bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use and Validity of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in a Posttraumatic Stress Program
Authors: Harper Kim , Stalker Carol A. , Templeton Gillian
Published: December 2014

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was adapted to a group format and used to investigate self-perceived change over time with respect to treatment goals in a sample of adults with histories of child abuse who participated in a 6-week inpatient trauma program. Using the COPM, 177 adults developed individualized goals and rated their performance and satisfaction with performance of these goals at admission, discharge, and 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge. Goals were classified into six categories and changes in self-ratings were analyzed. Results indicated that the mean scores on the COPM were significantly improved over admission levels at all points in time with respect to goals of self-care, relationships and communication, coping with feelings, and spirituality. However, many participants did not maintain discharge levels at follow-up points. Comparison of the adapted COPM to other standardized measures used in this study supported concurrent criterion validity. Implications for helping professionals are discussed.
Playfulness and the Environmental Support of Play in Children with and without Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Hamm Ellen M.
Published: December 2014

The primary purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of the Test of Playfulness (ToP) and the Test of Environmental Supportiveness (TOES), to compare playfulness and environmental support of play in children with and without developmental disabilities, and to examine the correlation between the ToP and the TOES. Participants included 20 children with various developmental disabilities and 20 children without developmental disabilities between 6 and 38 months old. Results revealed the ToP and the TOES to be reliable and valid. Furthermore, children with developmental disabilities were less playful than children without developmental disabilities. The ToP and the TOES were found to be highly correlated for both groups; however, the magnitude of this correlation was greater for children with disabilities.
A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Chinese Version of the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment—Second Edition in a Taiwanese Mixed Clinical Sample
Authors: Su Chwen-Yng , Lin Yueh-Hsieh , Chen-Sea Mei-Jin , Yang Ming-Jen
Published: December 2014

The objective of the current study was to determine the factor structure of the Chinese version of the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment—Second Edition (LOTCA-II) in a Taiwanese heterogeneous clinical sample ( n = 128). Translation into Chinese (Mandarin) and back-translation into English were performed by three different individuals and adapted by an expert panel, with the primary objective of creating semantic equivalence. Area-level confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze two models in the total sample. The results indicated that a model with two first-order factors (perceptual memory/praxis and constructional/conceptual function) presents the best fit (chi-square = 5.66, df = 4, p = .23, GFI = .983, AGFI = .938, TLI = .990, CFI = .996, NFI = .987, RMSEA = .057, IFI = .996, SRMR = .02). When a second-order factor (identified with general cognitive abilities) is added to this model, the fit indices are identical to those of the oblique two-factor model. This hierarchical two-factor model was also consistent across subgroups with neurological and schizophrenic disorders. Recommendations were made regarding clinical interpretation of the LOTCA-II using the cognitive model derived from the factor analysis and further validation of the LOTCA-II in other racial or diagnostic groups.
Developmental Trends in Handwriting Performance among Middle School Children
Authors: Weintraub Naomi , Drory-Asayag Anat , Dekel Rivki , Jokobovits Hanna , Parush Shula
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to describe developmental trends in handwriting performance and determine which handwriting components influence legibility among middle school students. One hundred thirty-four Israeli students in grades 7 to 9 (age range = 12 to 15.5 years, mean age = 13.5 years) who wrote in Hebrew were assessed using a standardized handwriting test. Results indicated that legibility and speed did not improve from year to year, the handwriting performance of girls was significantly better than that of boys, and letter formation (but not spatial organization) significantly contributed to handwriting legibility. These results support findings from studies relating to the English language and may assist occupational therapists who work in middle schools to both identify students with handwriting difficulties and develop appropriate intervention programs. Yet, because this is one of the few studies that relates to handwriting performance of middle school students, additional studies on other aspects of this skill in this age group are necessary.
Occupational Engagement and Life Satisfaction in the Oldest-Old: The Umeå 85+ Study
Authors: Nilsson Ingeborg , Bernspång Birgitta , Fisher Anne G. , Gustafson Yngve , Löfgren Britta
Published: December 2014

This study was designed to evaluate whether the level of occupational engagement is related to life satisfaction among the oldest-old. The study was performed as part of a cross-sectional study of individuals 85 years and older in northern Sweden. The results revealed significant correlations between life satisfaction and engagement in both leisure and activities of daily living, and the effect sizes were interpreted as medium. This study adds some support to earlier findings that a higher level of task performance is related to a higher level of life satisfaction. The results also give some clinical evidence to support a client-centered approach that includes consideration of leisure tasks a person is motivated to perform.
Synthesis of Habit Theory
Authors: Clark Florence , Sanders Katherine , Carlson Michael , Blanche Erna , Jackson Jeanne
Published: December 2014

During the past century, numerous researchers and theorists have argued that human lives are largely shaped by the nonreflective realm of habit. Beyond this observation, however, scholarly conceptualizations of habit are widely divergent, ranging from neural-level to culturally saturated macro-level constructs. To clarify the multiple ways that habit has been construed and is related to rehabilitation, the authors present a typology of nine categories of habits: habit as tic; habit as neural networks; habit as conditioned responses; habit as addiction; habit as single, everyday activities; habit as routine; habit as custom, ritual, rite, or ceremony; habit as character; and habit as habitus. Although these categories overlap and share common properties, their conceptual features differ along several dimensions. Each category offers a distinct perspective from which to understand the role of habit in the lives of clients undergoing rehabilitation, which the authors illustrate using examples from the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Study (PUPS), a qualitative study on the contextual factors that lead to serious recurrent pressure ulcers in people with spinal cord injuries. The authors argue that habit is a ubiquitous, protean force that presents itself in many interlinking forms, steering the course of human lives in both health-promoting and destructive directions. To have the greatest effect on health and participation, rehabilitation professionals must examine the nuanced ways that habit may operate both in the lives of clients and in professional practice.
Bathing Area Safety and Lower Extremity Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Korp Kathryn E. , Taylor Jessica M. , Nelson David L.
Published: December 2014

Occupational therapists and others frequently recommend grab bars and slip-resistant surfaces inside and outside of the bathing area to prevent accidental falls. In addition to observing and describing grab bar safety and floor surface safety, the authors tested the correlations between these safety features and three falls risk factors: lower extremity dysfunction, fear of falling, and self-reported falls history. Sixty community-dwelling participants aged at least 60 years were recruited. Only 13 of 60 (22%) in the total sample had adequate grab bars, and only 7 (12%) had adequate surfaces both inside and outside the bathing area. Of those with less than ideal scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) testing lower extremity function, 39 of 52 (75%) did not have adequate grab bars and 31 of 52 (60%) had inadequate surfaces inside the bathing area. The point-biserial correlation between the SPPB and grab bar adequacy was statistically significant ( r = −.41), indicating a mild tendency for grab bar adequacy in individuals with relatively low SPPB scores. However, there was little relationship between the SPPB and slip-resistant surfaces inside ( r = −.08) or outside ( r = .07) the bathing area. Secondary analyses found no discernible relationships between bathroom safety equipment and participants' self-reported histories of falls or their fear of falling. Of the five participants reporting histories of severe falls, all lacked adequate grab bars and non-slip surfaces. Modifications to improve the safety of bathing areas for community-dwelling older adults at risk for falls are needed.
Application of Role and Role Conflict Theory to Administration in Occupational Therapy Education
Authors: Miller Rosalee
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine and define, for chairpersons of occupational therapy education programs, role expectations as held by the role incumbents and those who border that role, to identify possible areas of conflict arising from differences in those expectations, and to relate those findings to theoretical writings on role and role conflict theory. The theoretical basis of this study was the work of Getzels and associates on administration as a social system. Through the instrument developed for this study from the available literature on chairperson role expectations, answers were sought to questions about ideal and actual chairperson role expectations, perceived role conflict, and the relationship of the perceived ideal role to the theoretical role found in the literature. Copies of the instrument were mailed to the dean, chairperson, and a representative number of faculty of 48 of the 49 professional education programs in occupational therapy approved by The American Occupational Therapy Association. Usable responses were received from a total of 32 deans, 38 chairpersons, and 127 faculty members. The data were analyzed by means of frequency distributions and, where comparisons were required, the Kruskal- Wallis-H test and the Wilcoxon T test were used. Results indicated areas of agreement and disagreement about chairperson role expectations and highlighted areas of potential conflict.
Qualitative Research: Part One Paradigmatic Grounds and Issues of Reliability and Validity
Authors: Kielhofner Gary
Published: December 2014

This article, the first of two in a series, presents the argument that qualitative research constitutes a legitimate method of research that has special relevance to occupational therapy. The author proposes and discusses a definition of qualitative research. The qualitative research tradition is guided by a scientific paradigm that defines its view of the social world and sets the rationale for its methods. Qualitative and quantitative research are contrasted, and the methodological issues of the former are discussed.
Development of Kinesthetic Judgments of Angle and Distance
Authors: Henderson Anne , Duncombe Linda
Published: December 2014

This study investigated developmental trends in two aspects of kinesthesia. The kinesthesia test of the Southern California Sensory Integration Tests was administered to 80 children ages 6, 9, 12, and 15. The test was scored for the ability to reproduce a movement toward a target with angular accuracy (angle error) and for the ability to judge how far to move (distance error). Although improvement on both measures was found over the age range studied, the differences between the groups were significant only with younger children. Six-year-olds were significantly different from the three older groups in both distance error and angle error. In angle error there was also a significant difference between 9-year-olds and 15-year-olds. Both measures showed a marked drop in variability after 6 years of age. A moderate correlation (r = .54) was found between the two measures.
Research on the Neuropathophysiology of Autism and its Implications for Occupational Therapy
Authors: Clark Florence
Published: December 2014

Basic research has linked autism to an underlying neuropatho-physiologic substrate, but, for the most part, educational planning for autistic children has yet to undergo significant change as a consequence of these findings. With occupational therapy's emphasis on the neurobiologic substrates of functional performance, it may be that researchers in this profession can, based on the current etiologic breakthroughs, develop new theories of practice, or refine existing ones, pertinent to autism. This article reviews recent research on the etiology of autism and discusses educational assessment and programming in light of these findings. Implications for occupational therapy are addressed, and it is recommended that occupational therapist involvement in autism be expanded through instrument development and refinement of theories used in clinical practice. Through this enterprise, occupational therapy may further establish its role in the educational management of autistic children, clarifying its relationship to special education.
Collecting Data on Play: A Critique of Available Methods
Authors: Kielhofner Gary , Barris Roann
Published: December 2014

Play, a subjective and naturalistic behavior, both reflects and facilitates development. As such, it provides an important area of research for occupational therapy. Although a multitude of methods and instruments exist for studying play, they are not comparable in terms of their psychometric properties nor in terms of the approach they take to conceptualizing play. This article identifies and critiques a number of instruments that examine the behavior exhibited during play, the environment of play, and people's attitudes toward play. Available information on the reliability and validity of the reviewed instruments is presented, and the problems associated with assessing play behaviors are described It is concluded that play assessment is presently in a nascent stage of evolution and therefore represents a potentially fruitful area for additional research.
Differences in Responses to Exercise by Post-CVA and Normal Subjects
Authors: Trombly Catherine A. , Quintana Lee Ann
Published: December 2014

Electromyography and electrogoniometry were used to compare the output of the flexor digitorum profundus, flexor digitorum superficialis, and extensor digitorum of 10 post-CVA subjects and 10 normal subjects during and following resisted and unresisted slow and rapid hand exercises The purpose of this study was to determine differences in motor unit recruitment and ability to extend the fingers between normal and post-CVA subjects following stereotyped exercises. The results indicated that normal and post-CVA subjects differed in percent of motor unit recruitment during exercise, but not all differences were statistically significant. In general, post-CVA subjects recruited a lower percentage of maximum voluntary contraction than normal subjects during rapid or resisted exercise and a higher percentage during slow, unresisted exercise. The most common patterns of muscle contraction were reciprocal and independent for both groups Post-CVA subjects required a significantly longer time than did normal subjects to do grasp exercises as well as resisted and rapid extension exercises. Both before and after the exercises, normal subjects showed significantly more range of motion for extension than did post-CVA subjects. Neither impairment of the ability to recruit motor units or activate and relax muscles nor hyperactive stretch reflexes seem to be more conclusively supported as a major deficit for post-CVA subjects. Further study is required. The results suggested that therapists should not base treatment of post-CVA patients on data derived from normal subjects.
Academic Reward Structures and Occupational Therapy Faculty Part II: Predictors of Rewards and Scholarly Productivity
Authors: Parham Diane
Published: December 2014

This article, the second in a two-part study of academic rewards for occupational therapy (OT) faculty, identifies statistical predictors of rewards and scholarly productivity. Multiple regression analyses revealed that, in contrast with traditional academe, publications do not predict salaries for OT faculty. Variables such as advanced degree, professional awards, and outstanding teaching offer far greater rewards than is typical in higher education. However, being an administrator and being male are rewarded monetarily, as is true in higher education overall. Research publication is a significant predictor of tenure, providing an explanatory link between the low research productivity and limited tenure rates among OT faculty. Those who publish research tend to be in research universities, hold higher academic degrees, and have prominent visibility in the profession. The generally low publication rates of OT faculty may make them increasingly vulnerable if university administrators continue to stress scholarly productivity in the evaluation of faculty.
Managerial Leadership and Staff OTR Job Satisfaction
Authors: Brollier Chestina
Published: December 2014

The primary objective of this investigation was to explore the effects of the managerial leadership of hospital-based occupational therapy directors on their registered occupational therapy (OTR) staff members' job satisfaction. Leadership behaviors, power and influence factors, skills, and overall managerial leadership effectiveness were tested for their correlation with staff job satisfaction. In order to test the conceptualizations, mailed questionnaires were completed by 93 occupational therapy department directors and 348 staff OTRs who were employed in hospitals throughout the United States. The managerial leadership styles of hospital-based occupational therapy directors influenced staff job satisfaction much more than had been found in similar studies done with samples from some other fields. Also, directors and their staff members demonstrated major differences in their ratings of the directors' leadership styles. The findings suggested a need for further research and indicated some potentially beneficial management practices.
The Effect of Differing Feedback Conditions on Grip Strength: A Pilot Study
Authors: Weiss-Lambrou Rhoda , Dutil Elisabeth
Published: December 2014

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of four different types of feedback conditions on the assessment of grip strength during maximum voluntary isometric contraction in 20 normal female subjects. The four feedback conditions studied were: (a) no extrinsic feedback, (b) visual extrinsic feedback, (c) auditory extrinsic feedback, and (d) combined auditory and visual extrinsic feedback. Each subject was required to exert maximum hand grip of the right hand by squeezing the handle of a specially constructed testing device. This task was performed three times in each of the four experimental conditions. Results indicated that the application of either of the four feedback conditions did not produce any significant difference on the performance measured during strength testing. Recommendations for further research are discussed.
Occupational Function and Dysfunction in Three Groups of Adolescents
Authors: Barris Roann , Kielhofner Gary , Martin Rose Mary Burch , Gelinas Isabelle , Klement Maggi , Schultz Beth
Published: December 2014

This study examined the characteristics of occupational function and dysfunction in adolescents with a psychophysiological illness and compared these adolescents to a group with psychiatric diagnoses and a group of high school students who were not being treated for medical or emotional problems. Using the model of human occupation as a theoretical framework, data were collected on the status of volition and habituation subsystem components. Analyses of variance revealed few differences among the groups; consequently, a discriminant function analysis was performed to determine whether group differences would be identified when variables were treated as an aggregate. The model that was tested accurately discriminated all normal subjects from the others and accurately classified 7 of the psychiatric subjects and 9 of the psychophysiological subjects. This model included the following variables: locus of control; total rating of competence during a typical day; total rating of importance of activities during a typical day; number of not-valued roles; strong interests in the past ten years; total rating of enjoyment; number of past roles; and time spent in each of work, play, and daily living tasks.
Stroke Rehabilitation: Outcome Based on Brunnstrom Recovery Stages
Authors: Shah S. K. , Harasymiw S. J. , Stahl P. L.
Published: December 2014

Rehabilitation outcome based on Brunnstrom recovery stages following comprehensive rehabilitation was examined for a sample of 98 inpatients with cerebrovascular accident and resulting hemiplegia or hemiparesis. Using admission and discharge dates retrieved from a computer-based patient information system, frequency distributions, cross-tabulations, and Spearman's correlations were computed. Regardless of severity of paralysis, length of stay, and time of admission from onset, patients tended to improve at all levels of recovery stages. The stage of recovery at admission seemed to set the probable upper limit on how far patients were likely to progress. The strong positive correlations between recovery at admission and discharge on all measures for arm, hand, and leg recovery, with or without proprioception, seem to indicate that recovery in hemiplegia is a global phenomenon.
Mean and Peak Heart Rate Prediction Using Estimated Energy Costs of Jobs
Authors: McKenna Kryss T. , Maas Frederick
Published: December 2014

Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring may be utilized to assess individual physiological response to activity, although a literature review revealed that the application of this information to the field of cardiac rehabilitation is limited. This exploratory study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of ambulatory heart-rate recording as an objective means of job description and prescription. Results showed that heart rate increases linearly with job activity ( p <.001), and regression equations predicted mean and peak heart rate from an occupation's energy cost score. Essential components of occupational therapists' contribution to cardiac rehabilitation, work preparation and assessment require reliable and objective criteria with which to estimate a patient's occupational suitability. Heart-rate monitoring may be a simple, sensitive means of resolving this problem by accurately matching a patient's physiological capacity with the physical demands of a job.
Visual and Motor Sequencing in Normal and Clumsy Children
Authors: Murphy Jacqueline B. , Gliner Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2014

An information-processing approach was used to investigate motor performance differences between normal children and children designated as clumsy. The focus of this study was on the planning stages of motor skill. Following a motor skills screening test, 38 children 6 to 9 years old were divided into a control group, consisting of children who had passed the screening and an experimental group consisting of children who had failed the screening. The children then performed three tasks involving visual and motor sequencing selected for this study: (a) visual sequencing and short-term recall of visual stimuli, (b) visual sequencing and long-term recall of skilled motor acts, and (c) visual sequencing and short-term recall with motor reproduction. Results of the study indicated that children who had failed the motor skills screening did significantly worse than the control group on the three tasks. Implications for occupational therapy are discussed in terms of the importance of perception in motor skill performance.
Perceptions of Faculty Members in Special Education concerning Occupational Therapy Services in Schools: A Pilot Study
Authors: Bloom Doris T.
Published: December 2014

This study examines the perceptions of special educators concerning the provision of occupational therapy as a related service in school systems. Four faculty members, affiliated with two universities, revealed in interviews that they have limited understanding of the role of occupational therapy in the educational setting and that they are concerned about fragmentation in the field of special education, The educators' inability to understand the specific contribution occupational therapy can make toward increasing a student's ability to benefit from special education and the lack of communication between educators and therapists can affect the provision of occupational therapy in schools. It appears that therapists will have to take the initiative in communicating with educators because they have not sought this information for themselves.
Transition Needs Assessment of Severely Disabled High School Students and Their Parents and Teachers
Authors: Clark Florence A. , Mack Wendy , Pennington Vickie
Published: December 2014

A needs assessment of 45 high school students with severe disabilities was conducted to determine their perceived needs regarding independent living skills (ILS). Additionally, the parents ( N = 38) and the teachers ( N = 7) of the students were surveyed to assess the ILS needs they perceived the children as having. Regardless of educational classifications, the students and their parents tended to perceive that the students' greatest need was for development in social and vocational competence. Parents had needs for programming too, especially in the areas of setting goals for their children and using community resources, and teachers indicated that a number of ILS areas were not sufficiently well covered in existing curricula. Implications for transition programs directed by occupational therapists are discussed.
A Comparison of the Play Skills of Normal Boys and Boys with Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
Authors: Bundy Anita C.
Published: December 2014

Occupational therapists often assume that children with sensory integrative (SI) dysfunction also have play deficits. However, occupational therapy literature suggests that some children with SI dysfunction may compensate for their deficits and be able to play in an age-appropriate fashion. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the mean scores on the Preschool Play Scale (PPS) of a group of young boys with SI dysfunction were significantly lower than those of a group of their normal peers. Sixty-one boys between the ages of 54 and 82 months (normal group, n = 30; group with SI dysfunction, n = 31) were the subjects for this study. The group with SI dysfunction scored significantly lower than the normal boys on four of five PPS scores. However, many of the boys with SI dysfunction obtained normal PPS scores. This suggests that therapists should routinely assess the play skills of young children referred to them for SI evaluation.
The Relationship of Academic Degree and Years in Practice to Occupational Therapists' Perceptions of the Status of the Profession and Educational Preparation
Authors: Fleming Maureen Hayes , Piedmont Ralph L.
Published: December 2014

A questionnaire survey was sent to 2,000 occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants to gather data on perceptions of the state of the profession and its educational system. Eight hundred and eleven questionnaires were returned and analyzed with a Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. The results of two sections of the questionnaire are presented here. These results suggest that, in general, therapists feel that the status of occupational therapy should be improved and that the education of occupational therapists should change. However, there are significant differences of opinion about what should be done to improve the status of the profession and what changes should be made in education. These differences are related to subgroups in the profession. This article presents an overview of some of the differences in perceptions of the profession and its educational system according to two variables—academic degree held and years in practice.
The Effectiveness of Relaxation Techniques with Patients Who Have Chronic Low Back Pain
Authors: Strong Jenny , Cramond Tess , Maas Frikke
Published: December 2014

The effectiveness of two types of relaxation training methods—applied relaxation and applied relaxation with biofeedback—was evaluated. Forty women with chronic low back pain underwent initial, discharge, and follow-up assessments that used three measures from the McGill Pain Questionnaire. At discharge, both groups showed a similar improvement on two out of the three measures, that is, number of words chosen and pain rating index. At follow-up, the two treatment groups showed a similar decline on the number of words chosen measure. On the pain rating index measure, subjects in the applied relaxation with biofeedback treatment group maintained a significantly better improvement.
Play Preference and Play Performance in Normal Boys and Boys with Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
Authors: Clifford Jane M. , Bundy Anita C.
Published: December 2014

The Preschool Play Scale and Preschool Play Materials Preference Inventory were administered to 66 pre-school-age boys (35 normal, 31 with sensory integrative [SI] dysfunction). Data were analyzed descriptively. The results demonstrated that (a) normal pre-school-age boys and pre-school-age boys with SI dysfunction did not differ with regard to play preference; (b) preschool-age boys with SI dysfunction scored significantly lower than did their normal peers on three of the four dimensions of the play scale; and (c) there was no relationship between play preference and performance for the boys with SI dysfunction and only a moderate relationship for the normal boys. Furthermore, none of the scores of the normal preschoolers fell into the category of high preference, low performance in any area of play, whereas 9% of the scores of the boys with SI dysfunction were associated with this type of play deficit. A greater percentage of scores (22%) of the boys with SI dysfunction fell into the category of low preference, low performance in given play categories; only 4% of the scores of the normal boys fell into this category. Clinical implications and recommendations for further study of play deficits are discussed.
Program Evaluations of Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork Environments: A Naturalistic Inquiry
Authors: Meyers Susan K.
Published: December 2014

Three occupational therapy Level II fieldwork environments—mental health, adult physical disabilities, and pediatrics—were evaluated with the naturalistic inquiry methodology. Students and supervisors described and compared and contrasted ideal clinical education environments with actual Level II fieldwork environments. The naturalistic inquiry methodology and the salient factors in each of the three evaluated environments are summarized.
Handwriting: A Perceptual-Motor Disturbance in Children with Myelomeningocele
Authors: Ziviani Jenny , Hayes Alan , Chant David
Published: December 2014

An explanation for the handwriting difficulties experienced by children with spina bifida myelomeningocele was sought within the framework of a closed-loop theory of motor skill acquisition. The handwriting performance of 34 children (16 boys and 18 girls) aged 6.16 to 13.42 years was detailed with available norms. Regression analyses were then performed for the five handwriting components of speed, alignment, letter formation, spacing, and size. The regressions for speed, alignment, and letter formation reached statistical significance. For speed, age provided the greatest explanation of performance (R2 = .62, p = .008). Alignment was explained substantially by age, handedness, scholastic aptitude, and kinesthesia (R2 = .55, p = .03). Letter formation was determined primarily by age and kinesthesia (R2 .71, p = .001,). The overall regression was not significant for spacing (R2 = .39, p = .30), or size (R2 = .35, p = .43), although a significant single degree of freedom was detected for the effect of age. These findings are discussed in terms of skill acquisition theory.
Values Influencing Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Fondiller Elaine D. , Rosage Lois J. , Neuhaus Barbara E.
Published: December 2014

This exploratory study used qualitative research methods to identify values that influence clinical reasoning in occupational therapy. Through an interview format, selected occupational therapists were asked to respond to a predetermined list of questions about a general case study. The interviews were tape-recorded and a content analysis of the tapes yielded 18 distinct value statements. Implications of the findings and recommendations for further studies are presented. Qualitative research methodology is examined for its utility in occupational therapy.
Values, Salience, and Job Satisfaction: Male and Female Occupational Therapists' Responses
Authors: Taylor Elizabeth A. , Madill Helen M. , Macnab Donald
Published: December 2014

A matched peer study of 55 male and 55 female respondents from a national survey of occupational therapists in Canada (N = 1,400) was completed in order to examine the level of value endorsement and job satisfaction. Respondents were matched according to position, educational level, years since graduation, marital status, and area of residence. Data from the Life Roles Inventory (LRI) was analyzed using discriminant analysis; results showed that males endorsed Risk and Advancement more strongly than their female cohorts, while females endorsed Social Relationships at a higher level than males. Males viewed studying as more important than females did in terms of participation, commitment, and role value. Data from the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) was analyzed using a t-test and results showed there was no difference between the two groups in relation to their level of job satisfaction.
When an Infant Has a Feeding Problem
Authors: Humphry Ruth , Rourk Malcolm H.
Published: December 2014

This study explored possible consequences of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in the infant on the mother-infant subsystem within the family system. A total of 36 mother-infant pairs contributed information. A group of mother-infant dyads where the infant had GER (n = 20) was compared with a control group (n = 16). Infants with GER were more likely than infants in the control group to be a source of stress, and care giving issues beyond feeding were more of a problem for the mothers in the GER group than for mothers in the control group. In comparison to the control group of mothers, there were no higher levels of maternal separation anxiety or greater amounts of help the mother received in daily tasks when the infant had GER. Videotapes made of the mother playing with the infant were scored by a research assistant blind to the diagnosis of the baby. Subtle differences in the infant's behavior during the first play session were observed when the infant had GER. No group differences were found in a second videotaped play session several weeks later. The study provides insight into early parenting experiences when there are problems feeding the baby.
Learning Style of Students and Practitioners in Five Health Professions
Authors: Katz Noomi , Heimann Nanci
Published: December 2014

This study investigated the learning styles of students and practitioners in Israel within five health professions—occupational therapy, social work, nursing, physical therapy, and clinical psychology. The study included 629 subjects. Kolb's (1976) Learning Style Inventory was used. The findings suggest greater variance in learning styles among the students as compared to practitioners. Occupational therapy students were found to be the least abstract among all groups. Both occupational therapy students and practitioners show an accommodator type. The findings hold implications for the educational process of occupational therapists.
Arthritis Hand Function Test: Development of a Standardized Assessment Tool
Authors: Backman Catherine , Mackie Hazel , Harris Jackie
Published: December 2014

The Arthritis Hand Function Test (AHFT) is being developed for use with adults who have rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 11 items designed to measure pure and applied strength and dexterity. The AHFT was administered twice to a sample of 20 subjects with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, to examine inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Subjects were also tested with the Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT) and completed the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS) questionnaire so occupational therapists could examine concurrent validity with these two established instruments. Data analysis resulted in correlation coefficients of .89 to 1.00 for inter-rater and .53 to .95 for test-retest reliability of the AHFT. The AHFT correlated well (r=.63) with the JHFT for the right hand, but poorly (r=.08) for the left hand. The AHFT correlated well (r=.71) with the dexterity scale on the AIMS, but showed little relationship with other AIMS scales. These preliminary data suggest that the AHFT is a promising instrument for evaluating hand function in people who have arthritis.
A Generalizability Study of the Occupational Performance History Interview
Authors: Kielhofner Gary , Henry Alexis D. , Walens Deborah , Rogers E. Sally
Published: December 2014

In a previous project the Occupational Performance History Interview was developed and its reliability was studied. This paper reports the results of a study designed to examine the interview's reliability when used by therapists using one of two different frames of reference—model of human occupation and eclectic. Videotapes of 20 psychiatrically disabled subjects were rated by three registered occupational therapists within each frame of reference. Results indicated that the interview was only moderately stable under both conditions. Implications for further development of the interview are discussed.
Delayed Object Permanence Development in Prenatally Stressed Rhesus Monkey Infants (Macaca Mulatta)
Authors: Schneider Mary L.
Published: December 2014

This prospective study investigated the effects of mild maternal stress during pregnancy on object permanence performance in rhesus monkey infants (Macaca mulatta). Beginning on day 45 postpartum, 24 rhesus monkey infants were tested four times per week on a series of tests examining Piagetian object permanence. Twelve infants were derived from females exposed to a daily 10-minute mild stressor during the midgestational period of pregnancy, while 12 were derived from females undisturbed during pregnancy. Prenatally stressed infants took longer to recover an object that was partially obstructed or observed to vanish from view, suggesting that prenatally stressed infants may be cognitively impaired. Implications of the findings for occupational therapy practice are discussed.
Life Satisfaction of Parents of Adolescents with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Validation of a New Instrument
Authors: Renwick Rebecca M. , Reid Denise T.
Published: December 2014

Individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy typically experience some of the most severe physical effects of this chronic, progressive disorder during their teenage years. This can impact significantly on their quality of life, particularly because they are simultaneously grappling with the complex, identity-related developmental tasks associated with this stage in life. In turn, these circumstances are very likely to affect the quality of life of their parents, who are also usually their care givers. To date, no attempt has been made to actually measure the quality of life of these parents, perhaps due in part to the lack of instruments designed to do this. Accordingly, this paper outlines the conceptual basis, the item generation process, and the content validation of a new instrument, the Life Satisfaction Index for Parents (LSI-P), developed to assess one aspect of quality of life, namely, life satisfaction, in this population. The results of a study examining construct, concurrent, and discriminant validity and internal consistency of the LSI-P are also presented. Potential applications of the instrument and future directions for research are discussed.
Questions and Concerns about the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers
Authors: Schouten Peter G. W. , Kirkpatrick Lee A.
Published: December 2014

The Miller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) is a developmental test, a stated purpose of which is to identify children at risk for future school-related problems. In this article we call attention to ambiguities and omissions in previous reviews of three longitudinal studies that evaluated the MAP's predictive accuracy. A closer look at the original studies reveals that the test displays unacceptably high error rates in predicting members of the target population. We conclude that the MAP has not been validated for its intended purpose. Professional practitioners are urged to evaluate whether claims of test validity meet the standards of scientific evidence.
Clinical Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sensory Integrative and Perceptual Motor Therapy in Improving Sensory Integrative Function in Children with Learning Disabilities
Authors: Humphries Thomas W. , Snider Laurie , McDougall Beth
Published: December 2014

After 72 1-hour therapy sessions for 3 hours per week, significantly more subjects, aged 58 to 107 months, receiving sensory integration therapy ( n=35) and perceptual motor training ( n=35) than those receiving no treatment ( n=33) showed improvement in their sensory integrative functioning. The same effect was found for a subgroup of children exhibiting vestibular dysfunction only. Improvement could include an increase of all test scores defining a child's particular dysfunction into the normal range with associated clinical observations indicating no problem, or a reduction in the severity of a child's dysfunction, the number of their dysfunctional systems, or both severity and dysfunctional systems. The groups did not differ in the incidence of any one of these individual types of improvement, but only in their overall improvement represented by the total of all types. Discussion focused on the type and degree of improvement therapists can expect from treatment and problems associated with evaluating outcome.
Activity Analysis: Agreement between Participants and Observers on Perceived Factors in Occupation Components
Authors: Llorens Lela A.
Published: December 2014

This study is part of research being conducted to test the validity and reliability of activity analysis in occupational therapy. The objective was to determine the percentage of agreement between participants in an activity and observers of the activity using self-report as the method of data collection. The study was designed to determine the agreement on subjects' perceptions of presence or absence of 29 factors in five occupation components related to chewing, buttoning, manual rolling, drawing, and spinning.

Eighty occupational therapy students were participants in a laboratory used to gather self-report data in the initial study. Each student engaged in an activity that required chewing, buttoning, manual rolling, drawing, and spinning. Forty-seven registered occupational therapists were participants in this study. They observed a videotape of a student subject who performed the five activity (occupation) components. The student participant self-report responses are compared with the responses reported by the occupational therapist observers to determine the extent to which the two groups agreed on the presence of the activity factors.

The results of the study indicated that agreement occurred between the two groups for 12 to 21 of the 29 factors across the five occupation components. This finding occurred 80% or more of the time with a calculated percentage of agreement of .724 for spinning, manual rolling, and buttoning.
Construct Validity of the Occupational Performance History Interview
Authors: Lynch Kathleen B. , Bridle Mary J.
Published: December 2014

The Occupational Performance History Interview (OPHI) (Kielhofner, Henry, & Walens, 1989) was developed to gather reliable, valid data about individuals' past and present occupational performances. The construct validity of the OPHI was assessed in a study evaluating the long-term impact of spinal cord injury on the lives of 143 people. Subjects' scores on the OPHI were correlated with their scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (Radloff, 1977) and the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (Turk & Rudy, 1987). There was a significant negative correlation between the OPHI present and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Significant correlations in the expected directions also were obtained between the OPHI present scores and six of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory subscales. In addition, the OPHI past and present mean scores were significantly different, indicating that the instrument is sensitive to changes in occupational performance following traumatic spinal cord injury. These results support the construct validity of the OPHI, and therefore can increase therapists' confidence in using the instrument for diagnostic or therapeutic decision-making.
Work Values of Freshmen in Allied Health and Helping Professions: A Comparative Study
Authors: Avi-Itzhak Tamara E. , Ben-Shem Idit
Published: December 2014

The overall purposes of this study were to assess and compare the nature of the relationships between work values and vocational choices in a sample of Israeli freshmen aspiring to careers in allied health and helping professions following Super's (1970) self-concept developmental theory of vocational behavior. Results show that work values held by freshmen aspiring to careers in occupational therapy were the most heterogeneous among the four subgroups in the study. Results indicate that these freshmen tend to attach less importance to intellectual stimulation, associates, creativity, management, and prestige, and higher importance to aesthetics. The study has demonstrated significant differences among the work values of the four educational programs. For freshmen enrolled in therapy-oriented programs (occupational and physical therapy), job-related challenge, relationships, and creativity are less important than for freshmen enrolled in the service-oriented programs (special education and nursing). For freshmen enrolled in allied health programs (occupational and physical therapy and nursing), job-related prestige and challenge are more important than to those enrolled in a helping profession program (special education). Freshmen enrolled in occupational therapy are separated from all other freshmen on job-related aesthetics and management. While the former is most important to these freshmen, the latter is the least important.