Group items tagged

This article discusses the importance of clinical reasoning in a time when evidence-based practice is becoming more prevalent. It is stressed that clinical reasoning is so important because randomized clinical trials can still be incomplete and hard to generalize. Clinical reasoning is vital to incorporate with randomized clinical trials to meet the responsibilities that the patients have entrusted in their health care professionals.

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.

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.

Assessment based outcome scores were used to determine effectiveness of continuous passive motion after a total knee replacement.

This article, published by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy is titled Effect of Life Review Writing on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. This article discusses ways in which occupational therapy practitioners can intervene to assist individuals who are experiencing symptoms of depression. It also discusses how life reviews can be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms in the older adult population.

This RCT shows effectiveness of sensory integration in the pediatric setting. The treatment group was shown to have scored better on Goal Attainment Scales and measures of caregiver assistance in self-care and socialization following manualized occupational therapy interventions.

The purpose of this study was to to determine the feasibility and efficacy of home-based MusicGlove therapy. The findings of the study showed MusicGlove therapy was not superior to conventional tabletop exercises for the primary end point but was nevertheless feasible and led to a significantly greater increase in self-reported functional use and quality of movement of the impaired hand than conventional home exercises.

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.

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.

This RCT looked at how individualized seating can benefit LTC residents particular concerning postural and pressure care. In my L2 we did several wheelchair evaluations in order to provide patients with the best possible seating system for optimal comfort and safety.

In my rotation I have had an opportunity to work with multiple different stroke patients, and I have seen how aphasia has affected their lives, and this article documents how these individuals are at an increased risk for depression. The goal of this study was to determine whether an early intervention for an individual who has aphasia post stroke, as well as that persons family, leads to better mood and quality of life outcomes for people with aphasia, and less caregiver burden and better mental health for their family members. What was unique to me was that this study/intervention was the first known program tailored for people with aphasia and their family members -Unfortunately, this study is not finished, and is still in progress. However, to me this is also very unique that it was published to let you know that there is a new program being tested, and I think since it is supposedly the first of its kind, it could truly have great psychosocial benefits for individuals with aphasia post stroke.

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 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.