bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of CSCL Pedagogical Patterns as Mediating Artefacts for Repurposing Open Educational Resources
Authors: Conole Gráinne , McAndrew Patrick , Dimitriadis Yannis
Published: September 2010

Designing effective CSCL processes is a complex task that can be supported by existing good practices formulated as pedagogical patterns. From a cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) perspective previous research has shown that patterns served as Mediating Artefacts (MA) helping practitioners to make informed decisions and choices, being much closer to the practitioners’ mindsets than complex learning design models, such as IMS-LD. However, a new challenge arises when the starting design element corresponds to Open Educational Resources (OER), i.e. free resources of high quality that are typically employed for individual learning. Recent research reported in this chapter has aimed to analyze the eventual contribution of CSCL patterns such as Collaborative Learning Flow Patterns (CLFP) in the repurposing process of existing OER for collaborative learning. Preliminary evidence coming from a set of workshops with educational technology experts shows that a small set of patterns drawn from a CSCL pattern language together with other MA, such as visual representations of Learning Designs, may be inspirational and effective in repurposing existing OER. Further research is under development that builds on the successful workshop format and involves practitioners in face-to-face and virtual workshops. This new set of experiences aims to analyze the effectiveness of the pedagogical patterns and other complementary MA in helping practitioners exploit the great potential of OER in the framework of the Open Learning Network (OLnet) project funded by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
The Support of Virtual 3D Worlds for Enhancing Collaboration in Learning Settings
Authors: Gütl Christian
Published: September 2010

Collaborative learning activities apply different approaches in-class or out-of-class, which range from classroom discussions to group-based assignments and can involve students more actively as well as stimulate social and interpersonal skills. Information and communication technology can support collaboration, however, a great number of pre-existing technologies and implementations have limitations in terms of the interpersonal communication perspective, limited shared activity awareness, and a lack of a sense of co-location. Virtual 3D worlds offer an opportunity to either mitigate or even overcome these issues. This book chapter focuses on how virtual 3D worlds can foster the collaboration both between instructors and students as well as between student peers in diverse learning settings. Literature review findings are complemented by the results of practical experiences on two case studies of collaborative learning in virtual 3D worlds: one on small group learning and one on physics education. Overall findings suggest that such learning environment’s advantages are a promising alternative to meet more easily and spontaneously; and that an integrated platform with a set of tools and a variety of communication channels provides real life world phenomena as well as different ones. On the negative side, there are usability issues in relation to the technical limitations of 3D world platforms and applications, which reduce the potential for learning in such collaborative virtual environments.
Caspase-12 Dampens the Immune Response to Malaria Independently of the Inflammasome by Targeting NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Labbé Katherine , Miu Jenny , Yeretssian Garabet , Serghides Lena , Tam Mifong , Finney Constance A. , Erdman Laura K. , Goulet Marie-Line , Kain Kevin C. , Stevenson Mary M. , Saleh Maya
Published: September 2010

Pathogen sensing by the inflammasome activates inflammatory caspases that mediate inflammation and cell death. Caspase-12 antagonizes the inflammasome and NF-κB and is associated with susceptibility to bacterial sepsis. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (T125C) in human Casp12 restricts its expression to Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Here, we investigated the role of caspase-12 in the control of parasite replication and pathogenesis in malaria and report that caspase-12 dampened parasite clearance in blood-stage malaria and modulated susceptibility to cerebral malaria. This response was independent of the caspase-1 inflammasome, as casp1−/− mice were indistinguishable from wild-type animals in response to malaria, but dependent on enhanced NF-κB activation. Mechanistically, caspase-12 competed with NEMO for association with IκB kinase-α/β, effectively preventing the formation of the IκB kinase complex and inhibiting downstream transcriptional activation by NF-κB. Systemic inhibition of NF-κB or Ab neutralization of IFN-γ reversed the increased resistance of casp12−/− mice to blood-stage malaria infection.
Training To Improve Awareness of Disabilities in Clients With Unilateral Neglect
Authors: Tham Kerstin , Ginsburg Elisabeth , Fisher Anne G. , Tegnér Richard
Published: September 2010

Objective. Awareness of disabilities is known to be a central problem of rehabilitation among clients with large right cerebrovascular lesions and unilateral neglect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an intervention program focused on improving the awareness of disabilities in four participants with unilateral neglect. The intervention program developed for this study was based on the assumption that awareness of disabilities is a prerequisite for being able to learn and use compensatory techniques in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL).

Method. The study followed a single-case experimental ABA design. The Assessment of Awareness of Disability was used to measure awareness of disabilities; the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills was used to measure ADL ability; and neuropsychological tests were used to assess unilateral neglect and sustained attention. The intervention program used meaningful and purposeful occupations as therapeutic change agents to improve awareness of disabilities.

Results. Awareness of disabilities and ADL ability improved in all four participants; unilateral neglect decreased in three participants; and sustained attention improved in two participants.

Conclusion. The preliminary findings indicate that training to improve awareness of disabilities might improve the ability to learn the use of compensatory techniques in the performance of ADL in clients with unilateral neglect. The effects of the intervention strategy need to be evaluated further in future research.
Adjustments to Managed Health Care: Pushing Against It, Going With It, and Making the Best of It
Authors: Walker Kay F.
Published: September 2010

In this qualitative study of managed health care and occupational therapy practice, participants described how their practice had changed, suggested that students be educated to communicate the value of occupational therapy and to navigate corporate medicine, and expressed ethical concerns regarding reimbursement versus therapy goals. In-person, individual, focused interviews were conducted with 25 therapists in the southeastern Atlantic states. Participants’ perceptions of pervasive changes in practice due to managed health care reflected three themes of meaning: the “pushing against it” personal–professional struggle; the “going with it” businesslike perspective, and the “making the best of it” optimistic outlook. These findings provide insight into therapists’ occupational adaptation to managed health care.
Effect of Interactive Metronome® Training on Children With ADHD
Authors: Shaffer Robert J. , Jacokes Lee E. , Cassily James F. , Greenspan Stanley I. , Tuchman Robert F. , Stemmer Paul J.
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a specific intervention, the Interactive Metronome®, on selected aspects of motor and cognitive skills in a group of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method. The study included 56 boys who were 6 years to 12 years of age and diagnosed before they entered the study as having ADHD. The participants were pretested and randomly assigned to one of three matched groups. A group of 19 participants receiving 15 hr of Interactive Metronome training exercises were compared with a group receiving no intervention and a group receiving training on selected computer video games.

Results. A significant pattern of improvement across 53 of 58 variables favoring the Interactive Metronome treatment was found. Additionally, several significant differences were found among the treatment groups and between pretreatment and posttreatment factors on performance in areas of attention, motor control, language processing, reading, and parental reports of improvements in regulation of aggressive behavior.

Conclusion. The Interactive Metronome training appears to facilitate a number of capacities, including attention, motor control, and selected academic skills, in boys with ADHD.
Pencil Grasp and Children’s Handwriting Legibility During Different-Length Writing Tasks
Authors: Dennis Julie L. , Swinth Yvonne
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study examined the influence of pencil grasp on handwriting legibility during both short and long writing tasks in 46 fourth-grade students who were typically developing. Matched samples were used to control for variability.

Method. Regular classroom writing assignments were scored for word and letter legibility, and scores were compared using a mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance design. The two independent variables were pencil grasp (dynamic tripod grasp vs. atypical grasp) and task length (short vs. long).

Results. A significant difference was found between the letter legibility scores on the short task and the letter legibility scores on the long task. Students’ legibility was greater on the short task than on the long task across both grasp conditions. No significant difference was found in scores between students who used dynamic tripod grasps and those who used atypical grasps, nor was there a significant interaction between grasp and task length. No significant differences were found between word legibility scores.

Conclusion. The results indicate that although the students in this study wrote more legibly on the short task than on the long task, the type of grasp they used did not affect their legibility. Because of the limited sample size, the results of this study should be interpreted cautiously. More research in handwriting performance and pencil grasp is needed to provide clear expectations and treatment options for students.
Validity of the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment Work Simulator in the Measurement of Lifting Endurance in Healthy Men
Authors: Ting W. , Wessel J. , Brintnell S. , Maikala R. , Bhambhani Y.
Published: September 2010

Objective. To examine the criterion validity of the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment (BTE) work simulator by comparing endurance time, oxygen uptake (VO2), and heart rate measured during real and simulated lifting tasks and to derive a regression equation for predicting actual lifting endurance from measurements on the work simulator.

Method. Twenty healthy male volunteers repetitively lifted and lowered a load of 40 lb using the BTE work simulator and actual weights at a laboratory workstation. Postures, location, and frequency of lifts were kept constant. Endurance (defined as the time taken for the rating of perceived exertion to increase 2 units on the Borg scale) was measured under both conditions. VO2 and heart rate were also recorded, using standard physiological procedures.

Results. The mean values for endurance time, steady-state VO2, and heart rate were significantly different between the real and simulated tasks (p < .05). Correlation of endurance time between the two tasks was significant (r = .71, p < .05). Stepwise regression analysis resulted in the following equation for predicting real endurance from simulated time measurements: predicted real time = .34 simulated time + 3.29; r = .71; SE = 1.00 min.

Conclusion. The BTE work simulator tends to overestimate real lifting endurance performance in healthy men. The lower physiological stress during the simulated task suggests a significant difference between the real and simulated loads. Occupational therapists should exercise caution when using the results of the BTE work simulator during functional capacity evaluations.
Effect of Wrist Positioning on the Repeatability and Strength of Power Grip
Authors: Fong Pauline W. K. , Ng Gabriel Y. F.
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study tested the between-day repeatability and effect of wrist positioning on grip strength measurement.

Method. Thirty healthy men 20 years to 69 years of age were tested twice, 1 week apart, in six wrist positions.

Results. The findings showed good repeatability for grip strength, with the intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC(1, 3)] ranging from .9043 to .9663. Significant differences were found in grip strength among the six positions (p < .001), with grip strength measured at 15° or 30° of wrist extension (EXT) and 0° ulnar deviation (UD) significantly greater than that of 0° UD and 0° EXT or 15° UD with or without EXT. This finding suggests the clinical importance of standardizing the testing position for grip strength measurement.

Conclusion. The high repeatability of the tests supports the use of the grip strength measurement to evaluate treatment progress.
Eliciting Children’s Voices in Qualitative Research
Authors: Curtin Clare
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this literature review was to summarize the issues and techniques involved when incorporating preschool and elementary-school-age children as informants in qualitative research.

Method. Literature on children’s studies, qualitative research with children as informants, and methods for obtaining children’s perspectives were examined.

Results. Conducting qualitative research with children involves different challenges and research techniques than research with adults. The researcher needs to examine beliefs regarding children’s competence, address the inequality of power in the adult–child relationship, and bridge different communication styles. The researcher can employ a variety of techniques and adaptations to help children express themselves.

Conclusion. This review adds to the understanding of occupational therapy researchers about children as informants in research. The practical suggestions presented can also be used in clinical practice to strengthen children’s voices in therapy.
Cross-Transfer Effects in the Upper Extremity During an Occupationally Embedded Exercise
Authors: Nagel Marica Juratovic , Rice Martin S.
Published: September 2010

Objective. Cross-transfer effects were investigated during an occupationally embedded task that involved learning a fine motor skill. Cross-transfer is a phenomenon that occurs when an untrained limb receives some of the same benefits in performance from unilateral training that the contralateral limb received. It was hypothesized that cross-transfer would occur after a unilateral training regime using an occupationally embedded task.

Method. Forty-eight participants (mean age = 24.4 years) volunteered for this repeated-measures study. Participants were randomly assigned to a training or control group and were asked to complete a toy maze with their right and left hands for the pretest and posttest. Whereas participants in the control group did not train, participants in the training group completed a toy maze three times a day for 7 days with their left hands. All participants returned in 1 week to complete the posttest portion of the experiment. Dependent variables included movement time, movement units, force oscillations, and average force.

Results. Significant decreases in movement time and force oscillations were found for the untrained limbs (p < .0125) in the training group. No significant differences were found in movement units or average force. The improved movement time and force oscillations in the untrained limb provides evidence suggesting that cross-transfer occurred.

Conclusion. This study indicates that with a population without impairments, cross-transfer can occur during an occupationally embedded task. This phenomenon may prove useful to the field of occupational therapy to rehabilitate immobilized extremities. Further research is needed to test this phenomenon with special populations.
The Effect of Sports on Level of Community Integration as Reported by Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Hanson Carolyn Schmidt , Nabavi David , Yuen Hon Keung
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in sports by persons with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) affected level of community integration as defined by the World Health Organization and as measured by the Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).

Method. Forty-eight participants were recruited from a camp for persons with physical disabilities as well as from SCI support groups. Participants were divided into groups of athletes (n = 30) and nonathletes (n = 18) on the basis of their self-reported level of sports participation.

Results. Athletes scored significantly higher on four of five subsections of the CHART (physical independence, mobility, occupation, social integration), indicating greater levels of community integration than nonathletes.

Conclusion. These findings extend the literature outlining the physical and psychological benefits of sports. Occupational therapists have a unique opportunity to use the occupation of sports to integrate the roots of the profession with the cultural demands of society.
The Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy–Related Treatments for Persons With Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analytic Review
Authors: Murphy Susan , Tickle-Degnen Linda
Published: September 2010

Given the current changes in health care, being able to obtain and use research evidence that supports occupational therapy treatment has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to synthesize available evidence on the effectiveness of occupational therapy–related treatments for persons with Parkinson’s disease. A meta-analysis was performed to achieve this synthesis. The results revealed small to moderate positive effects of intervention on outcomes related to clients’ capacities and abilities as well as for outcomes related to function during activities and tasks. Limitations in the research reviewed for this meta-analysis may have resulted in an underestimation of treatment effects. Occupational therapists can use results from this meta-analysis to communicate with clients about the possible benefits of participating in occupational therapy.
Narratives and Experience in an Occupational Transition: A Longitudinal Study of the Retirement Process
Authors: Jonsson Hans , Josephsson Staffan , Kielhofner Gary
Published: September 2010

This article presents the results from a longitudinal study of retirement. Data were collected through interviews with 12 Swedish participants over a 7-year period, beginning when they were still working and continuing through their early years of retirement. The findings show that the participants’ narrative anticipations of retirement interacted with the events of ongoing life. Sometimes these events influenced the outcomes of the retirement process unpredictably. Consequently, retirement was often full of surprises and temporary periods of turbulence. Although some participants managed a transition into a satisfying pattern of retirement, others found it an ongoing process of frustration and dissatisfaction. Evidence from this longitudinal study indicates that a special type of occupation—engaging occupation with six constituents—was an important determinant of retirement satisfaction. This key finding is discussed with regard to its implications for theory development as well as its practical implications related to the importance of differentiating occupations and attending to the interaction between internal motivation and external expectations in the occupational pattern.
The Functional Performance of Elderly Urban African-American Women Who Return Home to Live Alone After Medical Rehabilitation
Authors: Lysack Catherine L. , MacNeill Susan E. , Lichtenberg Peter A.
Published: September 2010

Objective. Elderly women who live alone are at increased risk for loss of independence. Hospitalization, in particular, often marks the transition from independent living to institutional care. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of rehabilitation admission to the subsequent function of elderly women and their ability to return to live-alone status.

Method. The women in the study (N = 138) were admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation unit at a large urban medical center between September 1997 and September 1998. The findings reported here pertain to the subset of African-American women (n = 122), the majority of the sample. Data were collected using several standardized assessments, including the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

Results. The FIM motor scores improved significantly for the total sample between admission and discharge, and the mean FIM motor score for the group that subsequently attained live-alone status was significantly higher than the non–live-alone group at 3 months and 6 months postdis-charge. The participants who returned to live alone also reported significantly greater independence than did their non–live-alone counterparts across a variety of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living skills.

Conclusion. These data suggest that rehabilitation is associated with improved functional outcomes, and higher functional performance is related to live-alone status.
Problem Effectiveness in an Occupational Therapy Problem-Based Learning Course
Authors: Stern Perri , D’Amico Frank J.
Published: September 2010

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate students’ perceptions of the extent to which faculty-generated learning objectives were addressed in a problem-based learning (PBL) course.

Method. Twenty-seven students enrolled in a 12-week PBL course were randomly divided by age, gender, and grade point average into four tutorial groups. Each group rated on a 10-cm visual analog scale their perceptions of how well they believed the objectives for each of four cases were addressed. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test the average differences among the tutorial groups for each case. Further, post hoc tests were performed to compare the means among groups for each objective.

Results. No significant differences were found in the average perceptions among the tutorial groups for any of the four cases. Student ratings indicated their overall perception that within each problem, preset objectives had been met.

Conclusion. The results support that students’ interpretations of learning objectives for PBL cases are consistent with the problem developers’ intended learning objectives. In addition, the similarities in the average scores for learning objectives across the four tutorial groups support the notion that PBL outcomes can be consistent among students, even though their study and discussions are in separate groups with different facilitators.
Construct-Related Validity of the Toglia Category Assessment and the Deductive Reasoning Test With Children Who Are Typically Developing
Authors: Josman Naomi , Jarus Tal
Published: September 2010

Objective. Both classification and deductive reasoning are essential cognitive components underlying any learning process and, therefore, are important to assess in children with developmental or learning disabilities. The aim of this study was to establish construct-related validity of the Toglia Category Assessment (TCA) and the Deductive Reasoning test, which were originally developed to evaluate adults with brain injury. This study represents the first step in validating and adapting the two tests for children who are typically developing.

Method. The study population consisted of 235 children without disabilities in 6 different age groups (from 5–11 years of age). Both the TCA and the Deductive Reasoning test were administered to all participants.

Results. The results of the study indicate significant differences in the average performance of children in several age groups on both the TCA and the Deductive Reasoning test, but they do not show differences among all the groups. Children could not predict their ability in either test, but most were able to estimate their ability after actual performance of the TCA. A significant correlation was found only for the 5-year-olds and 7-year-olds between the Deductive Reasoning test final score and the children’s estimation of their performance.

Conclusion. The findings of this study support the suitability of the TCA and the Deductive Reasoning test for use with children who are typically developing. We recommend that both tools be studied further to amplify their validity.
The Sensations of Everyday Life: Empirical, Theoretical, and Pragmatic Considerations
Authors: Dunn Winnie
Published: September 2010

The experience of being human is embedded in sensory events of everyday life. This lecture reviews sensory processing literature, including neuroscience and social science perspectives. Introduced is Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing, and the evidence supporting this model is summarized. Specifically, using Sensory Profile questionnaires (i.e., items describing responses to sensory events in daily life; persons mark the frequency of each behavior), persons birth to 90 years of age demonstrate four sensory processing patterns: sensory seeking, sensory avoiding, sensory sensitivity, and low registration. These patterns are based on a person’s neurological thresholds and self-regulation strategies. Psychophysiology studies verify these sensory processing patterns; persons with strong preferences in each pattern also have unique patterns of habituation and responsivity in skin conductance. Studies also indicate that persons with disabilities respond differently than peers on these questionnaires, suggesting underlying poor sensory processing in certain disorders, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental delays, and schizophrenia.

The author proposes relationships between sensory processing and temperament and personality traits. The four categories of temperament share some consistency with the four sensory processing patterns described in Dunn’s model. As with temperament, each person has some level of responsiveness within each sensory processing preference (i.e., a certain amount of seeking, avoiding, etc., not one or the other). The author suggests that one’s sensory processing preferences simultaneously reflect his or her nervous system needs and form the basis for the manifestation of temperament and personality. The final section of this lecture outlines parameters for developing best practice that supports interventions based on this knowledge.
The Use of a Weighted Vest To Increase On-Task Behavior in Children With Attention Difficulties
Authors: VandenBerg Nancy L.
Published: September 2010

Objective. Children described as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often demonstrate inability to sustain visual attention during classroom fine motor activities. This study investigated the effect of wearing a weighted vest (deep-pressure sensory input) on children's on-task behavior in the classroom.

Method. Four students with documented attention difficulties and hyperactivity were timed with a stopwatch to measure their on-task behavior during fine motor activities in the classroom. All 4 students were timed for six 15-min observations without wearing a weighted vest and for six 15-min observations while wearing a weighted vest.

Results. On-task behavior increased by 18% to 25% in all 4 students while wearing the weighted vest. Additionally, 3 of the 4 students frequently asked to wear the vest other than during the observation times.

Conclusion. These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that wearing a weighted vest to apply deep pressure increases on-task behavior during fine motor activities.
Adherence to Occupational Therapist Recommendations for Home Modifications for Falls Prevention
Authors: Cumming Robert G. , Thomas Margaret , Szonyi George , Frampton Gina , Salkeld Glenn , Clemson Lindy
Published: September 2010

Objective. This study examined adherence to home modification recommendations made by an occupational therapist and attempted to identify predictors of adherence.

Method. An experienced occupational therapist visited the homes of 178 people (mean age = 76.4 years) to evaluate for and recommend appropriate home modifications for falls prevention. One year later, a research assistant visited these persons’ homes to assess adherence.

Results. At least one home modification was recommended in 150 of the 178 homes visited. The most common recommendations were to remove mats and throw rugs (48%), to change footwear (24%), and to use a nonslip bathmat (21%). In the 121 homes revisited after 12 months, 419 home modifications had been recommended, and 216 (52%) were met with partial or complete adherence. The only significant predictors of adherence were a belief that home modifications can prevent falls and having help at home from relatives.

Conclusion. A major barrier to adherence to home modification recommendations is that many older people do not believe that home modifications can reduce their risk of falling.
Validity of Using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills To Estimate Overall Home Safety in Persons With Psychiatric Conditions
Authors: McNulty Martina Cooper , Fisher Anne G.
Published: September 2010

Objective. Occupational therapists often base estimates of home safety on their behavioral observations of a client performing functional activities during a hospitalization. To examine this practice, this study investigated the predictive validity of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) to the overall home safety of persons with psychiatric conditions associated with cognitive impairments.

Method. Ability in activities of daily living (ADL) of 20 participants was evaluated with the AMPS before discharge from an inpatient psychiatric unit. Within approximately 2 weeks of their discharge, the participants’ home safety was evaluated within their home settings using the Safety Assessment of Function and the Environment for Rehabilitation. To form a basis for comparison, a second administration of the AMPS was administered concurrently with the home safety evaluation.

Results. Moderate positive relationships were found between ADL motor and ADL process ability and home safety in both the clinic and the home; however, analyses of the sensitivity, specificity, and overall predictive values revealed that home ADL process ability was the best predictor of home safety for participants who were categorized as less safe in the study.

Conclusion. Findings suggest that clinic ADL evaluations using the AMPS give a reasonable estimate of home safety for participants categorized as having more home safety risk. For participants categorized as having less home safety risk, clinic ADL evaluation using the AMPS produced significantly less accurate estimates than ADL evaluations conducted in the home. These results indicate that home safety estimates may be most accurate if they are based on home rather than clinic ADL process ability measures.
Occupational Therapy and Achievement of Self-Identified Goals by Adults With Acquired Brain Injury: Phase II
Authors: Trombly Catherine A. , Radomski Mary Vining , Trexel Christine , Burnett-Smith Sandra E.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between participation in goal-specific outpatient occupational therapy and improvement in self-identified goals in adults with acquired brain injury.

METHOD. Thirty-one persons with traumatic brain injury of mixed chronicity participated at three sites located in different regions of the United States. Using a repeated-measures design, therapy that usually was offered at each site to achieve specific goals was followed by a no-treatment period. Participants completed the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure Performance subscale (COPM-P) and Satisfaction subscale (COPM-S), and the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) at admission, discharge, and 1 to 18 weeks after discharge. Goal attainment scales were developed at admission and scored at discharge; the differences for each site were tested, using dependent t tests. Gains for the treatment period (admission to discharge) in COPM subscales and the CIQ were compared with gains during the no-treatment period (discharge to followup) for each site, using dependent t tests. The results were synthesized meta-analytically across the sites.

RESULTS. The participants identified a total of 149 goals, 81% of which were achieved. Goal attainment T scores improved significantly (Z = 7.52, p < .001), and the combined effect size was large (r = .94). The COPM-P (Z = 4.13, p < .001) and COPM-S (Z = 4.25, p < .001) showed significantly greater gains during the treatment (average 15.3 weeks) versus the no-treatment (average 9.9 weeks) period. Effect size estimates were large: .71 and .76, respectively. Gain scores of the CIQ did not differ significantly (Z = .75, p = .22, r = .29) between periods.

CONCLUSION. Participation in goal-specific outpatient occupational therapy that focused on teaching compensatory strategies was strongly associated with achievement of self-identified goals and reduction of disability in adults with mild to moderate brain injury.
Validity of the Árnadóttir OT-ADL Neurobehavioral Evaluation (A-ONE): Performance in Activities of Daily Living and Neurobehavioral Impairments of Persons With Left and Right Hemisphere Damage
Authors: Gardarsdóttir Sigrún , Kaplan Susan
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The Árnadóttir OT-ADL Neurobehavioral Evaluation (A-ONE) is a standardized assessment that links performance in activities of daily living (ADL) to neurobehavioral impairments. This study tested the construct validity of the A-ONE.

METHOD. From two hospitals in Iceland, 42 patients between 45 and 87 years of age who had sustained either a right or a left cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were evaluated on the Functional Independence Scale (FIS) and Neurobehavioral Specific Impairment Subscale (NSIS) of the A-ONE. The Mann Whitney U test and chi-square test were used to explore possible differences between the performance of participants with left and right CVA. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic data and for items on the FIS and NSIS. The level of significance was set at p < .05.

RESULTS. Three of 18 ADL items observed on the FIS and 13 of 46 items on the NSIS discriminated at a statistically significant level between the left and right CVA groups.

CONCLUSION. The results provide minimal support for the construct validity of the A-ONE related to differentiating between ADL performance of persons with left and right CVA. However, results regarding the ability of the A-ONE to detect and lateralize impairments agreed with literature regarding lesion sites for the impairments.
Reclaiming the Vision of Reaching for Heart as Well as Hands
Authors: Peloquin Suzanne M.
Published: September 2010

Although infrequently discussed in the professional literature, visionary language and visual imagery are identifiable elements within occupational therapy’s culture. They seem part of the profession’s desire to characterize, affirm, and renew itself. One early vision of practice, that of reaching for heart as well as hands, is the subject of this inquiry that extends a prior discussion of visions in occupational therapy. Central to the inquiry are the early vision’s (a) origin, exemplification, and clarity of meaning within one autobiographical text and (b) merits for the profession’s characterization, affirmation, and renewal. The early vision of reaching for heart as well as hands may benefit the profession today by characterizing the ethos of occupational therapy as integrative, affirming its practice as occupational, and inspiring its practitioners to renew a commitment to caring.
Comparisons Among Tools, Surface Orientation, and Pencil Grasp for Children 23 Months of Age
Authors: Yakimishyn Janet E. , Magill-Evans Joyce
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to determine whether writing tool type and angle of writing surface affect grasp.

METHOD. Fifty-one children 23 to 24 months of age who were typically developing drew with a primarymarker, colored pencil, and small piece of crayon on a table and an easel. The marker and pencil were presented pointing left, right, and toward the child. The order of writing tool presentation was counterbalanced. Grasps were scored with a 5-point rating system and analyzed with dependent t tests.

RESULTS. Children used a more mature grasp when drawing with a piece of crayon than with a pencil. No difference in grasp maturity was found when using a pencil compared with a marker. A more mature grasp when drawing on the easel compared with the table was used with the crayon but not with the marker or pencil.

CONCLUSION. Results imply that a short writing tool combined with a vertical surface can influence the grasp of young children.
Occupational Therapists’ Use and Perceptions of Written Client Education Materials
Authors: Sharry Renee , McKenna Kryss , Tooth Leigh
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to examine occupational therapists’ use and perceptions of written education materials for clients and the factors that therapists consider before distributing written materials to clients. This study also aimed to determine whether use and perceptions of these materials differed for older clients.

METHOD. A random sample of 50 occupational therapists from Queensland, Australia, working in adult physical disabilities settings was surveyed with a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed descriptively and with nonparametric statistics.

RESULTS. Of 49 participants who used written materials, 54% had given them to more than half of their last 10 clients, regardless of the clients’ age. Written materials, most often information sheets developed by the participants themselves; handwritten notes; and pamphlets were principally used to reinforce verbal information. Clients’ cognitive abilities, primary language, communication skills, vision, and level of education most often were considered before distributing written materials. Although participants generally were positive about the content and effectiveness of materials, ratings were significantly less positive related to older clients.

CONCLUSION. Client education was a core treatment modality for participants in this study, with written media most commonly being used to supplement verbal education. Because participants were least positive about the effectiveness of written materials for older clients, further development of materials for this audience may be indicated.
Test–Retest Reliability of the Purdue Pegboard for Persons With Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Gallus Jennifer , Mathiowetz Virgil
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The Purdue Pegboard test often is used in clinical settings to evaluate changes in clients’ fine motor dexterity. The purpose of this study was to determine the test–retest reliability and practice effects of the Purdue Pegboard for persons with multiple sclerosis. In addition, this study compared the reliability of one-trial administration to three-trial administration of the four subtests.

METHOD. Thirty-two volunteers from a midwestern community-based maintenance rehabilitation center for persons with multiple sclerosis participated in this study. The participants were administered the four subtests of the Purdue Pegboard, three trials in a row. A second administration was completed 1 week later. Data from 25 participants were analyzed using paired t tests, Pearson product-moment correlations, and intraclass correlation coefficients.

RESULTS. The test–retest reliability coefficients ranged from .85 to .90 for one-trial administration and from .92 to .96 for the sum of three trials. No significant practice effects existed except for the sum of three trials of both hands.

CONCLUSION. This study suggests that the one-trial administration of the Purdue Pegboard is a sufficiently reliable assessment to use with persons with multiple sclerosis. Findings further suggest that for a person with multiple sclerosis, any changes in Purdue Pegboard scores using one-trial administration may reflect actual change in that person’s dexterity, as no practice effect was demonstrated in this study.
Qualitative Data Analysis: Challenges and Dilemmas Related to Theory and Method
Authors: Bailey Diana M. , Jackson Jeanne M.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this article is to initiate a discussion of the struggles and challenges we encountered as we developed a method of analysis for a particular qualitative study. We present our thinking process showing the questions that arose, the theoretical ideas on which we relied, and the decisions we made at crucial junctures. Portions from several theoretical frames used as the basis for the analysis are presented and include Polkinghorne’s (1995) narrative inquiry, Glaser and Strauss’s (1967) and Charmaz’s (2000) grounded theory, Riessman’s (1990b) mixed approach to analysis, and Rosaldo’s (1989) ideas on reflexivity. Examples from the study are used to illustrate points in the analysis.
Perceptions and Experiences of Two Survivors of Stroke Who Participated in Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Home Programs
Authors: Gillot Amanda J. , Holder-Walls Anna , Kurtz Jennifer R. , Varley Nolina C.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of two survivors of stroke who participated in constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) home programs. Data sources were analyzed with a phenomenological approach, and common themes were identified. Themes were translated using the Occupational Adaptation frame of reference as a template.

Three themes were generated from the data: (a) motivational factors and expectations represented personal desires to increase functional ability and environmental demands that created a press to participate in CIMT; (b) neurorehabilitation as an ongoing process suggested that rehabilitation should continue as long as functional deficits exist; and (c) perceived changes in function represented perceived changes in efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction after CIMT. CIMT was found to help the participants in this study become more satisfied with performance and to increase efficiency and effectiveness of function in daily activities.
The Meaning of the Working Cooperative for Persons With Long-Term Mental Illness: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Gahnström-Strandqvist Kitty , Liukko Anneli , Tham Kerstin
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this phenomenological study was to understand the meanings of the lived experiences of persons with long-term mental illness at a social working cooperative.

METHOD. Eighteen participants were interviewed either two or three times while participating in a working cooperative in a community psychosocial rehabilitation program. Data were analyzed and interpreted using the Empirical, Phenomenological, Psychological (EPP) method (Karlsson, 1993).

RESULTS. The findings revealed a meaning-structure consisting of one main constituent that characterized the cooperative as a normalizing life-world. Three phases contributed to the normalization process. In the first phase the participants experienced a shift from an unsatisfying occupational context to an enriching occupational life-world. In the second phase participants had the possibility to satisfy some of their occupational and social needs. During this phase, experiences of being productive and needed, commitment to others, development of their skills, and competence in work tasks and social activities were expressed, all of which contributed to personal growth and a more positive view of self. In the third phase, the meaning of the cooperative changed for some participants, who expressed this through their readiness to leave and take a further step into the life-world outside the cooperative.

CONCLUSION. The study emphasizes that the cooperative is an important alternative to employment for participants with severe mental illness who do not have the capacity to be employed in the community or who do not want to leave the life-world of the cooperative that gives them pride, joy, and satisfaction.
Pencil Grips, Legibility, and Speed of Fourth-Graders’ Writing in Cursive
Authors: Koziatek Susan M. , Powell Nancy J.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this research was to study how the speed and legibility of fourth-grader’s hand writing was affected by type of pencil grip on the Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting-Cursive.

METHOD. Ninety-five typically developing students and 6 students receiving special education services completed the Evaluation Tool of Children’s Handwriting-Cursive (ETCH-C). Photographs were taken of their pencil grips while they wrote the alphabet. One-way ANOVAs were calculated to compare legibility rates and writing speeds by type of pencil grip.

RESULTS. Ninety-nine of the students used one of four pencil grips including the dynamic tripod (38 students), the dynamic quadrupod (18), the lateral tripod (22), and the lateral quadrupod (21). One student used the four-finger pencil grip and one used the interdigital pencil grip. Mean cursive writing speeds were similar for all pencil grips except for the interdigital grasp. Speeds obtained were slower than recently published fourth-grade speeds ranging from a mean of 29.45 to 34.75 letters per minute.

CONCLUSION. This study found the lateral quadrupod and four-finger pencil grips to be as functional as the dynamic tripod, lateral tripod, and dynamic quadrupod pencil grips. This study provides average handwriting speeds for fourth-grade students on the ETCH-C.