response as in schizophrenia.

Conclusion: Frontal/executive programme appears to be useful for patients with autism spectrum disorder. Furthermore, the similarities in cognitive dysfunction and therapeutic response between autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia are highly relevant to the recent debate concerning the similarity between these two disease concepts.

Introduction: The Test of Visual Perception Skills - fourth edition (TVPS-4) is an updated version of the Test of Visual Perception Skills - third edition (TVPS-3). The TVPS-4 is a standardized assessment of motor-free visual perception skills for individuals aged 5-21 years. Test norms were derived from a normative sample that reflected the United States population.

Method: The present paper outlines and appraises the reliability and validity of the TVPS-4. Measurement properties of the TVPS-4 were critiqued using the Quality Criteria for Health Status Questionnaires (QCHSQ) and the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist with 4-point rating scale.

Results: The TVPS-4 manual reports details of reasonable levels and types of overall reliability and validity. The QCHSQ and COSMIN checklist reviews suggested that further research is needed in relation to the TVPS-4's measurement error, reproducibility, internal consistency and cross-cultural validity.

Conclusion: The TVPS-4 is an in-depth assessment that can be used to identify areas of impairment and assist with goal setting and intervention planning. The impact of the TVPS-4 on occupational therapy practice is also considered. Future research could investigate the cross-cultural validity of the TVPS-4 so that it can be used in other countries with confidence.

Background/objective: Few studies have addressed the type of time course regression that can predict changes in functional ability in inpatients with schizophrenia. This study investigated the possibility of predicting changes in functional ability by logarithmic and linear regression modelling when treating schizophrenia.

Methods: This longitudinal study included two analysis rounds. Analysis 1 comprised 40 inpatients (male/female: 16/24, mean age: 39.7 ± 13.5 years) for the identification of the time course of changes in functional ability based on the Activity Profile Scale for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders score from the group data. Analysis 2 comprised 17 inpatients (male/female: 9/8, mean age: 38.5 ± 9.4 years) to ensure correlation of the group data with the prediction of each individual's degree of functional ability.

Results: In Analysis 1, Activity Profile Scale for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders score was assessed at the initial occupational therapy visit, one week and one month thereafter, and at discharge; logarithmic modelling using the scores at the initial visit, one month later and at discharge was more suitable (R² = .506, p < .001) than the logarithmic and linear regression models using other score combinations. In Analysis 2, the individual's predicted Activity Profile Scale for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders scores at discharge, as calculated by logarithmic modelling using scores from the initial visit and one month later, correlated moderately with actual Activity Profile Scale for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders scores (R² = .574, p < .001; ICC = .747, p < .001).

Conclusion: Logarithmic modelling based on Activity Profile Scale for Patients with Psychiatric Disorders score accurately predicted changes in the functional ability of inpatients with schizophrenia and is sufficiently uncomplicated to be adopted in daily clinical practice.