bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of younger and older healthy American adults on the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment
Authors: Annes Gabrielle , Katz Noomi , Cermak Sharon A. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis study compared the performance of healthy young adults (ages 17–25) with the performance of healthy older adults (ages 40–75) on the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), a cognitive evaluation consisting of 20 subtests divided into four areas, (Orientation, Perception, Visuomotor Organisation, and Thinking Operations). The purpose was to: 1) ascertain whether significantly fewer older subjects than younger subjects would achieve a maximum score on each of the subtests of the LOTCA; 2) determine whether older adults would perform significantly more slowly than younger adults on the Visuomotor Organisation subtests of the LOTCA; 3) examine whether performance of American adults was similar to the standardisation sample of Israeli adults. Forty‐nine older adult subjects and 49 younger adult subjects were tested on the LOTCA. All the younger adult subjects and 14 older adult subjects were also timed on the seven subtests of the Visuomotor Organisation area. Results indicated that older adults took significantly longer than younger adults to complete six of the seven subtests. Based on the study's results, it appears that separate LOTCA norms for accuracy are not required across these two age groups and that time can be used to differentiate performance between healthy normal older and younger adults on the Visuomotor Organisation subtests. Additionally, performance of normal American adults is similar to Israeli adults, thus supporting the use of the LOTCA in the United States. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Changing helplessness to coping: an exploratory study of social skills training with individuals with long‐term mental illness
Authors: Salo‐Chydenius Sisko 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe primary purpose of this study was to apply an occupational therapy programme for social skills training based on a cognitive‐behavioural frame of reference to individuals with long‐term mental illness. The goal of the social skills training group was to enable patients to develop verbal and non‐verbal communication skills that could be generalised to everyday interpersonal encounters. A case example of the application of social skills training with a 38‐year‐old single male with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia is described. The Group‐Interaction Skills Survey developed by the author served as an outcome measure. Qualitative data confirmed the researcher's hypothesis that individuals with long‐term mental illness can benefit from social skills training using a combination of role‐playing, sociodrama, videotape recordings and creative media. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Patient experiences and outcome of treatment in psychiatric occupational therapy – three cases
Authors: Eklund Mona 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe experiences and outcome of treatment among three patients, following a group programme in psychiatric outpatient occupational therapy are described in this article using qualitative and quantitative measures. They were members of a group of 20 individuals whose course of outcome are also briefly outlined. Two of them were women with fairly similar initial pre‐treatment status. One of the women improved during treatment, reported positive experiences, and patients attributed her development to the occupational therapy programme. The other woman improved to a minor degree and held a negative opinion of the programme. At a 1‐year follow‐up she seemed to have reached the same level of progress as the other woman with a large improvement during treatment, partly due to another form of therapy. The third patient, a male, made a notable improvement. At discharge, and at follow‐up, he was functioning at a normal level. He ascribed his progress partly to the occupational therapy programme. The patients' different courses of change seemed related to how they perceived the ward atmosphere – the most improved patient was most content and the least improved least satisfied with the ward atmosphere. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Impact of aquatic programmes on adolescents with cerebral palsy
Authors: Dorval Genevieve , Tetreault Sylvie , Caron Chantal 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis research evaluates the impact of two aquatic programmes (conventional and experimental) on self‐esteem and functional independence of 20 adolescents with cerebral palsy. Impact was examined through statistical analyses of data collected at baseline (T1), post‐test (T2) and nine months after the end of aquatic programmes (T3). Significant relationships were found between self‐esteem, functional independence and aquatic activities. The results confirm the potential value of aquatic programmes to improve the socio‐emotional development and functional independence of this population. Despite the positive increase of the subjects' scores, the findings suggest that the experimental aquatic programme was not sufficiently powerful to be significantly different from the conventional program, in terms of gains in self‐esteem and functional independence. The implications of these findings and the usefulness of aquatic activities as meaningful therapy for adolescents with cerebral palsy are discussed. Directions for future studies are also proposed. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Preparing students for practice in a changing community environment: an innovative course
Authors: Renwick Rebecca , Cockburn Lynn , Colantonio Angela , Friedland Judith 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of an innovative course in community occupational therapy. The course emphasises and prepares students for community practice in an environment profoundly affected by ongoing changes in Canada's health and social systems. Its rationale, objectives, structure, and content are outlined. In particular, the paper highlights the in vivo, problem‐based component of the course, which centres around community‐based fieldwork. A summary of the major results of the evaluation of the course is also presented. Although this course was designed for Canadian occupational therapy students, much of the material presented is potentially useful to educators of occupational therapy students in other countries. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
A comparison of self‐report and informant report of tactile defensiveness amongst children in Israel
Authors: Parush Shula , Doryon Yehudit Dauber , Katz Noomi 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to compare self‐report and informant report of Tactile Defensiveness (TD) for 43 Israeli children aged 4 years 7 months to 10 years old. The Touch Inventory for Elementary School‐Aged Children (TIE) was used for the child's self‐report and a modified version of the TIE questionnaire used for the parent's (informant) report. The scores on both the original TIE and the modified parent's version were then compared with an occupational therapist's rating of the degree of the child's tactile responsivity. Statistically, no significant correlation was found between the parent's report and the child's report. There was, however, a statistically significant correlation between the child's report and the therapist's evaluation of his or her tactile defensiveness. No statistically significant correlation was found between the parent's report and the therapist's evaluation. These results suggest that the child should also be considered a useful source of information in the assessment of the TD syndrome. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Activity analysis: a case study utilising electromyography
Authors: Chow Susanna M.K. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe therapeutic skateboard in a case study, utilising electromyography (EMG) in the analysis of an assistive activity, is presented. The EMG levels of eight shoulder muscles during horizontal adduction and abduction were studied. Three conditions were analysed: the arm supported by a therapeutic skate, a five‐pound weight belt on the supported arm and the non‐assistive condition where the arm was unsupported. It was found that:

The therapeutic skate activity demanded little movement (3.8–48%) from the shoulder muscles and is suitable for early mobilisation.
The skateboard assists primarily the stabilisers in both horizontal abduction and adduction.
Addition of weights was a gentle upgrading activity creating a small increase in the eight muscles being monitored. Copyright © 1996 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The impact of refugee resettlement on Southeast Asian adolescents and young adults: implications for occupational therapists
Authors: Yau Matthew Kwai‐Sang 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAfter the change of governments in Vietnam and Cambodia and amidst turmoil in the mid 1970s, many Southeast Asians, fearing reprisals, emigrated from these countries. Among them were children, many of whom were separated from their families prior to, or during, their escape. Many of them have been reset‐tled in the Western countries from the refugee camps, and now are adolescents or are entering into young adulthood. With memories of the war and the stress of separation from family and adaptation to different cultures, psychosocial problems are common in this population. Occupational therapy can help these clients by providing opportunities to: (1) practise appropriate human occupations and establish more satisfying relationships; (2) facilitate release and sublimation of emotional drives; (3) enhance smooth transition and adaptation to the new environment; and (4) assist in the adoption of appropriate occupational roles. General principles are proposed for developing occupational therapy services that are appropriate and culturally relevant to the needs of this client group. Occupational therapists can play an important role in assisting the clients in resettlement, pursuing better quality of life and being a contributing member of the society. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The relationship between occupational balance and health: a pilot study
Authors: Wilcock A.A. , Chelin M. , Hall M. , Hamley N. , Morrison B. , Scrivener L. , Townsend M. , Treen K. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractOccupational therapists, physicians and others evince an appreciation of the relationship between balanced lifestyles and health, but there are few studies that concentrate on balance as a key issue. This paper reports on a pilot study that tested the effectiveness of a questionnaire to explore perceptions of occupational balance and its relationship to health. The ultimate aim is to provide information that may assist clients, or the population in general, about potentially healthily balanced configurations of occupation. Using a cluster sampling method and with 146 respondents the results of a questionnaire indicated that, for many of these respondents, perceived ideal occupational balance is approximately equal involvement in physical, mental, social and rest occupations. A correlation between reported good health and the closeness of current occupational patterns to the ideal was statistically significant. These promising results warrant further investigation. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Occupational therapists' skills and attitudes regarding use of computers and assistive technology
Authors: Unsworth Carolyn A. , Townsend Marjorie C. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the skills and attitudes of a sample of practicing occupational therapists regarding the use of computers, and to explore their agreement with the Foundation Level Technology Competencies proposed for adoption in the United States of America (American Occupational Therapy Association, 1991; reported in Hammel and Smith, 1993). Out of a sample of 250 subjects, 89 occupational therapists in the USA completed a questionnaire regarding their experiences with, and attitudes towards computers, and their agreement with the proposed Competencies. The results indicated that while the majority of therapists had had some exposure to computers, they wanted to learn more—particularly how a computer could aid management tasks. While 50% or more of the therapists ‘Agreed’ or ‘Strongly Agreed’ with 19 of the 21 Competencies, the level of therapist ‘Indecision’ or ‘Disagreement’ with several of the Competencies suggests that either these Competencies require revision, or that if the Competencies are nationally adopted, many therapists may require intensive continuing education programmes to bring their skills to a competent standard. Adoption of these Competencies has many implications for international standards of occupational therapy practice and levels of computer education. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Focus on family care givers for individuals with dementia: implications for occupational therapy practice
Authors: Chung Jenny Ching‐Ching 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAlthough family carers assume a pivotal role in caring for relatives with dementia, few occupational therapy studies are directed towards them (Gitlin, Corcoran & Leinmiller‐Eckhardt, 1995). In this qualitative study, the researcher explored the feelings and experiences of family carers when caring for relatives with dementia. Fifteen family carers were invited to participate in two focus group interviews. Four themes emerged from the findings. First, caring duties included hands‐on assistance in daily living tasks and supervision of clients' behaviours. Second, carers devised caring strategies to facilitate the caring process. Third, feelings of caregiving were fluid and complex. Finally, negative caring experiences outweighed positive ones. By understanding the unique needs of family carers, occupational therapists should include therapy to family carers as part of treating individuals with dementia. Suggested interventions include collaborative work with family carers; support groups for family carers; and education on handling techniques of cognitive impairments and behavioural changes. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
The application of concept analysis in the occupational therapy treatment process in mental health
Authors: Ivarsson Ann‐Britt , Söderback Ingrid , Stein Franklin 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe objective of this study was to construct a coding schema for analysing the occupational therapy process, often described as formulating the treatment goal, implementing treatment and evaluating the effect of treatment. The concepts underlying the terms treatment goal, treatment intervention and effect or outcome of treatment, as used in occupational therapy, were defined and an analytical template of questions was constructed, using the analysis method designed by Walker and Avant (1995). The method included a third part; definitions of the three concepts were formulated on the basis of excerpts from occupational therapy textbooks in mental health that are well known in Sweden. The results showed that the concept of treatment goal included the attributive components planning goals, step‐by‐step goal, and group goal; the concept of treatment intervention included the components planning process, available resources and level; and the concept of effect or outcome of treatment included type and measurement. The excerpts for each of the components were then summarized as statements. These statements were converted into the questions that constituted the template. Third, these questions were used to test the usefulness of the template in analysing the occupational therapy content of 10 scientific reports on individuals with psychosis. All but two questions served to identify attributes of the three concepts. The template was useful for analysing the content of 10 research studies relevant to the occupational therapy process in mental health. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
‘I'm allowed to experiment’: the role of people with psychiatric disorders in facilitating students' learning
Authors: Lyons Michael , Ziviani Jenny 
Published: March 2006

AbstractFieldwork education brings students into close contact with the people who use occupational therapy services and is an important avenue for socializing students into professionally accepted views of, and behaviours towards, these people. Drawing on narrative data from a naturalistic study of nine Australian occupational therapy students' fieldwork experiences in psychiatric hospital settings, this paper explores the role of people with psychiatric disorders in facilitating students' learning. Two terms are used by the authors to represent students' understanding of these people for educational purposes, namely, as learning resources and as demonstration models. From students' narratives, examples of the attributes they sought to acquire and demonstrate through involvement with people with psychiatric disorders are discussed. There are indications from these data that students' educational needs may foster a view of people with psychiatric disorders as objects in the service of students' learning. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Self‐perceived quality of life of Chinese elderly people in Hong Kong
Authors: Lau Anna , Chi Iris , McKenna Kryss 
Published: March 2006

AbstractCentral to the philosophy of occupational therapy is a commitment to the improvement of clients' quality of life (QOL). There has been a growing interest in the QOL of elderly people in Hong Kong. Social and cultural differences may preclude the application of QOL findings for elderly people in Western countries to their Hong Kong counterparts. This study, which is the preliminary phase of a larger study, explored the QOL of Chinese elderly people in Hong Kong from their own perspective. Focus group interviews were conducted with six Chinese community‐residing elderly people who identified the following domains and component elements as being important to their QOL: physical and functional well‐being (good health, leisure), psychological well‐being (life satisfaction, happiness), social well‐being (social interaction, social network/support) and economic well‐being (money, housing). Further investigation of factors including self‐concept, self‐pride, personal autonomy, role fulfilment, and coping ability is required to determine if these are QOL elements for this population. Participants' culturally related philosophical beliefs were found to influence their QOL. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Students' knowledge of pain: a survey of four schools
Authors: Rochman Deborah L. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy students' understanding of pain. During the 1996–7 academic year, 201 senior entry‐level professional students at four universities in the northeastern United States completed a survey testing 10 common myths about assessment of persons with pain. Participants answered true or false to the 10 statements. The mean score was 61% and the number of correct answers ranged from 0% to 100%. Students scored highest in knowing that all pain is ‘real’ (88% correct) and that the patient is the best authority on pain sensation (87% correct). Students made most errors in believing that visible signs validate the existence of pain (42% correct) and that malingering is common (46% correct). This study supports the need for organized efforts to improve pain knowledge among entry‐level occupational therapy students. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Ernst Westerlund – a Swedish doctor of occupation
Authors: Jonsson Hans 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe treatment methods of Dr Ernst Westerlund (1839–1924), one of the people often named in the history of Swedish occupational therapy, are examined in this paper. During Westerlund's lifetime, he built up a reputation as the wonder doctor from Enköping using various occupations in treating patients. The basis for his practice was individualization of treatment and a genuine engagement and authority, combined with a deep belief in patients' will to recovery. He stressed balance between various types of occupation and viewed work as essential from a meaning‐centred point of view. He also used the town of Enköping itself as a therapeutic environment. The ideas put into practice by Westerlund leave much for us to learn in today's practice of occupational therapy. His ideas are consistent with the moral treatment movement of the nineteenth century. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
ADL dependence in the elderly population living in the community: the influence of functional limitations and physical environmental demand
Authors: Iwarsson Susanne , Isacsson ÅKe , Lanke Jan 
Published: March 2006

AbstractEmpirical research elucidating the relationships between aspects of functional competence and environmental factors is lacking. This study aimed to analyse how functional limitations in the individual and housing accessibility problems influence ADL dependence in the elderly population, and to test Lawton's docility hypothesis. Data were collected from 133 Swedish subjects aged 75–84, who were living in the community. The main finding was that dependence in ADL correlated highly significantly with housing accessibility problems. The results also revealed significantly more ADL disability in the group of respondents in whom the heaviest environmental demands were identified, supporting the docility hypothesis. Although the study had limitations because the data required the use of non‐parametric statistics, so restricting possible interpretations of the effects of geriatric comorbidity, the results indicated that interventions such as housing adaptations ought to be most effective with frail individuals. To promote independence in the general population, society has to work towards more accessible housing. More research is needed considering more environmental dimensions and elderly people's subjective apprehension of their housing environment. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Visual perception and hand function in persons with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Lau Anna , Chan Chetwyn C.H. , Keung Yuen Hon 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between hand function performance and visual perceptual function in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty‐two participants, 19 women and 3 men, with a clinical diagnosis of MS were evaluated using the interim Australian version of the Jebsen Test of Hand Function (JTHF) (Agnew and Maas, 1982a) and the Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery (RPAB) (Whiting et al., 1985). Results indicated that participants exhibit hand function problems and difficulties with visuospatial and visuomotor tasks. Four of the subtests in the JTHF (card turning, manipulating small objects, moving large light objects and moving large heavy objects) were moderately to highly correlated with three RPAB subtests (right/left copying shapes, right/left copying words and cancellation) measuring inattention function. Based on task analysis, high correlation between subtests of the two assessments may indicate that both assessments involve a motor component. The suitability of these assessments for establishing relationships between hand function and non‐motor visual perceptual skills in persons with MS is therefore questioned. In view of the small sample size, however, larger‐scale research is needed to confirm this claim. The present study provides some evidence to support the neuro‐anatomical model proposed by Botez and associates (1989). Further research should aim to design an appropriate and sensitive instrument for evaluating visual perceptual dysfunction in people with MS. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.