Group items tagged

This article talks about OT's role in driving with veteran's. Researchers used the Driver's Stress Profile and the Driving and Occupational Limitations to get information. Those who had increased experience driving off base had more difficulties with this when returning home than those who did not. They also required more time to return back to driving regularly.

OTs are required ethically, legally, and professionally to evaluate deficits and meet the needs of their clients related to driving. It is the ethical responsibility of OTs to use current and accurate evaluation tools for data collection, and to work within our level of competence/expertise. We must strive to avoid harm; Driving may be a meaningful occupation, but it may cause heightened risk of harm for patients and the public. Identification of deficits that may effect safe driving obligates OTs to warn the patient and report their findings. In these cases, confidentiality is superseded by legal and ethical obligations.

Drivers with ADHD, Autism or both diagnosis are at a higher risk for accidents due to right-eye visual acuity, selective attention, visual-motor integration, cognition, and motor performance. This study found that they made more errors on the driving simulator pertaining to visual scanning, speed regulation, lane maintenance, adjustment to stimuli, and total number of driving errors. This article mentions that because of this, kids with ADHD/Autism or both need a driving specialist prior to getting behind the wheel.

This study aims to discover the impacts of an occupational therapy driving intervention with returning combat veterans. A single-subject design with three phases was used and conducted by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist. The three phases included a baseline pre-test, intervention with three 1-hr training sessions, and a post-test. Participants were recruited from several VA clinical in northern Florida. Inclusion criteria for participants included service in OEF or OIF, presence of a mTBI or orthopedic injury with PTSD, participation in driving prior to medical condition, valid driver's license residence in community, score of a least 24/30 on Mini-Mental State Examination. Outcome measures included the OT-CDRS and Optec 2500 for visual abilities, Useful Field of View for visual attention and processing speed, MMSE for general cognitive abilities, Trail-Making Test Part B for shifting, foot tap test for peddle control in car and right lower extremity ROM. One subject was selected and showed improvements in outcome measures. The subject showed improvements in visual search skills post-intervention. Patient also showed improvements in his appropriateness of searching skills post-intervention. Patient was also shown to improve on his on-road communication skills and recognition of need to inform other road users of intended actions. Although there were improvements in the veterans driving abilities, the threats to internal validity pose limitations to the study. The investigators intend to use data and address limitations in the hopes of conducting a random-controlled trial with more participants.

This article discusses the need for OT's to consider driving and how an individual's condition may effect this. It stresses the need to speak with the client themselves and determine if this is a possible goal.

This article talks about the importance of general OT's to work with driving specialists, especially because the dementia population is continually rising.

This article discusses a systematic review of the impact of driving modifications on the ability of older adults to safely operate a motor vehicle. This review examined current research on high-tech options, such as Intelligent Transportation Systems, as well as lower tech options such as window tinting.

This systematic review examined studies that focused on the driving ability, performance, and safety of older adults. With more elderly individuals living independently in the community, driving and other forms of community mobility have become a major concern of many health care professions, including occupational therapy.

Ethics: A big ethical issue I am running across in my setting is the pressure to recommend a particular discharge placement when I do not feel the person is appropriate or does not wish to go to. This study looks at OT/PT decision making process when making a recommendation. This study identified 4 constructs that drive discharge recommendations: patients' functioning/disability, patients' wants and needs, patients' ability to participate in care, and patients' life context. These recommendations however are influenced by a number of external factors, such as health care regulations and opinions of other health care professionals as well as the patients.

This article focused on the importance of having your heart, mind, and soul behind you and your profession in order to present professionalism within the occupational therapy field. The heart of professionalism in occupational therapy, focuses on doing Good Work and/or ensuring that what we are doing is right for us as well as improving another's life. The mind of professionalism in occupational therapy, this idea is centered around working to broaden the scope of knowledge within occupational therapy as well as providing EVP to your clients because they deserve more than the routine BUE exercises. Lastly, the soul of professionalism within occupational therapy, this involves collaborating with other individuals within the profession, critically evaluating, and brainstorming to ensure that the highest standard of practice is being used within the clinics. These three components are interwoven. Therefore, if one piece, the heart, mind, or soul is missing then the level of professionalism you portray decreases.

As we engage our hearts to do Good Work, strive to nourish our minds, and to cultivate the authenticity of our souls we can help make the field of occupational therapy stand out and be a pillar of professionalism. Wendy Wood's article is inspiring and is a good read to give you a little boost.

The author's purpose of this article was to promote professionalism as heart, mind, and soul at all level so that all we do in the name of occupational therapy not only remains right for ourselves and good for the world, but also grows more so over time. He described professionalism as especially important for the well-being of individuals or of society at large, having a value so special that money cannot serve as its sole measure: it is also simply good work. The author was captured by the magic of occupational therapy as a counselor at a summer camp for autistic children, which was a truly inspiring story about how he fell in love with the profession. He emphasized how personal professionalism is; so personal, in fact, that he uses the metaphors of heart, mind, and soul to depict its most vital elements. Any field claiming professional stature must be just as dedicated to cultivating its mind as it is to nourishing its heart, as the two are wonderfully symbiotic. I loved this article, and it truly depicted the meaning of and what it means to be an occupational therapist at a personal level.

This study examined occupational performance issues amongst soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The researches focused on ways to motivate these individuals to participate in their daily occupations. Getting back to civilian life after serving in the military and experiencing war is the most challenging and most common mental health and brain injury. Thirty 20-29 year olds were interviewed using the COPM. These individuals were also screened for PTSD, depression, TBI, and alcohol abuse. The top five challenges of occupational performance from using the COMP were relationships, school physical health, sleeping and driving. The role of occupational therapy is vital for their individuals to reintegrate them into the communities and to the daily occupations.

Until now I had no clue about this helpful and very resourceful AOTA page concerning EBP. This webpage offers articles of effective occupation based practice in the following areas: Children and Youth Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Productive Aging, Rehabilitation Disability and Participation, as well as Work and Industry. In addition, after you click on a category AOTA offers subcategories. For example, after clicking on productive aging the category can be more strictly searched by clicking on one of the following Enabling Independent Living, Driving and Community Mobility, Low Vision, Alzheimer's and Related Dementias. I personally wish I would have known about this resource 2 years ago! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!!

This is a reference to find Evidence-based practice in the following areas: Children and Youth Health and Wellness Mental Health Productive Aging Rehabilitation, Disability and Participation Work and Industry - See more at: http://www.aota.org/Practice/Researchers/Evidence-based.aspx#sthash.gvXj8Wop.dpuf

This PowerPoint discusses multiple myths and facts that have evolved around the term Evidence Based Practice. The presentation also provides information regarding difficulties OT may face with EBP as well as questions regarding what is driving an OT treatment decision. In addition, the presentation discusses how to analyze and interpret the information gathered.

This study consisted of 65 older adults who participated in a wellness program held at senior living apartments. This program aimed to teach older adults the importance of active engagement in meaningful occupation and social participation. They found that the individuals who benefited the most from this program attended more classes, were older, and did not drive.

This link summarizes the concerns of various health care professionals regarding ethical issues facing the health care field in this time of change. Quality and safety versus efficiency of care is an ongoing debate which spurs the question, what values do we want driving our health care system. Other identified ethical issues include access to care, future of the health care workforce, end-of-life issues, and limited medication and donor organs. This link brings these issues to light for further research and debate.