bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Performance of Learning-Disabled and Normal Young Men on the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills
Authors: Hung Shan-Shan , Fisher Anne G. , Cermak Sharon A.
Published: April 2012

The present study explored the discriminative validity of the motor-free Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (TVPS) as an assessment for adults. The subjects were 26 learning-disabled and 26 normal young men. Overall, the subjects with learning disabilities made significantly more errors and took significantly more time on the total TVPS than did the normal subjects. The group with learning disabilities demonstrated significantly lower accuracy scores on four of the seven subtests and longer time scores on five subtests. Discriminant analysis revealed that the time score for Visual Sequential Memory and the accuracy score for Visual Closure were the two subtest scores that best discriminated between groups and, together, were able to correctly classify 84.6% of the subjects. The TVPS total accuracy score for the subjects with learning disabilities significantly correlated with their overall performance IQ but not with their verbal IQ. Their TVPS total accuracy scores also correlated with scores on Block Design, but not with scores on the Object Assembly or Picture Completion subtests of the WAIS-R. The results seem to indicate that the TVPS is valid as an assessment of visual-perceptual functions for young adult subjects. Recommendations for further study were made.
Successful Proposal Writing
Authors: Pagonis Janice F.
Published: April 2012

Skillful proposal writing is an art of persuasive communication that can be an asset for therapists who must cope with recent cuts in government and private support. This article provides an overview of funding agencies, the basic principles of proposal writing, and the components of a proposal. Even rejection of a proposal can be educational and can contribute to eventual mastery.
The Recruitment of Occupational Therapy Students: A National Survey
Authors: Wyrick Joane M. , Stern Erica B.
Published: April 2012

This national survey was designed to study selected characteristics of entry level occupational therapy students and to compare recruitment variables in technical and professional students. The survey encompassed 116 programs with 1,843 students responding. Major findings include the following: the median age of professional students was 1 to 2 years older than that of technical students: the technical students had the larger percentage of older students; professional level students chose occupational therapy at an earlier age than did technical students; the majority of minority students were enrolled in technical programs; and students’ initial exposure to occupational therapy differed between the technical and professional students: Technical students reported that their earliest contacts with the profession most often came from family friends, college and junior college contacts, high school counselors, and occupational therapy students, in that order. Professional level students reported that their most common initial contact came from occupational therapy students, family friends, parents, a volunteer or employment experience in the field, or health personnel in the field, in that order Survey data form the basis for a discussion of potential expansion of recruitment strategies.
Cluster Homes: A Community for Profoundly and Severely Retarded Persons
Authors: Shalik Linda D. , Shalik Harold
Published: April 2012

This article discusses community residences that in 1983 replaced two large institutional facilities for retarded persons in Florida. Twenty-six of these residences, or clusters, usually housing 24 clients each, are located throughout the state. The clusters are designed to normalize the living conditions of the mentally retarded, increase their safety, and place them close to society and their families. Medical and social services, including occupational therapy, are made available to all residents of the clusters. This article focuses on one of these clusters, with special emphasis on the role and scope of occupational therapy services within this unique setting. Special problems and experiences encountered in the delivery of occupational therapy services to the profoundly and severely retarded clients in the clusters are explored.
Beyond the Job Description: Managing for Performance
Authors: Schell Barbara A. Boyt , Kieshauer Mary Lou
Published: April 2012

Translation of individual effort into performance that effectively meets organizational goals is challenging. This article demonstrates a systematic approach that addresses both baseline performance and staff development by using personnel management concepts and relating them to existing resources available from the American Occupational Therapy Association. The systems approach described uses performance standards as a basis for staff recruitment, orientation, development, and appraisal. Also discussed are the applications to student clinical education.
The Art of Leading Meetings
Authors: English Carroll B.
Published: April 2012

The ability to skillfully lead meetings can contribute to a manager’s effectiveness. There are four types of meetings, each serving different needs and requiring different leadership. A manager must know when to hold meetings, what leadership style is appropriate, how and when to use participative management, and how to facilitate a consensus. Considerable planning must be done before a meeting is held. Various leadership and communication skills are required to effectively open, conduct, and close a meeting. Finally, the leader needs to know how to deal with participants who become problems.
A Conceptual Model for the Instruction and Supervision of Treatment Planning
Authors: Pelland Mary Jo
Published: April 2012

The process of treatment planning requires the effective application of complex problem-solving skills. The occupational therapy literature has described components of this process and has identified both the difficulty educators have in teaching and the difficulty clinicians have in articulating the process of clinical problem solving.

This paper presents a conceptual model of the dynamic process of occupational therapy treatment planning based on the case method of problem solving. An analysis of the process provides a basis for academic and clinical educators to effectively instruct and supervise students in treatment planning. An analysis of critical concepts related to each stage is followed by (a) common clinical errors committed by students and new therapists and (b) suggestions for supervisory approaches specific to errors at each stage.
The Effects of Deep Pressure Touch on Anxiety
Authors: Krauss Kirsten E.
Published: April 2012

Occupational therapists who work with hyperactive children and adults who are in an aroused state sometimes employ deep pressure touch (DPT) as a therapeutic method to achieve calmer behavior. This pilot study attempts to measure effects of DPT on objective and subjective anxiety. Twenty-three healthy college students, serving as their own controls, self-administered DPT via a specially designed apparatus. Heart rate and self-reported anxiety were compared under conditions of DPT (experimental) and confinement without DPT (control). Data on subjects’ trait anxiety also were analyzed. Although the group as a whole did not relax significantly more under experimental conditions than under control conditions, the degree of subjective relaxation was greater in the experimental group. These results, coupled with a significant intragroup difference in the response of subjects with high trait anxiety, were encouraging. This study provides direction and focus to investigators interested in further research on the validation of an empirically useful treatment technique.
The Relationship Between the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Preschool Gross Motor and Cognitive Performance
Authors: Crowe Terry K. , Deitz Jean C. , Bennett Forrest C.
Published: April 2012

Early identification of disabilities enables early intervention by occupational therapists and other health professionals. Because the number of children who can he seen in therapy is limited, it is important to be able to identify those infants most likely to have deficits at a later age. Therefore, it is necessary to study and understand the relationship between infants’ scores on early developmental assessments and later developmental outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) during the first 2 years of life are related to motor and cognitive performance at 4½ years for a sample of children identified at birth as biologically high risk. This retrospective study involved 70 children who were evaluated at corrected ages of 4 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 4½ years. The 4-month BSID Mental and Motor Scale scores did not relate significantly to later cognitive motor performance. In contrast, the 12-month BSID Mental Scale scores related significantly to preschool scores on both the motor and cognitive measures. However, the 24-month BSID Mental Scale scores related significantly only to scores on the preschool cognitive measures. Though significant, these correlation coefficients had small magnitudes. Thus, therapists should be cautious about using BSID testing at 4 months, 1 year, and 2 years when attempting to predict later preschool performance.
The Ability of Professional Programs in Occupational Therapy to Accommodate the Older Student
Authors: Strickland L. Randy
Published: April 2012

Research data suggest that 24% of the 25- to 34-year-old age group are college graduates who are prime candidates for returning to the university campus. As a professional field in which the enrollment of traditional-age students might decline, occupational therapy may need to find ways to attract older students. Thus, there is a need to examine whether occupational therapy curricula are designed to accommodate older students.
AIDS: Guidelines for Occupational Therapy Intervention
Authors: Denton Rick
Published: April 2012

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is currently considered the nation’s number one health problem. More than 30,000 persons have been diagnosed with this disease to date, and 40,000 new cases are anticipated for the next 2 years. This paper reviews the current facts regarding AIDS, including its modes of transmission and clinical symptomatology. Guidelines for occupational therapy assessment and treatment are presented, including general precautions and recommended intervention strategies.
Cognitive Rehabilitation: A Model for Occupational Therapy
Authors: Abreu Beatriz Colon , Toglia Joan Pascale
Published: April 2012

A theoretical model that provides a foundation for understanding function and dysfunction in cognition and perception is needed as a prerequisite for the development of effective assessment and treatment tools to be used with the brain-injured adult. Such a model and clear definitions are absent in the occupational therapy literature on adult brain function and dysfunction.

This paper represents a cognitive rehabilitation model adapted for occupational therapy from the fields of neuropsychology and cognitive psychology. Differentiation of terms, an overview of the model’s theory, and evaluation principles are discussed. Cognitive rehabilitation is presented from an information processing perspective. Three other treatment approaches identified in the literature are discussed and compared with cognitive rehabilitation.
Body Part Identification in 1- to 4-Year-Old Children
Authors: MacWhinney Kathryn , Cermak Sharon A. , Fisher Anne
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the sequence in which body parts are learned and can be identified by very young children. The 101 children tested were divided into four age groups: 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, and 4-year-olds. The children were requested to point to 20 body parts on a doll. Analysis of the results indicated significant differences in the ability to identify body parts by age and sex. The greatest increase in scores occurred between the ages 1 and 2 years, with girls achieving a slightly higher score in each age group. The percentage of subjects at each age who identified different body parts is presented, indicating the sequence in which body parts are learned.
The Effects of Activity-Elicited Humor and Group Structure on Group Cohesion and Affective Responses
Authors: Banning Mary Rus , Nelson David L.
Published: April 2012

The ability to analyze the therapeutic components of an activity is an important skill for occupational therapists. This study examined two potentially significant factors in activity analysis: the use of humor and the effect of group structure. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a hat-making activity designed to elicit humor. Four groups (two with a parallel structure and two with a project structure) participated in a bookmark-making activity. The 28 female subjects’ affective responses were measured by Osgood’s short-form semantic differential, and the cohesion among group members was assessed by the Group Environment Scale. Results indicated that subjects who participated in groups which included humor rated their activity significantly higher on two factors of affective meaning (evaluation and action) and significantly higher in terms of cohesion. There was a significant interaction between the two activities and group structure in terms of the action factor and cohesion. In both cases the parallel groups making bookmarks received particularly low scores. The findings have implications for conceptualizing occupational therapy group activities.
Activity: Occupational Therapy’s Treatment Method
Authors: Allen Claudia Kay
Published: April 2012

A philosphical framework to explain the value of using activity as a treatment method is the challenge pursued for this lectureship. Primary resources came from Soviet psychology, the only social science discipline using the concept of activity as a focus of study. The focus of study selected for occupational therapy is disability, which is explained within the context of doing an activity. The patient’s purpose for doing an activity is described by the degree of sensorimotor thought processed during a functional state. A hierarchy of activity analysis is used to begin the development of typologies for feasible operations, satisfactory results, and desirable activities. The philosophical framework is applied to three types of patient populations that pose problems in stating treatment objectives, patients that have (a) a good prognosis but one that is associated with alternative explanations for change, (b) a poor prognosis associated with a lifelong disability, and (c) a grave prognosis associated with a progressive loss of functional abilities. A refined treatment hypothesis is suggested: Therapeutic activity compensates for disability by using remaining capabilities to accomplish desirable activities with satisfactory results.
Intraprofessional Team Building
Authors: Blechert Toné F. , Christiansen Marianne F. , Kari Nancy
Published: April 2012

This article discusses the importance of team building between occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants and the relationship of teamwork to the effectiveness of service delivery within the profession of occupational therapy. If team members’ needs are not satisfied, dysfunctional intraprofessional teams result. Team building is based on the satisfaction of three areas of individual need: (a) ministration, which leads to mutual respect; (b) mastery or effective performance; and (c) maturation or personal growth and professional socialization. A better understanding and appreciation of the roles of therapist and assistant and their relationships can resolve the team deficits. A developmental team chart that uses a systems theory model as an organizing framework is presented as an action plan for team building. Suggestions are made to academic and fieldwork educators and professional and technical clinicians to strengthen intraprofessional relationships in occupational therapy.
Occupational Therapy in Mother and Child Health Care Centers
Authors: Parush Shula , Lapidot Gila , Edelstein Paula V. , Tamir Dov
Published: April 2012

This paper describes the results of an infant stimulation program that involved mothers and their infants registered at Mother and Child Health Care centers in Jerusalem. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the developmental needs of their infants. A developmental assessment was used to evaluate the infants’ reaching and grasping abilities at 4 months of age.

The questionnaire was completed by 175 mothers in the program (the experimental group) and a control group of 124 mothers. The results showed that, despite demographic differences that were likely to positively affect the control group’s scores, the experimental group’s scores were significantly higher. The results of the developmental assessment administered to 107 infants in the experimental group and 74 infants in the control group also indicated that, on 4 out of 5 reaching and grasping items, the experimental group performed significantly better.

This study emphasizes the value of structuring a developmental curriculum for newborn infants and their mothers within an occupational therapy program.
Effects of Project Versus Parallel Groups on Social Interaction and Affective Responses in Senior Citizens
Authors: Nelson David L. , Peterson Cindee , Smith Doris A. , Boughton Judith A. , Whalen Gail M.
Published: April 2012

Using activity analysis, occupational therapists structure group activities to meet the needs and goals of group members. This study compared the effects of project group structure (subjects participate together on a common task) with parallel group structure (subjects each have a task) in a sample of healthy seniors (32 women and 9 men). Subjects randomly assigned to either experimental condition made creative and imitative collages in a counterbalanced order. Time-sampled observations revealed that project group subjects talked and looked at others significantly more than parallel group subjects. On-task and laughing behaviors were also measured, but results were inconclusive. Project group subjects rated their activities higher on the action factor of the Osgood semantic differential (OSD) than did parallel group subjects, but there were no other differences on the OSD or on MacKenzie’s Group Climate Questionnaire. Nor were there significant main effects between the creative collage and the imitative collage. Results are discussed both in terms of group task structure as an occupational therapy tool and in terms of methodologies for future activity analysis research.
Occupation: Form and Performance
Authors: Nelson David L.
Published: April 2012

As used both in everyday language and in the literature of occupational therapy, occupation is an ambiguous term. This article defines occupation unambiguously as the relationship between two things: occupational form and occupational performance. Each occupational form has an objective nature independent of the individual engaged in the occupation; sociocultural as well as physical characteristics constitute each occupational form. Occupational performance, in turn, is the action elicited, guided, or structured by the preexisting occupational form. Although occupational form may be said to predict or explain occupational performance, the nature of occupation is not deterministic. A series of figures in the paper graphically depicts how the individual’s interpretation of an occupational form (its meaning) depends on the individual’s developmental structure, and how occupational performance depends on the individual’s sense of purpose. The dynamics of occupation are such that occupational performance impacts on subsequent occupational forms and promotes adaptations in the individual’s own developmental structure. The framework explained here can be applied to different levels of occupation, depending upon the unit of time used by the analyst. A table presents an extensive set of examples oriented to a specific occupation. Recommendations for future scholarly inquiry are made.
The Use of Behavioral Techniques in Functional Skills Training After Severe Brain Injury
Authors: Giles Gordon Muir , Clark-Wilson Jo
Published: April 2012

This paper discusses the application of behavioral methods to functional skills training in the adult with severe brain damage. Four cases are described demonstrating the effectiveness of this type of intervention in teaching washing and dressing skills. Three patients had deficits arising from traumatic brain injury and one had continuing problems following herpes simplex encephalitis. Theoretical issues in adapting behavioral methods to the needs of such patients who have severe disorders of memory, attention, and motivation are discussed.
Models of Occupational Therapy Service Provision in the School System
Authors: Dunn Winnie
Published: April 2012

Occupational therapy is a related service when provided within the public schools, which means that services must enhance or support educational goals. Three service provision models have been described for school therapists: direct service, monitoring, and consultation. Direct service addresses individualized needs that require specialized intervention strategies which can safely be performed only by the occupational therapist. Monitoring, which is sometimes referred to as integrated programming, uses therapeutic expertise within functional tasks to maximize opportunities for practice and generalization. Consultation addresses problems by enabling others to work more effectively on the educational goals they have set for the students. Evidence is accumulating to demonstrate that each model is effective when chosen and applied appropriately. This paper reviews each model, provides examples of studies that have been conducted, and suggests directions for future research.
Using a Single-Subject Research Design to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Treatment
Authors: Campbell Philippa H.
Published: April 2012

Single-subject designs allow therapists to evaluate the effects of treatment on individual students, the effects of individualized occupational therapy services across a group of students, and the effects of a specific treatment procedure on a group of students. The purpose of this article is to provide information to enable therapists to use single-subject designs effectively in public school occupational therapy programs.
Linking Purpose to Procedure During Interactions With Patients
Authors: Peloquin Suzanne M.
Published: April 2012

Occupational therapists’ use of goal statements during interactions with patients can extend far beyond the care-planning session. Each treatment session provides an opportunity to match goals decided upon by the patient and therapist with a structured activity, thus endowing that activity with a therapeutic purpose. This article presents a rationale for discussing with patients the purpose and relevance of any procedure. The rationale for providing information and explanation is based on current health care trends, traditional occupational therapy assumptions, and the often ambiguous nature of activity, occupational therapy’s primary modality.
Independent Living Skills Groups in a Level I Fieldwork Experience
Authors: Neistadt Maureen E. , O’Reilly Madelyn
Published: April 2012

Since 1985, the Tufts University–Boston School of Occupational Therapy has experimented with a service model for Level I fieldwork that uses independent living skills (ILS) groups. Under the off-site supervision of the course instructor and a Level I coordinator, students taking an Advanced Group Process course have run ILS groups in community agencies using faculty- and staff-developed group protocols. Populations served have included adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities, adults with psychosocial dysfunction, well geriatric adults, and single mothers. The response of area clinicians has been very positive—the number of settings willing to accept students for this experience has more than doubled since the ILS groups have been introduced. This approach to Level I fieldwork, which does not require as much faculty time as do other service models currently in use, could be applied to other Level I experiences and provide a structure for expanding occupational therapy into nontraditional community settings.
Burnout in Occupational Therapists
Authors: Rogers Joan C. , Dodson Susan C.
Published: April 2012

Burnout is a job-related condition involving feelings of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach & Jackson, 1981a) is the instrument most widely used to measure job-related stress in human service professions, such as occupational therapy. This study explored the application of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for use with occupational therapists. The subjects were 99 registered occupational therapists residing in the southeastern United States. Mean scores lower than the aggregate occupational norms provided by the test’s authors on the Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization subscales supported the need to develop specific norms for occupational therapists. Results of this study indicate that use of the aggregate norms would underestimate the level of experienced burnout. Correlational analyses delineated significant relationships between age and Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, education and Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, years of work as an occupational therapist and Depersonalization and Personal Accomplishment, years in the present position and Personal Accomplishment (intensity only), hours of direct patient contact and Emotional Exhaustion (intensity only), and hours of direct patient contact and Depersonalization (frequency only). These correlates of burnout furnish clues for understanding the development of work-related stress in occupational therapists.
Anger Intervention
Authors: Taylor Eve
Published: April 2012

This article compares and contrasts psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral approaches to anger intervention. Related research is discussed and a cognitive-behavioral model of anger intervention is presented. The model views anger as an affective stress reaction consisting of four factors: physiological arousal, antagonistic cognitions, environmental stimuli, and behavioral reactions. The article also examines occupational therapy assessment and treatment goals on the basis of the cognitive-behavioral model and recommends stress management activities and techniques for helping clients control the factors that mediate their anger
The Significance of Clinical Change and Clinical Change of Significance: Issues and Methods
Authors: Ottenbacher Kenneth J. , Johnson Mary Beth , Hojem Margaret
Published: April 2012

The emphasis on systematic methods of demonstrating accountability in health care is affecting the delivery of human services at all levels, from hospitals and community centers to individual private practitioners. New procedures are being proposed to meet the accountability demands encountered by therapists. Several recently developed methods for documenting clinical change in patient status are presented, and the relationship of this documentation to traditional research methods is briefly explored. A clinical illustration of the procedures is provided along with a discussion of advantages and limitations.
The Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork Experience: Estimation of the Fiscal Benefit
Authors: Shalik Harold , Shalik Linda D.
Published: April 2012

A nationwide study, from which the data in this article were taken, suggests that most physical dysfunction and psychosocial Level II fieldwork placements for occupational therapy students represent a financial benefit to the sponsoring institution. This article provides the occupational therapy educator or fieldwork site supervisor with a method for estimating the amount of financial benefit one may anticipate from the assignment of a student to a physical dysfunction or psychosocial Level II fieldwork placement. Time-consuming data collection and interpretation are not necessary to perform this analysis. A formula to predict the fiscal outcome is described. Step-by-step instructions guide the user in applying the formula to a given physical dysfunction or psychosocial Level II fieldwork situation.
Analysis of Information Processing and Cognitive Disability Theory
Authors: Mayer Mary Ann
Published: April 2012

This study used the information-processing approach to conceptualize planning and problem-solving abilities and to expand the theoretical and empirical data base of Claudia Allen’s cognitive disability model. The congruent validity of the Allen Cognitive Levels (ACL) test as a measure of cognition, specifically of the fluid information-processing abilities that underlie learning, was investigated. Criterion measures used were subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised edition (WAIS–R). Forty adult psychiatric patients participated in the study. Spearman r coefficients showed moderately high correlations between the ACL test and the WAIS-R subtests measuring fluid abilities, and Performance scale IQ. These results indicate that Allen’s model and test can be useful in guiding occupational therapy planning when expected outcomes depend on the patient’s learning potential.
Access to Health Care: A Clinician’s Opinion About an Ethical Issue
Authors: Cassidy Joanne C.
Published: April 2012

Is health care a social good, or is it a commodity? A trend to increase access to health care was initiated in the 1960s by the Social Security Act. The current prospective payment system has served to reverse the impact of the Social Security Act and has caused a clash between administrative and clinical decision makers. The physician’s traditional pledge to place the patient’s welfare first conflicts with the social reality of fiscal constraint, which is causing the rationing of patient care without public consensus. This article raises the issue of distributive justice in health care and points to the need for increased understanding of the nature of health care as a social good.
Appealing Medicare Denials
Authors: Andersen Lori T.
Published: April 2012

Because of the government’s recent emphasis on controlling health care costs, health care providers have been receiving many more denials for payment of services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries than in the past. Often the denials are not justified and should be appealed. This article explains the step-by-step procedure in the Medicare appeals process and gives suggestions for presenting a case so that a denial will have a good chance of being overturned.
The Relationship of Cognitive Skills Performance to Activities of Daily Living in Stroke Patients
Authors: Carter Lynn Tondat , Oliveira Debora Olsen , Duponte Johanna , Lynch Sharon V.
Published: April 2012

This article reports on two studies that examine the relationship between measurements of activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive skills performance. Study 1 is a post hoc analysis of ADL improvement scores collected on acute stroke patients who were either given or not given cognitive skills remediation. An examination of individual ADL scores showed significantly higher personal hygiene, bathing, and toilet activity improvement scores for patients receiving cognitive skills remediation. In Study 2, cognitive skills and ADL pre- and posttest scores for stroke patients were measured by occupational therapists, who also implemented an ADL as well as a cognitive skills remediation program as part of the patient’s therapy. Some significant positive correlations between initial cognitive skills measurements and ADL outcome were found. The best correlate of patients’ ADL performance at discharge was performance on an auditory attention task. Verbal comprehension correlated with overall ADL improvement, and overall cognitive skills improvement correlated with overall ADL improvement. Implications of these two studies are discussed.
Development and Investigation of the Occupational Performance History Interview
Authors: Kielhofner Gary , Henry Alexis D.
Published: April 2012

This article describes the development of the Occupational Performance History Interview, an instrument designed to gather an accurate and clinically useful history of an individual’s work, play, and self-care performance from psychosocially and/or physically disabled adolescents, adults, and older persons. Following the identification and validation of content and the development of format, the instrument was field-tested and revised. An examination of reliability across time and raters indicated that although part of the instrument ratings met or exceeded levels of acceptable stability, further development and testing is indicated.
An Efficacy Study of Occupational Therapy With High-Risk Neonates
Authors: Case-Smith Jane
Published: April 2012

This single-subject research study with replication evaluated the effect of daily occupational therapy on the nutritive and nonnutritive sucking behaviors of three high-risk, premature infants. At the time of entrance into the study, the infants were 34 to 35 weeks old and were documented poor feeders. Treatment consisted of individual, multimodal sensory stimulation, with emphasis on proprioceptive and vestibular input, graded to the sensory needs of the infants. Movement components of the jaw and tongue during nutritive and nonnutritive sucking were measured during baseline and intervention phases to assess the infants’ sucking ability. A comparison of testing results revealed that during intervention the total sucking scores improved significantly for two of the three infants and that rapid changes occurred in the oral-motor function of all three infants. The results of the study suggest that occupational therapy can improve the rate of development of sucking in the premature neonate. However, future research needs to be done to isolate the specific techniques of treatment that produce positive changes.
Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Intervention With AIDS Patients
Authors: Schindler Victoria J.
Published: April 2012

The role of psychosocial occupational therapy with AIDS patients is explored. The clinical picture is defined, information regarding the transmission, incidence, diagnosis, and treatment is presented, and the impact of the illness on the developmental life cycle is described. The occupational behavior framework is used to guide evaluation and intervention and case examples are provided. Finally, fears and issues affecting therapists working with these patients are explored.
The Effect of Purposeful Activity on Pain Tolerance
Authors: Heck Stephen A.
Published: April 2012

Purposeful and nonpurposeful tasks were performed by 30 normal college-age students (15 male, 15 female) in a study examining the effectiveness of the two types of activity in prolonging tolerance to electrically induced pain. The subjects acted as their own controls, indicated their own threshold for stimulation, and were monitored for peripheral skin temperature and heart rate. Duration of tolerance was measured in seconds from attainment of threshold until the request by the subject that stimulation be stopped. Results indicated that the subjects tolerated pain significantly longer (p = .02) while performing the activity designated as purposeful. No significant differences in peripheral skin temperature or heart rate were found under the two conditions.
Wrist Muscle Tone and Self-Care Skill in Persons With Hemiparesis
Authors: Spaulding Sandi J. , Strachota Elaine , McPherson James J. , Kuphal Marea , Ramponi Maria
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this research was to investigate the interaction between muscle tone at the wrist and self-care function in persons with hemiparesis. Dynamic and static muscle tone measurements were taken at the wrist. Self-care ability was measured with a chart review and the Klein–Bell Scale. The results of the study did not support the assumption that there is a significant relationship between muscle tone and activities of daily living for persons with hemiparesis. Perhaps other variables such as the general state of health, cognition, and perception should also be considered during the treatment of self-care.
Heart Rate, Activity, Duration, and Affect in Added-Purpose Versus Single-Purpose Jumping Activities
Authors: Bloch Marti W. , Smith Doris A. , Nelson David L.
Published: April 2012

This research replicates and extends an occupational therapy research project reported by Kircher in 1984. Thirty women aged 18 to 31 years jumped with a rope on one day and jumped in place on another day in a counterbalanced design. Each subject stopped jumping when she reached what she perceived as the very hard level on the Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion (Borg, 1970). Differences from Kircher’s design included an imposed target zone formula for safe maximum exertion, use of a portable, more easily read heart rate monitor (Exersentry, Model 3), use of the Osgood Semantic Differential to measure affective meanings, and asking the subjects to identify the type of jumping they preferred. Data analysis supported Kircher’s finding that at the given rate of perceived exertion, heart rate increase after jumping rope was significantly higher (p = .01) than after jumping without a rope. The difference in duration of jumping approached significance (p = .06), but in the direction opposite to what Kircher found. There were no significant differences in affective meanings or preference. Results are discussed in terms of the need for a growing body of occupational therapy literature in regard to the purposefulness of activities.
Safe Transportation for Children With Disabilities
Authors: Stout Janet D. , Bull Marilyn J. , Stroup Karen Bruner
Published: April 2012

Few guidelines are available on providing safe transportation for children who cannot use conventional auto restraints. This article discusses the misuse of restraints and reviews several modified car seats and other restraints that have been tested and that meet safety standards.
An Analysis of the Relationship Between Proximal and Distal Motor Control
Authors: Case-Smith Jane , Fisher Anne G. , Bauer David
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this investigation was to test the ontogenetic principle that the development of proximal postural stability precedes, and is necessary for, the development of distal fine motor control. The Posture and Fine Motor Assessment of Infants (Case-Smith, 1987) was used to examine the relationship between proximal and distal motor function in 60 normal infants. Low positive partial correlations were found between components of posture and fine motor control. Although all partial correlations, except those between the head component of postural control and the fine motor scores, were significant, they were not strong enough to support the validity of the proximal–distal principle. They appear instead to reflect a functional rather than an ontogenetic relationship. These findings have implications for treatment and further research.
Development of a Level I Fieldwork Evaluation
Authors: Brown Suzanne , Streeter Lynn A. Caruso , Stoffel Virginia C. , McPherson James J.
Published: April 2012

The Wisconsin Council on Education (Wiscouncil) developed and pilot tested an evaluation of student performance for Level I fieldwork to be used for both occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. Data were gathered from 259 students, fieldwork supervisors, and faculty who rated the form on a number of variables. The majority of students and clinical faculty believed the form was good to excellent in meeting their needs, in being useful in a variety of settings, in being applicable for both occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students, and in overall efficiency. On the basis of the results of the 1-year pilot study, short (23-item) and long (38-item) versions of the form were developed. Implications for use and the importance of future research to determine reliability and validity are discussed.
Changes in Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Parent Participation and Home Programs: An Update
Authors: Bazyk Susan
Published: April 2012

Attitudes and beliefs regarding parent participation and home programs in early intervention have significantly changed over the last 30 years on the basis of public policy and the needs of families. This paper discusses traditional and current attitudes and practices regarding parent participation and home programs. These attitudes and practices have been influenced by the medical model, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94–142), the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (Public Law 99–457), and parental concerns. We have evolved from believing that, as occupational therapists, we are the experts who teach parents what to do with their child through parent training to believing that parents and professionals need to collaborate as equal partners in developing home activities. Six guidelines are suggested for use in developing family-centered home programs, and the application of some of these guidelines is demonstrated in a case example.
Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention: A Family-Centered Approach
Authors: Schaaf Roseann C. , Mulrooney Lisa L.
Published: April 2012

This article describes a framework for occupational therapy service provision in early intervention settings and presents pilot data aimed at examining the framework’s effectiveness. The Family-Centered Framework for Early Intervention is a synthesis of concepts from the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980) and from the literature on play. It encompasses a systematic, holistic approach that considers the child and the family within the context of their life environments. In this framework, play is used both as an evaluative tool and as an intervention modality that addresses the volition, habituation, and performance of the child and family as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the environment. Play is also used as a primary measure of competence and change. This framework may be useful in defining occupational therapy roles for the early intervention population.
Developing Information-Seeking Skills in Occupational Therapy Students
Authors: Mularski Carol A. , Nystrom Eleanor , Grant H. Kay
Published: April 2012

This paper discusses the importance of teaching occupational therapy students methods for finding information in libraries. It details the efforts at Ohio State University to supply this instruction and demonstrates the positive results of library user education as seen by the instructors of occupational therapy students. This partnership between librarians and classroom instructors can easily be adapted to any health sciences education program.
Affective Responses to Activities: A Comparative Study
Authors: Boyer JoAnne , Colman Wendy , Levy Linda , Manoly Brena
Published: April 2012

The purpose of this study was to document variation in affective responses to different types of traditional occupational therapy activities. Each of 45 subjects (24 psychiatric inpatients and 21 matched control subjects) participated in a series of four activities: leather lacing, working with clay, filing, and exercycling. Immediately following each activity, each subject completed the Affective Self-Report Checklist designed to elicit affective responses. In addition, each of the activity sessions was professionally videotaped and later rated for affective responses by trained observers. The data analysis revealed no significant differences in affective responses to activities between groups. However, with the groups combined, significant differences were found in affective responses on 6 of the 15 scales of the checklist, with clay and filing the pair of activities that differed most. These findings are a necessary first step in the collection of baseline data regarding responses to activities.
The Relationship Between Oral Sensation and Drooling in Persons With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Weiss-Lambrou Rhoda , Tétreault Sylvie , Dudley John
Published: April 2012

This study examined the relationship between oral sensation and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy. The sample was composed of 40 subjects between 5 and 21 years of age who had a diagnosed condition of cerebral palsy. Twenty of the subjects had a drooling problem and 20 did not. The subjects were randomly selected from two Montreal schools for the disabled. The experimental procedure consisted of the administration of three tests of oral sensation: a test of oral stereognosis, a test of oral form discrimination, and a test of lingual two point discrimination. In addition, saliva was quantified in those subjects who drooled. The results suggested a relationship between oral stereognosis and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy. The main implication for occupational therapists is that the assessment and treatment of drooling in people with cerebral palsy should address both the sensory and motor elements of oral function.
Fieldwork Education: Shaping a Foundation for Clinical Reasoning
Authors: Cohn Ellen S.
Published: April 2012

The need to teach fieldwork students to critically examine practice has been a recurrent theme in recent occupational therapy literature; however, students need to learn routines and standard clinical skills before they can reflect on their practice. This article proposes a variety of strategies to teach technical skills while simultaneously providing a foundation for clinical reasoning.
A Control Systems Framework for Understanding Normal and Abnormal Posture
Authors: Lee Wynne A.
Published: April 2012

This paper presents a brief overview of a control systems framework for understanding normal and abnormal posture, with a special emphasis on postural control during arm movements. The need for meaningful and valid definitions of postural output is discussed. A distinction is drawn between the joint posture and balance outputs of the system. The roles of commands and perturbing inputs in controlling and disturbing joint posture and balance are described. The effects of initial conditions on command inputs and postural outputs are considered. Mechanisms for correcting postural errors are described, with a major focus on active closed-loop and open-loop control processes. The method of objectively describing system behavior by the gains, time delays, and thresholds of input–output functions is presented. All concepts are developed in relation to their clinical implications.
Weakness in Patients With Hemiparesis
Authors: Bourbonnais Daniel , Noven Sharyn Vanden
Published: April 2012

Clinical and experimental results are reviewed concerning muscle weakness in patients with hemiparesis after a stroke. The discussion includes the important role that alterations in the physiology of motor units, notably changes in firing rates and muscle fiber atrophy, play in the manifestation of muscle weakness. This role is compared with the lesser role that spasticity (defined as hyperactive stretch reflexes) of the antagonist muscle group appears to play in determining the weakness of agonist muscles. The contribution of other factors that result in mechanical restraint of the agonist by the antagonist (e.g., passive mechanical properties and inappropriate cocontraction) is discussed relative to muscle weakness in patients with hemiparesis.