bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-Expanded Sampling for Ensemble-Based Data Assimilation Applied to Conventional and Satellite Observations
Authors: Zhao Qingyun , Xu Qin , Jin Yi , McLay Justin , Reynolds Carolyn
Published: April 2015

The time-expanded sampling (TES) method, designed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ensemble-based data assimilation and subsequent forecast with reduced ensemble size, is tested with conventional and satellite data for operational applications constrained by computational resources. The test uses the recently developed ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for mesoscale data assimilation with the U.S. Navy’s mesoscale numerical weather prediction model. Experiments are performed for a period of 6 days with a continuous update cycle of 12 h. Results from the experiments show remarkable improvements in both the ensemble analyses and forecasts with TES compared to those without. The improvements in the EnKF analyses by TES are very similar across the model’s three nested grids of 45-, 15-, and 5-km grid spacing, respectively. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the TES method for ensemble-based data assimilation when the ensemble size cannot be sufficiently large because of operational constraints in situations where a time-critical environment assessment is needed or the computational resources are limited.
What is critical appreciation? Insights from studying the critical turn in an appreciative inquiry
Authors: Ridley-Duff Rory J , Duncan Graham
Published: April 2015

Appreciative inquiry was developed in the late 1980s as a process to encourage social innovation by involving people in discovering the ‘best of what is’. Recent research has suggested that appreciative inquiry practitioners’ focus on positivity is now inhibiting appreciative inquiry’s focus on generative theory. This article responds by asking the question ‘what is critical appreciation?’, then seeks answers by studying the critical turn in a Big Lottery Research project. By tracking the narratives of research assistants as they describe the ‘life worlds’ and ‘systems’ in their community, we clarify the recursive processes that lead to deeper levels of appreciation. We contribute to the development of critical appreciative processes that start with a critical inquiry to deconstruct experience and then engage critical appreciative processes during the remainder of the appreciative inquiry cycle to construct new experiences. The initial critical inquiry establishes which system imperatives colonize the life world of participants whilst subsequent critical appreciative processes build participants’ aspirations to design new social systems.
Mountains, Cones, and Dilemmas of Context
Authors: Miller Paul K. , Grimwood Tom
Published: April 2015

The order of influence from thesis to hypothesis, and from philosophy to the social sciences, has historically governed the way in which the abstraction and significance of language as an empirical object is determined. In this article, an argument is made for the development of a more reflexive intellectual relationship between ordinary language philosophy (OLP) and the social sciences that it helped inspire. It is demonstrated that, and how, the social scientific traditions of ethnomethodology and conversation analysis (CA) press OLP to re-consider the variety of problematic abstractions it has previously made for the sake of philosophical clarity, thereby self-reinvigorating.
Surface modification of oil palm fruit bunch and fibre reinforcement effect on bio-based polyester matrix composites
Authors: Dhandapani Suresh , Nayak Sanjay K , Mohanty Smita
Published: April 2015

In this study, our focus is on the compatibility behaviour of bio-based polyester blend with the addition of surface-modified oil palm fruit bunch fibres (OPFBFs). The surface of OPFBF has been modified using alkali, silane and acetic anhydride solutions. Surface-modified fibres are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses to identify the functionality, adhesion and phase morphology. Untreated and treated fibres are incorporated in the bio-based polyester blend with about 30% of fibre content. Surface-modified fibre biocomposites exhibit improved interaction between the polymer matrix and the fibre. Oil palm fibre-reinforced biocomposites exhibit enhanced thermal, mechanical and morphological properties with incorporation of surface-treated fibre. The OPFBF also acts as a reinforcement filler and adhesion material for the polyester blend.
Pretreatment and Treatment With L‐Arginine Attenuate Weight Loss and Bacterial Translocation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colitis
Authors: Andrade Maria Emília Rabelo , Santos Rosana das Graças Carvalho dos , Soares Anne Danieli Nascimento , Costa Kátia Anunciação , Fernandes Simone Odília Antunes , de Souza Cristina Maria , Cassali Geovanni Dantas , de Souza Adna Luciana , Faria Ana Maria Caetano , Cardoso Valbert Nascimento
Published: April 2015

Background: Imbalances in a variety of factors, including genetics, intestinal flora, and mucosal immunity, can contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis and its side effects. This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment or treatment with arginine by oral administration on intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation (BT), and mucosal intestinal damage due to colitis. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were distributed into 4 groups: standard diet and water (C: control group), standard diet and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution (Col: colitis group), 2% L‐arginine supplementation for 7 days prior to DSS administration and during disease induction (PT: pretreated group), and 2% L‐arginine supplementation during disease induction (T: treated group). Colitis was induced by administration of 1.5% DSS for 7 days. After 14 days, intestinal permeability and BT were evaluated; colons were collected for histologic analysis and determination of cytokines; feces were collected for measurement of immunoglobulin A (IgA). Results: The Col group showed increased intestinal permeability (C vs Col: P < .05) and BT (C vs Col: P < .05). In the arginine‐supplemented groups (PT and T), this amino acid tended to decrease intestinal permeability. Arginine decreased BT to liver during PT (P < .05) and to blood, liver, spleen, and lung during T (P < .05). Histologic analysis showed that arginine preserved the intestinal mucosa and tended to decreased inflammation. Conclusions: Arginine attenuates weight loss and BT in mice with colitis.
The Maximal Cover Location Model with Hedging
Authors: Ratick Sam , Osleeb Jeffrey , Si Kangping
Published: April 2015

The maximal covering location problem (MCLP) model and the large number of applications and modifications that have emanated from it have been extensively used to site facility networks in a wide variety of applications. In this article, we formulate and apply an extension of MCLP, the Maximal Covering Location Problem with Hedging (MCLPH), to address the problem of siting facilities when the demand for service from those facilities is uncertain. The MCLPH model treats the maximal cover of different potential demand populations in the system as different objectives for the MCLP, with some lexicographic ordering of objectives related to the degree of uncertainty about the sizes and spatial pattern of those demands. We apply the MCLPH model to the problem of designing a medical network of screening facilities for people who may have been exposed to lead contamination in the Dominican Republic (DR). In the DR, there are three suspected sources of lead contamination, waterborne lead from runoff as a result of gold mining activities, airborne lead contamination from the emissions of a battery recycling plant, and airborne lead from the use of leaded gasoline in transportation. The geographical patterns of contamination from these three sources are different and therefore, the populations of the cities and towns in the DR can be expected to be differentially exposed depending upon which is the actual source of the lead. A geographical information system-based hazard analysis is used to provide input data to the MCLPH and to display and evaluate the resulting facility location patterns.
The roots of Indian pluralism
Authors: Bhargava Rajeev
Published: April 2015

India is one of the most culturally, philosophically and religiously diverse countries in the world. The roots, not only of these diversities but also of morally appropriate responses to them, i.e. to pluralism, go very deep. This presentation substantiates this claim by looking at the relevant edicts of Emperor Asoka who reigned in India in the 3rd century BCE. Asoka not only advises people with deeply divergent worldviews to live together face to face but also suggests what the basis for this coexistence could be. He claims that resources exist in all traditions to exercise self-restraints. These self-restraints are of two kinds: self-related and other-related. Everyone should exercise both these self-restraints, particularly in speech. This ‘control of tongue’ is crucial for morally legitimate and principled coexistence. In the article, I try to explicate the meaning of these edicts and flesh out this argument by providing a vivid, quasi-phenomenological account of what public life in Asokan times was like.
Towards the Development of a Policy of Recycling Assistive Technology for People Living with a Disability
Authors: Vincent Claude
Published: April 2015

Assistive technology (AT) or assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, bathroom safety equipment and lift systems, constitute one type of equipment used to maximise independence for disabled people and fragile elderly people. The practice of recycling health care equipment has been increasingly considered to be a cost-effective and feasible means to meet consumer needs, but this has not been addressed for AT. Many countries in Europe and some Canadian provinces have recycling programmes for AT yet little is known about all the issues related to this practice, particularly from the perspectives of the various players involved. Some occupational therapists are proactive in this area but the majority are waiting for the government to start the recycling. Even if occupational therapists consider recycling AT to be a good idea, they still need political and administrative support to build an efficient practice of recycling.

In November 1996, a special council in the Canadian province of Quebec recommended that rigorous procedures be put in place to recycle AT within the public health insurance system and in institutions funded by the provincial ministry of health. The aim of this article is to document the conditions necessary for the successful implementation of a recycling policy for AT in this province.

A qualitative study was conducted with 22 experts in the industry, health and community sectors. Using a conceptual model of health systems, 33 elements and 99 basic factors were identified as important for the content and strategies employed in a policy of recycling AT. These elements are distributed among the technocratic, professional, market and political worlds. The discussion recommends intersectoral collaboration that takes into account the different perspectives of the various stakeholders that would be affected by a policy of recycling AT. The role of occupational therapists is also explored concerning recycling AT.
Priorities in Mental Health Research: The Results of a Live Research Project
Authors: Davis Sally Fowler , Bannigan Katrina
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapists are increasingly being asked to identify priorities for research. This article is based on a questionnaire survey which was used to identify a priority list for research into occupational therapy in mental health. The delegates at the Association of Occupational Therapists in Mental Health's 3rd Annual Conference were surveyed. The demographic data collected included grade and specialism (as defined by the AOTMH). The delegates were asked to prioritise the area of intervention that they most needed to know was effective, to justify this choice and then to write an associated research question.

The data were collected during the ‘Research in Action‘ session at the conference and analysed using SPSS and thematic analysis. The results were presented to the conference the following day. The top three priorities identified were activity/occupation, groupwork and occupational performance skills. The background literature, method and results are discussed and recommendations are made for further action.
Living Space: The Changing Meaning of Home
Authors: Steward Barbara
Published: April 2015

The home is often viewed as an unproblematic location in which new occupational roles, relationships and uses can be fitted. There has been a marked increase in home-based work, leisure and medical care. How these functions can be accommodated within houses designed for conventional domestic and household activities often remains unclear. Drawing on an in-depth study of teleworking (home-based computer working), this article explores the meaning and experience of real, symbolic and lived household space. The findings suggest that households strive to retain the conventional look, feel and function of the home even when occupants are required to establish new roles and occupations. This resistance to spatial change occurs as a deliberate and rational choice.

The article is theoretical in content and does not directly explore the experiences of disabled people. It provides a sociological perspective of the home, which is often missing from medical and rehabilitation literature. It challenges a number of taken-for-granted notions about the social construction of the home, which will be of interest to therapists whose work often involves the incorporation of new roles and daily activities into the home.
Quality of Local Authority Occupational Therapy Services: Developing an Instrument to Measure the User's Perspective
Authors: Calnan Siân , Sixma Herman J , Calnan Michael W , Groenewegen Peter P
Published: April 2015

The aims of this paper are threefold: (1) to describe the development of an instrument measuring quality of care from the specific perspective of the users of local authority occupational therapy services; (2) to present the results from a survey of users' views about the quality of services offered by a county-wide local authority occupational therapy service compared with other health and social care services; and (3) to examine the potential of the instrument to form part of a more general process of quality assurance and quality improvement within local authority occupational therapy services.

A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Focus group discussions with users preceded a postal survey. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 997 disabled people living in Kent who were users of the local authority Occupational Therapy Bureau. The response rate was 55%.

An instrument was developed (QUOTE-OT) which was tailored to the expressed needs of the users of a local authority occupational therapy service (Kent Occupational Therapy Bureau). On the basis of this new instrument, the Kent Occupational Therapy Bureau received relatively high performance scores on the quality of care dimensions that were the most important for users, such as aspects that referred to courtesy and the level of professional competence. On the other hand, room for improvement existed on aspects such as the accessibility of occupational therapy services, information given to users and follow-up services.

The evidence suggests that the QUOTE-OT questionnaire for assessing users' views of quality of care could be an appropriate tool for evaluating and monitoring local authority occupational therapy service quality.
Perceptual Dysfunction in Elderly People with Cognitive Impairment: A Risk Factor for Falls?
Authors: Buri Helen , Picton Joanne , Dawson Pam
Published: April 2015

Elderly people with cognitive impairment are highly susceptible to falls and are likely to have perceptual dysfunction. However, the possible relationship between falls and perceptual deficits has never been considered. The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate whether perceptual deficits are a risk factor for falls and, if so, which types of perceptual dysfunction may pose the greatest risk. A qualitative approach was adopted, using an interview with therapists and observation of elderly residents in care homes.

Interaction with the environment, movement and psychological factors emerged as important markers of perceptual dysfunction related to falls. Spatial disorientation emerged as the most important perceptual risk factor. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists should seek ways to improve spatial orientation in elderly cognitively impaired people who fall or who might fall. Adaptive strategies to help them to interact with the environment and approaches to gait analysis that seek a cognitive-perceptual explanation for movement difficulties may be useful.
Do Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists Teach Elderly People How to Rise after a Fall?
Authors: Kinn Sue , Galloway Linda
Published: April 2015

Falling is a major problem for the elderly population and much research has been done to investigate the risk factors for and means of preventing falls. However, very little research has been carried out looking at if and how therapists teach elderly people how to rise after a fall. This postal survey was undertaken to investigate whether therapists do anything to try to prevent falls, assess elderly people for suitability and teach them how to rise after a fall.

The results showed that almost all the respondents (127 of 137) identified falling as a problem that they had to deal with in their patients over 65 years. The main focus of occupational therapists was to prevent falls by making environmental changes (for example, removing hazards) whereas physiotherapists were involved in physical changes (for example, balance training). Over half the respondents had considered teaching people how to rise after a fall. A range of different methods was used, which broadly fell into physical and verbal instructions or referral to other health care professionals. The sources of knowledge for teaching how to rise after a fall came mainly from previous clinical experience. Falls are an acknowledged problem in the elderly population and among these hospital and community based therapists about half had considered teaching or had taught elderly people how to rise after a fall.
The Impact of Community Paediatric Occupational Therapy on Children with Disabilities and Their Carers
Authors: Stewart Sandra , Neyerlin-Beale Janet
Published: April 2015

The need to demonstrate ‘best value’ in local authority settings is one of the remits of the white paper Modernising Social Services (Department of Health 1997). This study investigated the effectiveness of paediatric occupational therapy in terms of both increasing the independence of disabled children and reducing the strain of caring on the part of the carers. A before-and-after design was used, in which 33 children with a wide range of disabilities were assessed using two measures — the Community Dependency Index and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure — prior to receiving and then following occupational therapy. The carers were interviewed separately, using three scales to assess the strain associated with their caring tasks.

The findings show a statistically significant shift in the children's scores indicating that the levels of independence improved for most of the children, although many remained dependent on their carers for a number of daily living tasks. While the carers found the occupational therapy service very satisfactory, the evidence suggests that it did not reduce the strain of caring.
The Skill Acquisition of Two Newly Qualified Occupational Therapists
Authors: Spalding Nicola
Published: April 2015

This research was an investigation, using a case study approach, to gain an understanding of the professional development of two newly qualified occupational therapists. Six interviews were undertaken with each therapist between November 1997 and June 1998. A reflective assignment written in May 1997 by the subjects when they were students also added to the data collection.

The progressive nature of their learning resembled the Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1986) model of skill acquisition, where advancement to proficiency level of many skills was evident. Their progression in such a short time was an important finding of this research. This suggested that the amount of exposure to clinical experience was not an indicator of skill acquisition. Instead, the individual merits of the learner, as evidenced by the skills that he or she demonstrated, was a better indicator of professional development. The progression through the stages was explained by reflection on experience. The rapid advancement to proficiency level by the two therapists was thought to be due to their good reflective skills, which facilitated their learning.
Identity Issues for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Humans with Potential or Sexual Victims?
Authors: Yallop Sarah
Published: April 2015

Sexuality issues are important to consider within the practice of occupational therapy. This is especially so when working with people with the human immunodeficiency virus and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), where issues related to sexuality are both relevant and present. Recent advances in HIV medications have improved the health and life expectancy for many people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This has been not only a medical and biological change, but also one that has had dramatic impact on the psychosocial issues, including those related to sexuality, relevant for PLWHA.

This shift in HIV context prompted the creation of a new occupational therapy service for PLWHA — Positive Employment Support (PES). This paper describes data from a focus group held with PES clients, conducted to evaluate the client responses to PES and to direct future service provision. While the focus group provided the expected data about client responses to PES, it also provided rich data about the impact of the shifting HIV/AIDS context on notions of sexuality and identity. This paper explores these ideas and the resulting implications for occupational therapists, especially those working within the field of HIV/AIDS.
Implementing Evidence-Based Practice: Factors That Influence the Use of Research Evidence by Occupational Therapists
Authors: Humphris Debra , Littlejohns Peter , Victor Christina , O'Halloran Paul , Peacock Janet
Published: April 2015

Developing a professional and organisational culture within National Health Service (NHS) trusts that is supportive of improving evidence-based practice will require both the generation and the use of research evidence. This article reports the findings of a study that explored the factors that inhibit and facilitate the use of research evidence by occupational therapists. The sample of 100 occupational therapists was drawn from across seven acute NHS trusts, in one NHS region, including two teaching hospitals. The postal survey achieved a 78% response rate.

The findings illustrate that whilst occupational therapists have a positive attitude towards the use of research and are keen to make use of that evidence in practice, workload pressures are a major inhibiting factor. The challenge for practitioners and managers alike is to create organisational conditions that are supportive of the NHS policy objectives to enhance the use of evidence-based practice.
The Effect of Electrically Powered Indoor/Outdoor Wheelchairs on Occupation: A Study of Users' Views
Authors: Evans Rosemary
Published: April 2015

In 1996, the Government provided an allocation of money for National Health Service wheelchair services to issue severely disabled people with electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs). This funding was for 4 years only (NHS Executive 1996). Although further money for EPIOCs has been announced (NHS Executive and Department of Health 2000), it has not been ring fenced and could therefore be used in other ways. Evidence needs to be gathered in order to justify continued spending on EPIOC provision.

To gather such evidence, this study explored the views of EPIOC users. A qualitative design (semi-structured interviews) examined the effect that EPIOC use had had on their occupations. Eight users were interviewed (mean age 55.5 years, range 39–76 years). The resulting descriptive data were content analysed.

The data emerged in three sections. The main section contained four themes and indicated that EPIOC use provided a greater opportunity to participate in and control occupation. The other sections indicated how the EPIOC users had felt before and after provision. Negative feelings, such as depression, had changed to more positive feelings about themselves.

The findings indicate that occupation was enhanced through EPIOC use. There is also a suggestion that this may have a positive effect on users' health. Further research is needed to discover whether the findings can be generalised to a wider population.
Discourse Analysis: Principles, Applications and Critique
Authors: Ballinger Claire , Payne Sheila
Published: April 2015

With increasing attention being given to the use of qualitative methods in health research, there has been a concurrent growth in interest concerning different positions within the broad enterprise of ‘qualitative research’. Discourse analysis, a methodology falling within the postmodern tradition, has to date been little used within therapy research. This paper outlines the principles of discourse analysis, before reviewing the research literature in the fields of the therapies, nursing and medicine where discourse analysis has been used, in order to explore and clarify what this methodology can offer. Finally, a critique of discourse analysis is presented.
Work Issues for Young People with Psychosis: Barriers to Employment
Authors: Bassett Jo , Lloyd Chris , Bassett Hazel
Published: April 2015

Young people who have had a mental illness face significant barriers to both gaining and maintaining employment. A study, using a qualitative design and consisting of two focus groups, was conducted to identify the issues experienced by young people diagnosed with psychosis wanting to gain employment. The participants were 10 registered clients of an Australian mental health service that had a specialised early psychosis programme. The themes identified in this study concerned loss, low self-confidence and self-esteem, stigma, treatment issues, the need for support, and difficulties in identifying and achieving goals. Further research is warranted to gain a greater understanding of the type of programme that would best assist young people to gain and maintain employment.
Mental Health Clients Confirm the Motivating Power of Occupation
Authors: Mee Jeannie , Sumsion Thelma
Published: April 2015

Most occupational therapists, like the founders of the profession, believe that engagement in meaningful occupation is fundamental in helping to overcome the effects of disability. This paper describes the method and one of the resulting themes of a study that investigated the value, related to personal meaning, of occupation from the perspective of people with enduring mental health problems.

Qualitative research methods were used in two mental health day service settings: a workshop, where woodwork was provided as a medium for creative therapy, and a drop-in facility. Clients were asked about their motivation, their occupational experiences and any benefits that engagement in occupation might have had for them. Participant observation was undertaken over 10 sessions and six in-depth interviews were conducted. The findings emerged through content and inductive analysis, as well as analytical triangulation of the data.

Occupation was identified as a means for generating intrinsic motivation. By providing a sense of purpose and a structuring of time, within an empowering environment, engagement in occupation was seen to be of value and had personal meaning for the clients. However, more research needs to be undertaken to augment the findings. Such evidence will support increased provision of occupation for people whose lives have been severely disrupted by mental health problems.
Studying Clinical Reasoning, Part 1: Have We Been Taking the Wrong ‘Track’?
Authors: Harries Priscilla A , Harries Clare
Published: April 2015

This is the first of two papers that examine clinical reasoning research in occupational therapy. It discusses the reasoning studies of the 1980s and 1990s, focusing on ethnographic and process-tracing approaches. From this critique, a need for an approach that acknowledges the experienced thinker's intuitive reasoning is identified. The second paper will present such an approach, based on social judgement theory, and demonstrate the first application of such a method in the field of occupational therapy.
Working with Adults with Enduring Mental Illness: Emotional Demands Experienced by Occupational Therapists and the Coping Strategies They Employ
Authors: Brice Helen Elizabeth
Published: April 2015

This study addressed the following research question: what emotional demands may be experienced by occupational therapists working with adults with enduring mental illness and what coping strategies do they use?

A survey approach, using semi-structured interviews, was employed for this qualitative research study. The sample comprised six senior I occupational therapists currently working with this client group in the community. The data analysis involved developing a thematic framework which identified key issues and recurrent themes in the data. This enabled participants' responses to be compared and contrasted and meaningful data relevant to the research question to be extracted.

The findings indicated that working with adults with enduring mental illness can be emotionally demanding but that therapists also find their work rewarding. The characteristics of this client group which may cause emotional strain include their complex, long-term problems and the need for clinicians to provide support over a lengthy period. The most commonly used coping strategies were supervision and discussion with colleagues.

The study emphasises the importance of occupational therapists maintaining their own emotional wellbeing, not only to protect their own health but also to provide an effective service for their clients.
2001 College of Occupational Therapists' Research and Development Strategic Vision and Action Plan
Authors: Ilott Irene , White Elizabeth
Published: April 2015

The Research and Development Strategic Vision and Action Plan proposes a flexible approach for the next 5 years, being responsive to changes in the policy context and reflecting the needs of members, consumers and carers. Equal importance is attached both to research and to development. This strategic shift will support action to produce quality outcomes from all occupational therapy personnel, together with the production of the national research agenda by the College of Occupational Therapists.
The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: Is it a Reliable Measure in Clients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Authors: Sewell Louise , Singh Sally J
Published: April 2015

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is now a widely used and accepted outcome measure for clients with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the reproducibility of the COPM in clients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Test-retest reliability of the performance and satisfaction scores has yet to be established in this population. The reasons for examining reliability are discussed.

Fifteen clinically stable clients (eight men and seven women, mean age 67.1 years) were interviewed by an occupational therapist and their COPM performance and satisfaction scores recorded. A reassessment of the performance and satisfaction scores then took place about 7 days later. The scores were analysed using the mean difference, 95% confidence intervals and correlation coefficients.

The results were as follows: performance score 1 and performance score 2: mean difference = 0.14 (95% CI: −0.39 to 0.68); and satisfaction score 1 and satisfaction score 2: mean difference = 0.42 (95% CI: −0.18 to 1.01). The intraclass correlation coefficients between test 1 and test 2 were high (r = 0.92 for performance and r = 0.90 for satisfaction). This study indicates that the COPM is a reliable tool in clients with COPD.
Mothers with Arthritis, Child Care and Occupational Therapy: Insight through Case Studies
Authors: Grant Mary
Published: April 2015

The role of occupational therapy in the treatment of mothers with arthritis has received little attention in the research literature to date. This study builds on previous work at the Psychosocial Research Centre at Coventry University on the theme of parenting in the context of arthritis. Qualitative case studies were undertaken with four mothers with arthritis and the two occupational therapists involved in their care. This involved the observation of occupational therapy sessions, interviews with mothers and occupational therapists and the use of field notes.

The data were analysed using the middle-order approach (Dey 1993). The middle-order categories that emerged were physical and psychosocial parenting problems, the level of support available to mothers and their experience of occupational therapy. The subcategories included items such as difficulty in carrying children and with physical play, guilt and anxiety about the ability to fulfil the parenting role, inadequate or too much support from partners and increased knowledge and confidence through occupational therapy. Broad, overarching themes evolving from these data included the significance of mothers' attitudes to parenting based on preconceived notions of motherhood, the psychological state of mothers and the nature of the support available from partners.

The implications for practice include the importance of nurturing a mother's own problem-solving strategies and balancing the physical and psychosocial aspects of intervention according to her needs.
Supervision in Occupational Therapy, Part 2: The Supervisee's Dilemma
Authors: Sweeney Grace , Webley Paul , Treacher Andy
Published: April 2015

The first paper (Sweeney et al 2001) in this series of three on supervision in occupational therapy reported the views and experiences of occupational therapy supervisors. In contrast to the supervisor experience, where there remains a paucity of evidence in the general literature, the clinician as supervisee has been relatively well explored. However, the literature on the experiences of the occupational therapy supervisee is virtually nonexistent.

This paper, the second in the series, describes a grounded theory study which set out to explore the process of first-line supervision from the perspective of the novice occupational therapy supervisee (those employed at basic grade and senior II levels). Data collection took the form of semi-structured, one-to-one interviews with 30 female supervisees, who were drawn from a wide range of clinical specialties within the National Health Service in the South West of England.

The findings suggested that there existed a large gap between what many of the supervisees expected from supervision and what they actually received. In addition, there was evidence that the typical supervisee entered the supervision process with the aim of presenting a professional face to her supervisor and to the wider health care team and that she did this to protect her fragile sense of competence. Many supervisees employed a range of covert strategies within the supervision setting in order to facilitate the presentation of a professional face. The use of this approach carried with it a number of risks and benefits for the supervisee.

The final paper in the series will discuss the implications of these two studies of supervisor and supervisee experience in order to distil recommendations for the future practice of supervision within the profession.
Occupational Science: The Key to Broadening Horizons
Authors: Wilcock Ann A
Published: April 2015

In this paper, I will consider occupational science as a key to broadening horizons in occupational therapy. I start by clarifying and defining what occupational science is, and discuss the benefits that rigorous study of humans as occupational beings may bring to occupational therapy.

I suggest that adopting occupational science will assist occupational therapists to think in occupational rather than medical terms. This alone would extend the profession's domain of concern considerably, because it becomes clear that it is not only the people with disorder of body or mind who are occupationally handicapped. Humans have ‘occupational needs’ which are related to maintaining health, and many health outcomes, either good or bad, can be traced back to basic occupational determinants that people have created over time.

Our twentieth century founders recognised that we needed such a science and, even earlier, social philosophers wrote of its importance. If occupational therapists work as agents of change according to a sound knowledge base built upon the unique aspect of life and health which is their domain, they will be able to respond and develop according to rapidly changing economies and values.

This keynote address was given on 4 July 2001 at the 25th Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, held at the University of Wales, Swansea.
Students' Choice of Occupational Therapy as a Second Degree
Authors: Craik Christine , Napthine Clare
Published: April 2015

There has been little research in the United Kingdom into the recruitment of occupational therapy students. This study focused on one aspect and surveyed students already holding a degree, in order to ascertain the factors that attracted them to occupational therapy and why they chose a further 3-year degree course in preference to postgraduate alternative routes to qualification.

Sixty-four students, holding degrees predominantly in the human sciences and the arts, were motivated to study occupational therapy at Brunel University through a desire to obtain a vocational qualification and to pursue a career that helped others and offered variety and personal satisfaction. The majority of the students learned of the profession through working in health and social care environments, and chose to study at Brunel University owing to its location in London and its reputation for attracting mature students. Although 90% of the students had been aware of the 2-year accelerated postgraduate diplomas in occupational therapy, more than a third preferred to undertake a 3-year degree course because it allowed more time for study and part-time employment.

The need to target recruitment at school leavers, graduates in related degrees and those already working in health or social care was identified.
An Investigation of Carers' Burden: Before and after a Total Hip Replacement
Authors: Chow W H
Published: April 2015

Osteoarthritis in the hip joint is a chronic degenerative condition, causing pain and disability. As the disease progresses, the individual's health deteriorates. This often results in one of the family members having to assume a carer role to assist the care receiver in personal and domestic activities of daily living. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether carers experienced stress from looking after individuals with osteoarthritis who were waiting for a total hip replacement.

The survey was conducted with 23 carers using postal questionnaires before and 3 months after the care receivers had undergone a total hip replacement. It concluded that carers do experience stress from looking after people with osteoarthritis waiting for a total hip replacement and that the carers' stress level was not reduced significantly 3 months after the hip operation. The results of this study have implications for health care professionals who come into contact with this group of carers.
Patient Violence in Community Mental Health: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Blank Alison
Published: April 2015

The past decade has seen an increasing focus on care in the community. During this period, the media has given a high profile to a number of incidents where members of the public and health service staff have been assaulted by patients of mental health services.

Many occupational therapists work in community mental health teams and there is a nationally acknowledged need for risk assessment and management. Despite this, an electronic search of five major databases and eight occupational therapy journals revealed no literature within the occupational therapy profession examining risk assessment and management. The existing literature is from the nursing and medical professions.

A systematic review of 10 studies, two conducted in the United Kingdom and eight in the United States of America, is presented. It is suggested that the occupational therapy profession urgently needs to address this gap in its literature and consider what can be learned from other professions.
The Raeden Early Development Group for Preschool Children with Motor Difficulties
Authors: Macdonald Jenny
Published: April 2015

The Early Development Group at the Raeden assessment and treatment centre in Aberdeen included children and their parents, nursery nurses, therapists and teachers. It aimed to evaluate an alternative treatment method to that used in the centre for preschool children with disorders of movement and posture. The history, aims, philosophy and organisation of the group are described together with the research and the personal observations of the author, a paediatric occupational therapist who was the coordinator of the group.

The concept for the group developed after visits to the Pet Institute in Budapest by the author and a paediatrician and incorporated some of the concepts of conductive education. The major findings of the project indicated increased confidence of the parents, high levels of parent and child involvement and enjoyment, and improved communication and interaction between parents and staff. There were improvements, but not marked changes, in motor abilities. Additional resources are needed for such a project and there needs to be adequate preparation of staff when new practices are introduced. The use of video recordings was an important source of data.
Illness Narrative and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: a Review
Authors: Hughes Julie L
Published: April 2015

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) remains a contentious and stigmatised condition despite its recent medical recognition as an official illness. As a chronic condition, both the devastating effect that it has upon the daily occupational functioning of these people and upon their families and the rate of prevalence in the United Kingdom suggest that occupational therapy could make a significant contribution.

This article seeks to describe and discuss the purposes that illness narratives may serve for those with CFS/ME. It is proposed that occupational therapists need to, first, acknowledge the subjective experience of those who are living with CFS/ME through sharing these narratives and, second, facilitate the process by which the voice of people with CFS/ME is heard with regard to the service provision. Only then can they claim to offer a truly client-centred service.
Being Prepared for Diversity in Practice: Occupational Therapy Students' Perceptions of Valuable Intercultural Learning Experiences
Authors: Whiteford Gail , St-Clair Valerie Wright
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapists are increasingly working in diverse areas of practice, in diverse settings and with diverse client groups. Accordingly, understandings of the complexities of interactions between service providers and clients, relative to the environments and contexts in which they come together, are requisite to competent practice.

This article describes a phenomenological study undertaken with occupational therapy students in New Zealand, which focused on their experiences of learning to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. In this article, a subset of the findings from the study is presented. This subset of findings was that client-centredness and hands-on experiences in fieldwork were perceived to be the most important features of the occupational therapy students' education as preparation for working with clients from different cultural backgrounds. A presentation of narrative extracts and interpretive commentary is followed by a discussion of the implications of the findings for occupational therapy education, especially fieldwork education.
Portfolios: Portraits of Our Professional Lives
Authors: Alsop Auldeen
Published: April 2015

This article aims to explore how occupational therapists might demonstrate their continuing competence to practise in the light of new regulatory requirements. The capacity of therapists to fulfil their obligations depends on a number of factors, including their ability to reflect on practice in a critical way, their commitment to learning and their desire for personal and professional growth.

Portfolio development is likely to be the means by which therapists demonstrate their efforts to remain competent. Portfolios will become the canvas on which personal, professional and career initiatives are displayed as evidence of continuing professional development. A review of the literature supports an exploration of these various themes.
Systematic Review: Evidence of the Value of Continuing Professional Development to Enhance Recruitment and Retention of Occupational Therapists in Mental Health
Authors: Hunter Elaine , Nicol Margaret
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapy in mental health is changing as a result of service developments. The College of Occupational Therapists reported these changes and their impact for occupational therapists in the Mental Health Project (Craik et al 1998b). This report suggested that there were problems in recruitment and retention in the field of mental health. Background reading for this article highlighted that a variety of factors is influential for an occupational therapist to enter, remain in or leave a post. One factor identified to assist recruitment and retention was the influence of continuing professional development.

A comprehensive literature search was carried out to identify the evidence regarding the influence of continuing professional development in enhancing recruitment and retention. A protocol was developed to search for published research and evaluations specific to state-registered occupational therapists from a range of clinical specialties.

Thirteen articles were cited and these are systematically reviewed with key findings documented. The review identified that there was little evidence for the influence of continuing professional development on staff recruitment and retention and that no study had set out to explore the relationship between the two in isolation. What evidence was available suggests that recruitment and retention are influenced by a combination of personal and professional factors. In concluding, the findings outline the implications for research and practice.
The Purpose and Practicalities of Postgraduate Education
Authors: Alsop Auldeen , Lloyd Carol
Published: April 2015

This article suggests ways in which continuing professional education might contribute to occupational therapists' ongoing professional development. It highlights the need to view critical skills as a feature of competent practice and discusses the relative merits of enhancing these skills through workplace learning and postgraduate study.

It is suggested that occupational therapists aspiring to leadership positions and consultant therapist posts seek postgraduate opportunities to prepare themselves for these roles. Consideration is given both to how occupational therapists might make choices about programmes of continuing education and to how they might prepare to undertake postgraduate study.