bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role Strain Experienced by Male Occupational Therapists: A Descriptive Survey
Authors: Brown G Ted 
Published: April 2015

Occupational therapy is a female-dominated profession with only 5.8% of all clinicians being men. Traditionally, occupational therapy education programmes have had limited success in recruiting men and those men who do become therapists tend to work in the profession for only short periods of time. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that have an impact on male occupational therapists. Specifically, role strain due to community, colleagues and patients, three types of role stress (role ambiguity, role conflict and role overload) and the demographic characteristics of male occupational therapists in Canada were examined. Role strain is a subjective state of emotional arousal (such as increased level of awareness, general emotional arousal, distress, anxiety or frustration) in response to the external conditions of social stress. Community role strain was considered to arise from the negative attitudes of people outside the immediate work environment. Colleague role strain was considered to arise from the attitudes and behaviours of co-workers and others employed in the work environment. Patient role strain was considered to arise from the acts and attitudes of patients and their families. Role stress is a social structural condition in which role obligations are vague, irritating, difficult, conflicting or impossible to meet. Role ambiguity was defined as vagueness or a lack of clarity of role expectation. Role conflict was defined as role expectations that are incompatible. Role overload was defined as too much expected in the time available. A questionnaire was posted to all male therapists who were members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (n = 199). Eighty-three per cent of the sample responded. The survey instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire, the Egeland and Brown Rating Scale, the Rizzo, House and Lirtzman Scale and the Beehr, Walsh and Taber Scale. As a group, male occupational therapists reported a moderate level of community role strain, colleague role strain and patient role strain. Similarly, male occupational therapists also reported a moderate degree of role conflict and role overload, but had a low level of role ambiguity.
The User's Perspective on the Provision of Electronic Assistive Technology: Equipped for Life?
Authors: Cowan Donna M , Turner-Smith Alan R 
Published: April 2015

The variety of electronic assistive technology (EAT) available for people with physical disabilities is constantly increasing. It includes items such as powered wheelchairs, equipment for communication and environmental control systems. The timely provision of this equipment can enhance the quality of life of users and carers alike. This paper presents the findings of a survey of the experiences of people with physical disabilities who used this equipment. This was part of a project investigating the provision of EAT in two regional health authorities. The survey asked questions covering subjects such as funding sources, referrers, training and maintenance, time delays, the range of equipment used by individuals and the problems encountered obtaining the equipment. The response rate was 54% (135 out of 250 questionnaires were returned). The results showed that the majority of the equipment was used regularly, with many respondents using between three and six items. Sixty per cent of respondents reported a problem with current provision processes. The most common of these were funding issues, information availability, maintenance, training, switches, assessment and delays. The role that all services can play in eliminating these problems is discussed and the importance of cooperation and effective links between services is emphasised.
How do Occupational Therapists define their Role in a Community Mental Health Setting?
Authors: Taylor Alexandra , Rubin Rona 
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to examine how occupational therapists define their role in a community mental health setting, within a framework of current concern about a lack of knowledge and recognition of the profession among both other health professionals and the general public, including clients of the service. Nineteen practising occupational therapists were interviewed by telephone and invited to give their definitions of occupational therapy. The main finding was that there was a lack of a uniform definition of occupational therapy in community mental health settings. The need for the development of agreed definitions of occupational therapy is discussed.
The Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS): Measurement Properties
Authors: Forsyth Kirsty , Lai Jin-Shei , Kielhofner Gary 
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS). The ACIS is an observational rating scale designed to capture, in detail, a person's social Interactional ability while he or she is participating in a meaningful social context. Fifty-two occupational therapists, trained to administer the ACIS, completed 244 ACIS assessments of 117 subjects with psychosocial disabilities. The subjects had a wide range of communication and interaction abilities. Many-faceted Rasch analysis was used to analyse the data. The results supported internal, construct and person response validity of the ACIS. Both intrarater and inter-rater reliability were established. The scale was shown to discriminate between people with psychosocial dysfunction who had varying communication and interaction abilities. In addition, the results indicated a need to do minor revisions to the assessment.
The Relevance of Vocational Education for Occupational Therapy Support Workers
Authors: Newton Lesley , Kirk Helen 
Published: April 2015

This article examines the development of the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Occupational Therapy Support against the background of recent reforms and changes in health, social and educational arenas. Learning theories relevant to educational initiatives are addressed briefly and a rationale for liberal humanism is proposed. The significance of role clarification, task analysis and skill mixing is highlighted within the context of the drive for effectiveness and efficiency of services. Eternal shortages of occupational therapists necessitate an increasing use of support staff. It is suggested that their role is now, more than ever, Important in terms of client care and raising the profile of the profession, and that support staff may be empowered to become more flexible and reflective practitioners. Employers demand a trained and responsive workforce. Competence-based vocational education, such as the HNC, employs experiential learning programmes to encourage the link between theory and practice, thus encouraging staff to develop and update their knowledge continually.
Content Validity of an Assessment Tool to Identify Home Fall Hazards: The Westmead Home Safety Assessment
Authors: Clemson Lindy , Fitzgerald Maureen H , Heard Robert 
Published: April 2015

Identifying hazards in the homes of elderly people adequately is of central importance to reducing the risk of falls; however, no assessment tool has demonstrated validity in the area of, or focuses specifically on, home fall hazards. Content validity was undertaken to develop further and refine the Westmead Home Safety Assessment (WeHSA). A list of stimulus attributes was generated from an extensive literature review and contributed to an expert review by providing a descriptive scheme of the tool's domain of interest. A content analysis of the literature and the expert review process established the tool as having a high degree of content validity and an overall content validity index of 0.80. The rigorous process ensured that the items in the tool were complete and relevant to the focus of the assessment and helped to guide manual development. The WeHSA provides a meaningful tool to enhance therapists' ability to observe and judge hazards.
A National Survey of Occupational Therapy Managers in Mental Health
Authors: Craik Christine , Austin Chris , Schell Donna 
Published: April 2015

This study, part of the College of Occupational Therapists' Mental Health Project, surveyed occupational therapy managers in mental health to gather data about them, the services they managed and their opinions on current and future issues of importance. A questionnaire was sent to the 184 managers who it was believed worked in mental health and it achieved a 65.2% response rate. The majority of the 120 respondents were female, with Head II therapists between the ages of 31 and 40 forming the largest group. Two-thirds had additional qualifications and 71% had worked in mental health for more than 11 years. In addition to managing occupational therapy services, 86% carried a caseload or managed other services. Aspects of professional management were ranked highest in a list of tasks undertaken. Contradictions were noted in the managers' opinions on recruitment and retention of staff and the importance of staff supervision. The managers displayed commitment to the principles and philosophy of occupational therapy and a determination to demonstrate its effectiveness through research and evidence-based practice. This study contributed to the position paper on the way ahead for occupational therapy in mental health (Craik et al 1998a) and provided information for occupational therapy managers to assist them to review their role.
Quality Assurance and Clinical Audit: Information and Equipment Provision
Authors: Packham Gill 
Published: April 2015

This article examines the use of a quality correction cycle and clinical audit to investigate the issues surrounding the provision of information with the supply of equipment to clients in their homes to promote independence and safety. An analysis was undertaken, adopting a model of quality with a grounded demonstration of clinical audit which informed the process of potential for change. The findings demonstrated that a low level of information given at the time of issue of equipment resulted in poorly fitting equipment, with some safety issues around the continued use of the equipment. As a result of this audit, the benefit of a working party to examine and implement standards for the provision of information with equipment issue has been raised with management, with an intention to reaudit. It is acknowledged that clinical audit must be viewed as a positive tool in promoting clinical effectiveness, which must be driven multiprofessionally and from the client's perspective.
Occupational Therapy and Health Promotion: A Focus on Elderly People
Authors: Seymour Suzanne 
Published: April 2015

This study looked at occupational therapists working in Wales and examined the possibilities and constraints of their developing a role in health promotion. The study focused on occupational therapists who worked with elderly people as part of their patient/client group. This client group was chosen because the elderly population is continuing to rise, elderly people constitute one of the main client groups for occupational therapists and almost half of Government spending on health and social services is spent on people aged over 65 years. On the whole, the 76 (76%) occupational therapists who responded were shown to have a mixed attitude towards health promotion, with some considering it a luxury and others an important part of their role. Several constraints were identified as affecting the development of the occupational therapist's role in health promotion. The main constraint was the pressure of work through limitations on time, funding and resources. The implications of these findings for occupational therapy and health promotion are discussed. It is argued that occupational therapists practising in Wales need to develop their role as health advocates and give greater consideration to the broader issues of community development.
Dyspraxia: Guidelines for Intervention
Authors: Jackson Thérèse 
Published: April 2015

‘Clinicians wishing to base their assessment on sound, empirically and theoretically based principles are soon daunted by the diverse, poorly integrated and sometimes contradictory nature of apraxia research’ (Tate and McDonald 1995). This paper attempts to identify some of the common ground in research and, by using this along with clinical experience, identifies guidelines for occupational therapists working with adults who have acquired dyspraxia. Much of the neuropsychological literature refers to the term ‘apraxia’; however, many occupational therapists use the term ‘dyspraxia’ and it is therefore the term of choice in this paper. Literature searches should make use of both terms.
Action Research: A Dynamic Discipline for Advancing Professional Goals
Authors: Roth Linda M , Esdaile Susan A 
Published: April 2015

Action research methodology, a cyclical problem-solving process including the steps of planning, acting and reflecting, was used to facilitate organisational and scholarly development of academic staff in a clinically focused mid-western university occupational therapy department in the USA. An experienced staff development consultant worked with the professor and chair to create a 3-year developmental programme of several half-day and full-day workshops, graduate seminars and courses, team projects and individual career development consultations. Staff members created individual vision and mission statements and professional career plans and integrated these with departmental vision and mission statements and a strategic plan. Developmental efforts resulted in identifiable achievements of department members in improving teaching, clarifying community/professional service goals and involvement, and becoming more knowledgeable about, skilful at and actively engaged in academic scholarship.
Arm Abduction Provides a Better Reduction of the Bankart Lesion During Immobilization in External Rotation After an Initial Shoulder Dislocation
Authors: Itoi Eiji , Kitamura Toshio , Hitachi Shin , Hatta Taku , Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Sano Hirotaka 
Published: April 2015

Background: Shoulder dislocation often recurs, especially in the younger population. Immobilization in external rotation, in which a Bankart lesion is displaced in the anterior, medial, and inferior directions, was introduced as a new method of nonoperative treatment, but its clinical efficiency is controversial. In terms of reducing the lesion, it is reasonable to incorporate not only external rotation, which makes the anterior soft tissues tight to push the lesion posteriorly and laterally, but also abduction, which makes the inferior soft tissues tight to push the lesion superiorly. Hypothesis: Abducting the arm during immobilization in external rotation will improve the reduction of a Bankart lesion. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: There were 37 patients with initial shoulder dislocation enrolled in this study. After reduction, MRI was taken in 4 positions of the shoulder: adduction and internal rotation (Add-IR), adduction and external rotation (Add-ER), 30° of abduction and 30° of external rotation (Abd-30ER), and 30° of abduction and 60° of external rotation (Abd-60ER). On radial slices, the separation, displacement of the labrum, and opening angle of the capsule were measured. Results: Add-ER improved the reduction of the anterior labrum but not the inferior labrum when compared with Add-IR. Both Abd-30ER and Abd-60ER improved the reduction of the inferior labrum as compared with Add-IR. Furthermore, Abd-60ER improved the reduction more than Add-ER. Conclusion: Among the 4 positions tested, Abd-60ER is the best position in terms of reducing the Bankart lesion. Clinical Relevance: Abducting the shoulder during immobilization in external rotation is demonstrated to improve the reduction of the Bankart lesion. Therefore, this position is expected to reduce the recurrence rate after initial dislocation of the shoulder. Future clinical trials are necessary.
Arthroscopic Removal and Rotator Cuff Repair Without Acromioplasty for the Treatment of Symptomatic Calcifying Tendinitis of the Supraspinatus Tendon
Authors: Ranalletta Maximiliano , Rossi Luciano Andrés , Bongiovanni Santiago Luis , Tanoira Ignacio , Piuzzi Nicolas , Maignon Gastón 
Published: April 2015

Background: Calcified rotator cuff tendinitis is a common cause of chronic shoulder pain that leads to significant pain and functional limitations. Although most patients respond well to conservative treatment, some eventually require surgical treatment. Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome with arthroscopic removal of calcific deposit and rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty for the treatment of calcific tendinitis of the supraspinatus tendon. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated 30 consecutive patients with a mean age of 49.2 years. The mean follow-up was 35 months (range, 24-88 months). Pre- and postoperative functional assessment was performed using the Constant score, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH). Pain was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to evaluate the recurrence of calcifications and the indemnity of the supraspinatus tendon repair. Results: Significant improvement was obtained for pain (mean VAS, 8.7 before surgery to 0.8 after; P < .001). The mean Constant score increased from 23.9 preoperatively to 85.3 postoperatively ( P < .001), the mean Quick DASH score decreased from 47.3 preoperatively to 8.97 postoperatively ( P < .001), and the UCLA score increased from 15.8 preoperatively to 32.2 postoperatively ( P < .001). MRI examination at last follow-up (70% of patients) showed no tendon tears, and 96.2% of patients were satisfied with their results. Conclusion: Arthroscopic removal and rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty can lead to good results in patients with symptomatic calcifying tendonitis of the supraspinatus tendon.
Load to Failure and Stiffness
Authors: Esquivel Amanda O. , Duncan Douglas D. , Dobrasevic Nikola , Marsh Stephanie M. , Lemos Stephen E. 
Published: April 2015

Background: Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a frequent cause of shoulder pain that can lead to decreased strength and range of motion. Failures after using the single-row technique of rotator cuff repair have led to the development of the double-row technique, which is said to allow for more anatomical restoration of the footprint. Purpose: To compare 5 different types of suture patterns while maintaining equality in number of anchors. The hypothesis was that the Mason-Allen–crossed cruciform transosseous-equivalent technique is superior to other suture configurations while maintaining equality in suture limbs and anchors. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 25 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were randomized into 5 suture configuration groups: single-row repair with simple stitch technique; single-row repair with modified Mason-Allen technique; double-row Mason-Allen technique; double-row cross-bridge technique; and double-row suture bridge technique. Load and displacement were recorded at 100 Hz until failure. Stiffness and bone mineral density were also measured. Results: There was no significant difference in peak load at failure, stiffness, maximum displacement at failure, or mean bone mineral density among the 5 suture configuration groups ( P < .05). Conclusion: According to study results, when choosing a repair technique, other factors such as number of sutures in the repair should be considered to judge the strength of the repair. Clinical Relevance: Previous in vitro studies have shown the double-row rotator cuff repair to be superior to the single-row repair; however, clinical research does not necessarily support this. This study found no difference when comparing 5 different repair methods, supporting research that suggests the number of sutures and not the pattern can affect biomechanical properties.
Lack of Evidence for Ectopic Sprouting of Genetically Labeled Aβ Touch Afferents in Inflammatory and Neuropathic Trigeminal Pain
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chen Yong , Liedtke Wolfgang , Wang Fan 
Published: April 2015

Background Mechanical and in particular tactile allodynia is a hallmark of chronic pain in which innocuous touch becomes painful. Previous cholera toxin B (CTB)-based neural tracing experiments and electrophysiology studies had suggested that aberrant axon sprouting from touch sensory afferents into pain-processing laminae after injury is a possible anatomical substrate underlying mechanical allodynia. This hypothesis was later challenged by experiments using intra-axonal labeling of A-fiber neurons, as well as single-neuron labeling of electrophysiologically identified sensory neurons. However, no studies have used genetically labeled neurons to examine this issue, and most studies were performed on spinal but not trigeminal sensory neurons which are the relevant neurons for orofacial pain, where allodynia oftentimes plays a dominant clinical role. Findings We recently discovered that parvalbumin::Cre (Pv::Cre) labels two types of Aβ touch neurons in trigeminal ganglion. Using a Pv::CreER driver and a Cre-dependent reporter mouse, we specifically labeled these Aβ trigeminal touch afferents by timed taxomifen injection prior to inflammation or infraorbital nerve injury (ION transection). We then examined the peripheral and central projections of labeled axons into the brainstem caudalis nucleus after injuries vs controls. We found no evidence for ectopic sprouting of Pv::CreER labeled trigeminal Aβ axons into the superficial trigeminal noci-receptive laminae. Furthermore, there was also no evidence for peripheral sprouting. Conclusions CreER-based labeling prior to injury precluded the issue of phenotypic changes of neurons after injury. Our results suggest that touch allodynia in chronic orofacial pain is unlikely caused by ectopic sprouting of Aβ trigeminal afferents.
A novel method for expert finding in online communities based on concept map and PageRank
Authors: Rafiei Majid , Kardan Ahmad A 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAn online community is a virtual community where people can express their opinions and their knowledge freely. There are a great deal of information in online communities, however there is no way to determine its authenticity. Thus the knowledge which has been shared in online communities is not reliable. By determining expertise level of users and finding experts in online communities the accuracy of posted comments can be evaluated.In this study, a hybrid method for expert finding in online communities is presented which is based on content analysis and social network analysis. The content analysis is based on concept map and the social network analysis is based on PageRank algorithm. To evaluate the proposed method java online community was selected and then correlation between our results and scores prepared by java online community was calculated. Based on obtained results Spearman correlation for 11 subcategories of java online community using this method is 0.904, which is highly an acceptable value.