This article examines the relationship between the fieldwork educator and the occupational therapy student; specifically, effective fieldwork supervision from the student perspective. It looks at the characteristics of effective fieldwork supervisors as well as the limitations on effective fieldwork supervision. Major characteristics emerged: well-developed interpersonal skills and the use of collaborative and facilitatory teaching/learning strategies. An environmental issue that emerged was lack of time for student supervision.

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.

Professionalism: As we have learned, it is our duty to do our best to advocate for OT, but also our clients. This qualitative study aims to understand the meaning of advocacy of OTs by exploring their reasons for advocating. Results show OTs advocate for a few reasons: for themselves (personal fulfillment), the client (engaging in occupation, human rights and basic needs, quality of life), and a mixture of both (client-centered practice, power and influence to benefit client).

EBP: This article uses a systematic review to study the effect of exercise interventions in cancer patients. They found that there is evidence supporting exercise as an effective intervention for reducing cancer-related fatigue (across various types of cancer). Overall, studies showed moderate increases in physical function, reduction in fatigue, decreased skinfold measurements, increased natural killer cell activity, reduced sleep problems, increases in global QoL, adherence and tolerability to exercise interventions.

Clinical Reasoning: This article looks at the issue of polypharmacy in middle age and elderly adults. The researchers assessed the prevalence of falls the participants experienced versus the number and type of medications they were taking. They concluded fall risk is associated with polypharmacy, but only when at least one drug had a side effect/increased the risk of falling. I chose this article because the majority of my patients I have seen are on multiple medications and most have a history of falls. For example I had a patient today who came in with multiple falls and dizziness, which the doctors believe is due to the number of medications she is taking and they counteract with one another. I feel from a therapy perspective it is part of our job to tease out whether the falls could be due to multiple medications or if there is another reason for the falls. This is where fall prevention is also very important to ensure their safety.

PSYCHOSOCIAL:Assessments measuring quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury is lacking. The author of this article looks at quality of life consisting of 3 components: quality of life as a subjective well-being, quality of life as a utility, and quality of life as achievement. For those with spinal cord injury, they experience so many changes in their environment, affecting every aspect of life. For many, they become depressed, are not hopeful, and have even committed suicide. This article suggest ways in which quality of life can be assessed, which can assist the therapist in developing treatment plans which fulfill not only the client's physical needs, but their mental and social needs as well.

This study examines the effect of education on OT/PT students moral development and ethical decision-making skills. The conclusions drawn may not be generalizable however to all OT/PT programs because data was collected from a single university's PT/OT programs.

This article looks at the effect of bowel dysfunction on quality of life. As an OT, it is within our scope of practice to address this issue with our patients and their families. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable and can seriously hinder quality of life. It is our duty to be professional but sensitive when handling these issues.

Most SCI research out there is focused on males with SCI, since there are more males than females with SCI. Little research is done examining how SCI affects females and their psychosocial needs. This study looks at what women with SCI feel they are experiencing as they age, how they cope, and what their needs are in order to continue to engage in society.

Examines the effectiveness of functional electrical stimulation therapy in restoring grasping functions that may have been lost of weakened as a result of an SCI. We frequently use this method with our veterans and have had great results.