Group items tagged

This study examined the contents of supervision needed by novice therapists to develop clinical abilities, focusing on their clinical experience and using an original evaluation table. An evaluation of clinical abilities basic attitudes, therapeutic skills, and clinical practice-related thoughts was conducted in 29, 21, and 9 therapists with clinical experience of 0-1 (1 year group), 1-2 (2 years group), and 2-3 (3 years group) years, respectively. On comparison of scores for the 55 evaluation items focusing on clinical experience, there were no significant differences in those for basic attitudes-related items among the 3 groups, while those for therapeutic skills-related items markedly varied between the 1 and 3 years groups. In scores for clinical practice-related thoughts-related items, significant differences were observed between the 1 and 3 years groups and between the 2 and 3 years groups. On comparison of scores among the items in each group, there were marked differences between those related to basic attitudes and clinical practice-related thoughts in the 1 and 2 years groups.

This articles stands behind my feelings that group occupational therapy as effective. The article how as parkinson's disorder progresses many patients begin to lose their ability to complete their daily activities and must begin to depend on their spouse or caregivers. The article completed a trial which had an experimental and control group which were evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment again at 6 months and 1 year after group occupational therapy. What they found was that the experimental group maintained their functional status and psychosocial well-being 1 year post therapy compared to the control group. Participants in the experimental group even showed signs of decreased bradykinesia. Overall, this article supports the use of group occupational therapy for patients living with Parkinson's. The 5 week sessions focused on general mobilization activities, a rest break with socialization, and then dexterity focus. I really enjoy how they incorporate a socialization piece because I have noticed at my facility how many patient begin to slow down their processing when communicating and this would give them the time to talk with others who also need the appropriate time to process what they want to say!

Janszky, J., Blom, S., Georgiades, A., Laszlo, K., Alinaghizadeh, H., Ahnve, S. (2007) study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 1-year stress management program, aimed at reducing symptoms of depression and vital exhaustion (VE) in women in coronary heart disease (CHD). The study included 247 women who were conveniently recruited after a cardiac event of AMI, PCI, CABG at Karolinska University Hospital at Huddinge or at St. Gorans Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. The experimental group which included stress management (20 2-hour sessions) and medical care by a cardiologist or the control group that consisted of usual care health post heart surgeries with no stress management session. The study had many limitations, first were women who did not want to participate in the 1 year intervention were not compared to those who did. The study also did not enroll subjects who may have been considered healthier. The subjects in the treatment group were in the care of a cardiologist and the self-rated vital exhaustion and depressive symptom measures may have been biased. The results of the study included that vital exhaustion for both groups improved over time and the decreased amount of VE was more pronounced in the intervention group. The change in depressive symptoms between the two groups did not differ.

Individuals experiencing mental health disorders are susceptible to impairments in occupational functioning due to decreased concentration, memory, thought processes, insight, judgement, decision-making, reality orientation, regulating emotions, understanding perception, motivation, and psycho-motor activity. This is a quantitative study out of the South American Journal of Occupation Therapy that studied the effects of slow vs. fast tempo of music on symptoms of psychosis during occupation. There were 160 individuals with diagnosed psychological disorders in a psych hospital in South Africa. The subjects participated in a leatherwork activity while listening to either fast paced/upbeat music or low tempo/slow music. Attention/focus, ability to follow instructions, directedness towards the activity, and motivation were measured in groups of individuals who had psycho-motor agitation or psycho-motor inhibition psychosis. The study found that listening to music during an activity has the ability to improve all three variables in both agitation and inhibited-motor psychosis. Fast-paced tempo significantly improves attention in individuals with inhibited motor-psychosis. The ability to follow instructions improved in both fast and slow tempo music for both agitated and inhibited individuals. Directedness and motivation did not significantly improve in any of the groups. This study indicates that music can improve the ability to perform occupations and activities in individuals with mental health disorders. Music is very individualized and it may be difficult for OT practitioners to work with groups of individuals when introducing music. IT is important for an OT to gather a good understanding of a patient's preferences and determine if they would be a good candidate for the use of music during therapy. More research is recommended in this area to further determine the effects of music on occupation in this population.

The number of residents in long-term nursing facilities with dementia and cognitive impairments is continuing to increase each year. Many studies have shown decreases in quality of life for residents with these diagnoses. This article studies the effects of animal assisted therapy compared to human interactions on social behaviors and engagement among elderly patients with dementia in a long-term care facility. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, a group with human interactions and a group with animal assisted therapy. The study was conducted over a two-week period of time. The human interaction group consisted on one-on-one time with general conversation and reading and looking at pictures in the newspaper. The animal assisted therapy group consisted of petting, brushing and talking to the dogs. Data was collected using the Demographic and Pet History Questionnaire and the Social Behaviors checklist. The results showed that animal assisted therapy had a positive impact on social behaviors and increased engagement in activities, while also decreasing incidents requiring staff members.

In my rotation, we have treated a few stroke patients after BTX-A injections using splinting and a few other treatment methods. This article discovers the comparison of adhesive taping vs. daily manual muscle stretching and splinting after injections. A single-blind randomized control trail with 70 patients was conducted with patients experiencing wrist and finger flexor muscle spasticity post-stroke. After receiving the injections, patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A consisted of adhesive taping. Adhesive taping is first placed on forearm and fingers and left for 10 days with daily checks. The tape provides traction on hypertonic muscles. Group B consisted of patient's receiving manual muscle stretching of injected muscles for 30 min and passive articular mobilization of wrist and fingers to maintain muscle length. Custom palmar splints with made for each patient and positioned for maximum stretching. Outcome measures used to to measure spasticity consisted of the Modified Ashworth scale, related disability with Disability Assessment Scale and finger positions at rest. At the end of the trial, it was discovered that patient in Group A, adhesive taping, had a significantly decrease in spasticity scores. Some limitations included lack of placebo group and longer follow-up data.

This study used a pretest-postost control group design to determine whether or not the Get Ready to Learn (GRTL) classroom yoga program decreased challenging behaviors in children with ASD. The intervention group participated in the GRTL yoga program for 16 weeks while the control group went through their morning routine as usual. Challenging behaviors were assessed in both groups by using standardized measures and behavior coding before and after the intervention. The study found that daily classroom wide yoga interventions has a significant impact on key classroom behaviors among children with ASD.

Beckie, T., Beckstead, J. (2010) aimed to study was to focus on the quality of life among women in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program compared to those completing a tailored program that included motivational interviewing of behavior changes. The study included 252 participants over that age of 21 with myocardial infarction, Angina, CABG, and PCI were studied 3 days a week for 6 months. The participants were divided into two groups. The experimental group included the tailored program and motivational interviewing and the control group used a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program. The study had multiple limitations that included all women were of one ethnicity from a single institution in southeastern U.S. Lastly, studying the efficacy of a program like this is difficult and it is unaware to know if the treatments observed would persist beyond the 6 months. The tailored group showed a positive influence on the subjects QOL. Women with CHD may be better served by first identifying the important psychological and psychosocial variables that influence QOL.

This study aimed to focus on the quality of life among women in a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program compared to those completing a tailored program that included motivational interviewing of behavior changes. The study included 252 participants over that age of 21 with myocardial infarction, Angina, CABG, and PCI were studied 3 days a week for 6 months. The participants were divided into two groups. The experimental group included the tailored program and motivational interviewing and the control group used a traditional cardiac rehabilitation program. The study had multiple limitations that included all women were of one ethnicity from a single institution in southeastern U.S. Lastly, studying the efficacy of a program like this is difficult and it is unaware to know if the treatments observed would persist beyond the 6 months. The tailored group showed a positive influence on the subjects QOL. Women with CHD may be better served by first identifying the important psychological and psychosocial variables that influence QOL.

The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapy faculty and students' perspectives of the meaning of professionalism. This qualitative study used convenience sampling to recruit eight second-year occupational therapy master's students and five occupational therapy faculty members to participate in two separate focus groups. Data analysis yielded the following student focus group themes: uncertainty about professional expectations; searching for answers through concrete concepts; and the context-specific nature of professionalism. Faculty focus group themes were professional responsibility; professional awareness. The findings of this study suggest that professionalism is a dynamic, context-specific concept requiring experience, awareness, and reasoning to arrive at an in depth understanding.

This articles discusses the effectiveness of occupational therapy for stroke patients following discharge from a stroke unit. There was an experimental group and control group who received no follow up appointments following discharge. Both group were compared one year post-stroke. The article discusses that there were few significant findings, in terms of activities of daily living, IADLs, mood, and percieved quality of life. However, the number of adaptive equipment requested was greater and re-admissions to the hospital was smaller following the one year. This articles points out that stroke patients need occupational therapy services in order to help make sure they have all the resources they need when returning to home post stroke and living a healthy lifestyle following.