bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leadership Qualities of Occupational Therapy Department Program Directors and the Organizational Health of Their Departments
Authors: Dudek-Shriber Linda 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. This study investigated the leadership of occupational therapy program directors, the organizational health of their departments, and the relationships between them.
Method. The Organizational Health Assessment was used to determine how 65 directors of accredited occupational therapy programs and 185 members of occupational therapy faculties perceived their departments’ organizational health. Additionally, faculty members were surveyed for their perceptions of their program directors’ leadership via the Leader Behavior Questionnaire.
Results. Both director and faculty respondents rated their departments high in organizational health. Faculty respondents rated the overall leadership of directors as average. The overall relationship between leadership and organizational health was strong (r = .97).
Conclusion. Both leadership and organizational health are evident in academic occupational therapy programs. Their relationship suggests that the programs have the components that are needed for the achievement of organizational goals, which, in turn, should positively affect occupation therapy education.
A Description of Fieldwork in the Home Care Setting
Authors: Siebert Carol A. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
There are few opportunities for fieldwork education in the home health setting and no available references or resources for establishing a home health fieldwork program. Home health practice involves issues that must be considered when establishing a fieldwork program. These issues include the focus or content of the fieldwork experience, supervision requirements and logistics, and how time is used and structured. This article describes a program that offers Level II fieldwork in home care. During the program refinements over the past 6 years, issues about content, supervision, and time use were addressed and resolved. Fieldwork in the home health setting prepares occupational therapy students for community practice and can increase their awareness of the issues clients face upon returning home after acute medical intervention. Fieldwork in home care also offers a partial solution to the shortage of fieldwork sites in which to train occupational therapy students.
Sensory Processing in the Postinstitutionalized Child
Authors: Cermak Sharon A. , Daunhauer Lisa A. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine whether children adopted from Romanian orphanages have difficulty with sensory processing and related behaviors.
Method. Seventy-three children adopted from Romanian orphanages were compared with 72 peers who were typically developing. The subjects’ ages ranged from 3 to 6 years. The parent-report Developmental and Sensory Processing Questionnaire was used to assess sensory processing and related behaviors. The tool consists of questions in six sensory processing domains and five related behavioral domains.
Results. Multiple t tests indicated that the subjects adopted from Romanian orphanages demonstrated significantly greater problems than those in the control group on five of the six sensory processing domains: touch, movement-avoids, movement-seeks, vision, and audition. Additionally, the Romanian subjects exhibited significantly greater problems than the control subjects on four of the five behavioral domains: activity level, feeding, organization, and social-emotional.
Conclusions. These findings substantiate clinical observations and parent reports of sensory processing deficits in children adopted from Romanian orphanages and highlight the critical importance of the environment for sensory integration. The findings also enhance our understanding of how children who were previously institutionalized respond to the human and physical environment.
Educational Participation of Children With Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Dudgeon Brian J. , Massagli Teresa L. , Ross Brian W. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine educational participation and accommodations for children with spinal cord injury (SCI) or disease in primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational settings.
Method. Written surveys were developed for students with SCI and their teachers. Fifty-three participants had SCI onset before age 18 years, were at least 4 years old and enrolled in a school program, and had residual motor disability without cognitive–behavioral impairments.
Results. Nearly all participants were enrolled full time in regular education classrooms. Seventy-five percent of primary-level participants and 32% of secondary-level participants were qualified for special education and related services, receiving teacher aide assistance as well as occupational and physical therapy services. Most participants were graduating from high school and pursuing postsecondary education. Classroom performance and grades were reported as average or above average, but curriculum modifications were commonly made, and many participants required human assistance and assistive technology in functional and classroom tasks. Access barriers were often reported by participants using wheelchairs, and those using augmentative writing aids were not fluent with these devices.
Conclusion. Accommodations in schools for students with SCI appear to support completion and advancement to higher levels of education, but these accommodations appear to be geared toward participation rather than levels of performance and productivity that may be realistic for work and other community settings.
The Planning Process in Occupational Therapy: Perceptions of Adult Rehabilitation Patients
Authors: Nelson Craig E. , Payton Otto D. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to learn about (a) adult physical rehabilitation patients’ perceptions of their involvement in the treatment planning process (goal setting, treatment planning, outcome evaluation), (b) their valuation of occupational therapy, and (c) how they would describe their interpersonal relationships with their occupational therapists.
Method. Fifteen subjects who had received occupational therapy were interviewed. The transcripts were independently and jointly reviewed by the authors to answer five research questions.
Results. Most of the subjects indicated that they had been involved in occupational therapy goal setting; treatment planning; and outcome evaluation, albeit this indication was weak. They also valued the occupational therapy services they received. Eight described positive interpersonal interactions with their therapists, and seven provided no information.
Conclusion. Patients receiving occupational therapy services are involved in goal setting, treatment planning, and outcome evaluation; however, their involvement varies and can be difficult for them to identify and describe. Because of increasing societal emphasis on patient rights and participation (e.g., consumerism, health professions standards, health care accreditation criteria, health care legislation) and the likelihood that health care funding will be used for services linked to patient goals, occupational therapy practitioners could become more overt and systematic in involving patients in the planning process. Increasing patient involvement in planning may result in more individualized treatment and more effective use of health care dollars.
A Model of the Nature of Family–Therapist Relationships: Implications for Education
Authors: Brown Sharon M. , Humphry Ruth , Taylor Eve 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objectives. The family plays an important role in rehabilitation of persons with chronic disabilities and in supporting their reintegration into the community. To be prepared for family-centered intervention, educators need to frame the content that occupational therapy students must master. The purpose of this study was to develop a hierarchy of occupational therapists’ attitudes about the family’s involvement in services for a family member with special needs.
Method. Participants were 302 occupational therapists who reported some contact with families of clients. Through an open-ended question, participants were asked to indicate the most important outcome of their interactions with their clients’ families.
Results. Analysis of participant responses led to the development of a seven-level hierarchy of family–therapist interactions. The levels are based on the participants’ views of the outcome of family involvement as suggested by their attitudes about a family’s role and abilities. Knowledge and skills needed to work at different levels of the hierarchy are identified.
Conclusion. Recommendations for preparation of entry-level practitioners to work at all levels of the model are discussed.
An Overview of Professional Liability in Occupational Therapy
Authors: Ranke Beth A. Ekelman , Moriarty Matthew P. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Occupational therapists occasionally are sued for professional malpractice; thus, they need to be aware of the law of malpractice, those areas of practice that present the greatest legal challenges, and strategies to reduce client injury and liability risks. This article provides an overview of the law of professional malpractice, explains the impact of various employment relationships on liability risks, reviews specific malpractice actions against occupational therapists, and provides suggestions on how to reduce the risk of injuring a client in therapy. By increasing one’s awareness of the legalities of professional malpractice and implementing certain strategies, therapists can improve quality of care and reduce their exposure to malpractice liability.
The Test of Sensory Functions in Infants: Test–Retest Reliability for Infants With Developmental Delays
Authors: Jirikowic Tracy L. , Engel Joyce M. , Deitz Jean C. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) is one tool that occupational therapists use to identify sensory processing disorders among infants. However, data on the reliability of TSFI scores with infants with developmental delays are lacking.
Method. Test–retest reliabilities for TSFI total test and subtest scores were determined with a sample of 26 infants with developmental delays. All infants were between 10 months and 18 months of age. The test–retest interval ranged from 5 days to 10 days. Magnitudes of difference between test and retest scores and percentages of agreement among the TSFI classification categories (i.e., normal, at-risk, deficient) also were determined to examine relationships between test scores.
Results. Reliability for the total test score was borderline, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of .78. Reliability coefficients for the five subtests ranged from .54 to .74. Percentage of agreement for the total test classification categories between test and retest was adequate (81 %). Percentages of agreement for subtest classification categories were low, ranging from 58% to 68%.
Conclusion. TSFI scores should be interpreted cautiously and used only in conjunction with findings from additional developmental assessments and clinical observations for infants with developmental delays.
Prediction of Academic and Clinical Performance of Occupational Therapy Students in an Entry-Level Master’s Program
Authors: Kirchner Grace L. , Holm Margo B. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The relationships between clinical outcomes and predictors used to screen applicants for entrance into a Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) program were examined.
Method. MOT student records from 1986 to 1992 were used to gather data for three dependent variables and six predictor (independent) variables. The dependent variables used to gauge student success were grade point average in occupational therapy courses (OT-GPA), client attendance at an on-site clinic, and therapy outcomes of clients at that clinic. The predictor variables were undergraduate GPA, scores on the three sections of the Graduate Record Examination, reference forms, and essays.
Results. The models used to predict OT-GPA and therapy outcomes were significant (p &lt; .05), and the incremental validity of several predictors was established. The model used to predict client attendance was not significant.
Conclusion. The findings regarding OT-GPA support the continued use of all the predictors except the reference forms. Although it was possible to develop a model to predict client outcomes, the usefulness of the model is difficult to interpret.
Occupation and Well-Being in Dementia: The Experience of Day-Care Staff
Authors: Hasselkus Betty R. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to gain understanding of the staff experience of occupation in the context of day care for persons with dementia.
Method. Narratives of especially satisfying and dissatisfying experiences of care were elicited from a random state-wide sample of day-care staff members. Qualitative methods were used to analyze the phenomenological data.
Results. The core meaning of occupation derived from these data was Occupation as the Gateway to Relative Well-Being. A model of the experience of occupation for staff members is proposed that is composed of three phases: the meeting of minds, engagement in occupation, and relative well-being. The skills of the staff informants that bring about the meeting of minds, the many levels of client engagement in occupation, and the indicators of well-being for clients and for staff members are described. The three phases together constitute an occupational space—created by the staff person—and the engagement in occupation itself constitutes an occupational place within that space.
Conclusions. Bringing about indicators of well-being through occupation was a primary source of satisfaction for the day-care staff informants in this study. The model of the staff experience of occupation proposed in this study has application to all areas of occupational therapy practice.
Creating Opportunities for Occupation: An Intervention To Promote the Self-Care Independence of Young Children With Special Needs
Authors: Kellegrew Diane Hammon 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. The relationship between opportunities for occupation and the skill performance of young children with special needs was explored, using a multiple baseline across subjects design.
Method. Three caregivers self-monitored the frequency with which they were able to create opportunities for their child to practice emerging self-dressing or self-feeding skills.
Results. Two caregivers quickly promoted self-care independence in their child by restructuring daily routines to provide more opportunities for the child to independently engage in the targeted occupation. One caregiver was unable to use the intervention techniques effectively.
Conclusion. Opportunity for occupation can influence the child’s skill performance and can be used as a treatment modality by some families.
Grip Strengths and Required Forces in Accessing Everyday Containers in a Normal Population
Authors: Rice Martin S. , Leonard Cathy , Carter Mike 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. A commonly adhered to operating principle in occupational therapy clinics is that a person must exhibit 20 lb of grip strength before his or her hand is considered “functional” This study examined the relationship between hand and finger grip performances with the forces required to open common household containers.
Method. The grip and pinch strengths of 49 college students were obtained using dynamometry. The forces required to open six common household containers were measured using Force Sensing Resistors® attached to each container.
Results. Weak correlations were found (r = −.179 to r = .333) between grip and pinch strength performances and the forces used to operate the accessing mechanisms of the containers. Analyses of variances demonstrated significantly greater grip and pinch strength performances in men than in women (ps &lt; .05) but no significant difference between the genders in the forces generated to open the containers (ps &gt; .05).
Conclusions. In a normal population of college students, the premise that greater hand strength affords greater performance in accessing everyday household containers was not supported. Implications suggest that grip and pinch dynamometry are not conclusive evaluative tools for predicting hand function while opening a select group of containers. The relationship between traditional dynamometry and hand performance during a variety of functional tasks needs to be examined in clinical populations as well.
A Comparison of Two Computer Access Systems for Functional Text Entry
Authors: DeVries Rietta Campbell , Deitz Jean , Anson Denis 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Objective. Functional written communication, an important goal in the rehabilitation of persons with tetraplegia, frequently is met through the use of personal computers and alternative computer access systems. To make informed decisions about alternative access systems, the therapist needs information on the efficacy of the available choices. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of two commercially available systems for text entry, the traditional mouthstick and the Prentke Romich HeadMaster.
Method. Participants were a 25-year-old man and 76 year-old woman who both functioned at a C5 neurological level. Neither participant had previous experience with either system for text entry. A single-subject research design was used whereby Participant 1 experienced six phases of treatment (i.e., CBCBCB, where C= mouthstick and B = HeadMaster), and Participant 2 experienced four phases of treatment (i.e., BCBC).
Results. Participant 1 achieved a maximum rate of text entry of5.85 wpm with both the HeadMaster and the mouthstick, whereas Participant 2 achieved a maximum rate of7.15 wpm with the mouthstick and 4.85 wpm with the HeadMaster. Results from this study were similar to the results from previous comparison studies of persons with severe disabilities who had no experience with alternative computer access systems.
Conclusion. Both participants were able to use both systems successfully; however, their respective rates of text entry were too slow to be functional in most employment situations.
Praxis Skills in Young Children With Down Syndrome, Other Developmental Disabilities, and Typically Developing Children
Authors: Fidler Deborah J. , Hepburn Susan L. , Mankin Galit , Rogers Sally J. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
This study explored whether young children with Down syndrome show praxis deficits that impact activities of daily living, and whether these deficits are specific to Down syndrome. We compared the performance of young children with Down syndrome, a mental age-matched group of children with developmental disabilities of mixed or unknown etiologies, and a group of typically developing infants and toddlers on praxis tasks and overall adaptive behavior (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales). Children with Down syndrome showed poorer overall motor functioning than the developmental disabilities comparison group as measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, F(2, 47) = 5.24, p &lt; .01 (using one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]). A one-way multivariate analysis of variance also showed that children with Down syndrome performed significantly worse overall than the developmental disabilities comparison group on a battery of praxis tasks, F(7, 18) = 2.95, p &lt; .05, and a series of object retrieval tasks, F(7, 18) = 2.95, p &lt; .05, suggesting a deficit in praxis that is specific to Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome elicited significantly more help than both comparison groups during object retrieval trials, F(2, 48) = 4.94, p &lt; .01 (using one-way ANOVA). When chronological age was partialled out, a strong relationship was observed between praxis and adaptive functioning in Down syndrome, r (8) = .69, p &lt; .05. These findings suggest that young children with Down syndrome may need targeted interventions that focus on both praxis skills and motivational orientation.
The Relation Between Length of Institutionalization and Sensory Integration in Children Adopted From Eastern Europe
Authors: Lin Susan H. , Cermak Sharon , Coster Wendy J. , Miller Laurie 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To examine the relation between length of institutionalization and sensory integration in children adopted from Eastern Europe.
METHOD. The Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) and the Developmental and Sensory Processing Questionnaire were administered to 60 adopted children, 4 years to 8 years, 11 months of age. Thirty had longer institutionalization histories (mean: 34 months; LIH group) and the other 30 had shorter institutionalization histories (mean: 3 months; SIH group).
RESULTS. The LIH group demonstrated significantly lower scores than the SIH group on the SIPT in vestibular-proprioceptive, visual, and praxis areas, and effect sizes ranged from .09 to 1.13. The LIH group also had significantly more frequent behaviors suggestive of sensory modulation dysfunction compared to the SIH group, particularly in touch and movement seeking, vision, and audition. Effect sizes ranged from 0 to 1.39.
CONCLUSION. Longer lengths of institutionalization are associated with more atypical sensory discrimination, praxis, and sensory modulation scores in children adopted from Eastern European orphanages. The areas of sensory integration that appear to be more vulnerable to deprived conditions in early childhood are vestibular-proprioceptive, tactile, visual, auditory, and praxis. Adopted children with lengthy periods of institutionalization may benefit from occupational therapy for early sensory integrative and developmental screenings.
Typical Children’s Responsivity Patterns of the Tactile and Vestibular Systems
Authors: Bar-Shalita Tami , Goldstand Sarina , Hahn-Markowitz Jeri , Parush Shula 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
OBJECTIVES. The purposes of this study were to investigate the responsivity patterns of typical 3- and 4year-old Israeli children to tactile or vestibular stimulation, or both, and to examine whether differences in these patterns exist between them with respect to age and gender.
METHOD. The study sample consisted of one hundred seventeen 3-year-old and one hundred forty-three 4year-old healthy Israeli children (N = 260). Mothers of these children completed a comprehensive tactile and vestibular responsivity questionnaire.
RESULTS. The subjects’ tactile and vestibular responsivity scores were neither hyperresponsive nor hypo-responsive. In addition, neither age nor gender was found to significantly differentiate between respective participant groups for hypo- or hyperresponsive behaviors.
CONCLUSION. Typical Israeli children can be characterized by moderate responsivities to tactile and vestibular stimulation. Responsivity to tactile and vestibular input was similar for 3- and 4-year-olds, across genders.
A Holistic Approach To Teaching Evidence-Based Practice
Authors: Stern Perri 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Articles pertaining to evidence-based practice have become increasingly visible in occupational therapy literature. Authors have defined and described evidence-based practice for occupational therapy (Lloyd-Smith 1997; Taylor 1997), identified resources that therapists can draw upon to inform their practice (Hayes & McGrath, 1998; Lieberman & Scheer, 2002), and articulated strategies to gather research evidence in practice (Tickle-Degnen 2000a; Unsworth, 2000). As associate editor of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy Evidence-Based Practice Forum, Tickle-Degnen has also written a series of articles that explain how to engage clients in the research process, and communicate research evidence to clients and families (1998, 2002).