Barriers and facilitators of participation in intervention research by mental health occupational therapists

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (9) ◽  
pp. 568-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Birken ◽  
Elyse Couch ◽  
Mary Morley

Statement of context Occupational therapists in clinical practice are required to deliver interventions within clinical trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions. Challenges to participation in intervention research by occupational therapists working in community mental health have been identified and require further investigation. Critical reflection on practice A cross-sectional online survey of occupational therapists working in mental health was used, and obtained a 50% ( n = 144) response rate. Limited time, large generic caseloads, and lack of skills and experience in research were identified barriers to participation in occupational therapy intervention research. Occupational therapists had limited dedicated time to carry out occupational therapy interventions and outcome measurement was limited. Implications for practice Occupational therapy roles need to be regained in adult community mental health alongside routine outcome measurement. This will enable occupational therapy interventions to contribute to community mental health services and support participation in clinical trials of occupational therapy interventions.

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla A Harries ◽  
Ken Gilhooly

The aim of this research was to conduct a cluster analysis on data from 40 community mental health occupational therapists to determine if subgroups of therapists had differing referral prioritisation policies. A Ward's cluster analysis showed four clusters to be present. These four subgroups of occupational therapists were found to differ according to several factors: the percentage of role dedicated to specialist occupational therapy or generic work, satisfaction with the balance in these roles, the number of hours worked, the number of professionally trained team members and the presence of referral prioritisation policies. The subgroups were named the aspiring specialists, the satisfied specialists, the satisfied genericists and the chameleons (those not set in applying a consistent or specific policy). The policies that led to mainly generic working gave greatest importance to clients who were potentially violent or at risk of suicide. The policies that led to more of an occupational therapy role gave particular importance to the reason for referral and the client's diagnosis. The College of Occupational Therapists has recommended that the majority of casework should be focused on specialist occupational therapy interventions (Craik et al 1998): most of the participants in this study were not meeting this recommendation. Although some aspired to being more specialist, the pressures to work generically may have been affecting referral policies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Schultz Petersen ◽  
Siv Therese Bogevik Bjørkedal ◽  
Anne Marie Torsting ◽  
Lene Falgaard Eplov

Background/AimsStudies investigating the effect of occupational therapy in mental health are few. This scoping review aims to identify, present and assess studies that have investigated the effect of occupation- and activity-based/focused interventions performed by occupational therapists in mental health.MethodsThe scoping review involved searching six databases, covering articles from 2003 to 2018. ‘The Matrix Method’ was used to describe and synthesise the content of the included studies. The Oxford Level of Evidence was used to rank the evidence, and The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme was used to assess the quality of the study.ResultsA total of 21 original studies and 4 systematic reviews were included in this review. Interventions, approaches, programmes, training, and activities such as cooking, artwork, crafts, pottery, sports, calligraphy, horticulture, and music, organised individually or in groups, were investigated in the included studies. Individualised occupational therapy showed clinically significant improvements in social functioning and cognition, promising results were found on supported employment and education.ConclusionsFew high-quality studies that have investigated the effect of occupation-and activity-based/focused interventions performed by occupational therapists in mental health were found. This scoping review highlights the importance of future high quality studies to support evidence-based practice within mental health occupational therapy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 408-417
Author(s):  
Sandra E. Moll ◽  
Caitlin M. Heino ◽  
Alison H. LeBlanc ◽  
Lydia B. Beck ◽  
Laura M. Kalef

Background. Workplace mental health (WMH) is an important and expanding practice area for occupational therapists. Purpose. This cross-sectional study explores the current practices and support needs of Ontario-based occupational therapists in WMH. Method. Registrants from the provincial association who provide mental health and/or work-related services were invited to participate. Ninety-three therapists completed an online survey; 10 participated in follow-up focus groups. Analysis involved descriptive statistics of the survey data and content analysis of the focus group data. Findings. Return to work, reactivation, and functional cognitive assessment were the most commonly reported services. Key challenges were limited funding and training and lack of awareness of the occupational therapy role. Therapists emphasized the importance of raising the competence, credibility, and profile of occupational therapy in WMH. Implications. Defining the role of occupational therapy, developing training and resources, and advocacy are needed to advance occupational therapy practice within this rapidly changing field.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 496-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Culverhouse ◽  
Paul F Bibby

There is continuing debate concerning the role of occupational therapists within community mental health practice. This opinion piece advocates the need for occupational therapists to undertake more profession-specific work. Its argument draws upon real life case studies as well as the service users' views expressed in the recent College of Occupational Therapists' 10-year strategy for occupational therapy mental health services.


Author(s):  
Antonio José Sánchez-Guarnido ◽  
Esther Domínguez-Macías ◽  
José Antonio Garrido-Cervera ◽  
Roberto González-Casares ◽  
Silvia Marí-Boned ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes in mental health occupational therapy. Research into these changes and the associated risks of relapse is insufficient. To explore the changes that have taken place in forms of occupational intervention (face-to-face and online) during the pandemic, and to analyze their association with subsequent relapses, a multicenter retrospective cohort study was carried out of 270 patients with mental disorder diagnoses under follow-up in day hospitals during 2020. Our results show that the frequency of face-to-face occupational therapy interventions decreased during lockdown and subsequently recovered. Interventions via telehealth increased during lockdown and have since been continued to a greater extent than before lockdown. Patients who received occupational intervention via telehealth relapsed less in the following six months (10.7% vs. 26.3%; χ2 = 10.372; p = 0.001), especially those who received intervention via videoconferencing (4.2% vs. 22%; χ2 = 5.718; p = 0.017). In conclusion, lockdown subsequent to the COVID-19 outbreak led to a reduction in face-to-face occupational therapy interventions, putting people with prior mental disorders at risk, while the implementation of telehealth tools helped reduce relapses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
M. V. Vitomska ◽  

The purpose of the study is to determine the current provisions on occupational therapy interventions for children with ASD, features of their practical implementation and effectiveness based on the analysis of research data. Materials and methods. This work is the result of the analysis of scientific and methodological developments on the practical implementation of occupational therapy interventions in terms of timing and scope, complexity and role of the family; comparison of research results, which are devoted to the study of the effectiveness of behavioral therapy and SI, as the main interventions of occupational therapists. Results. Early rehabilitation of a child with ASD contributes to the formation of the necessary skills in everyday life and communication. To date, the largest evidence base has been accumulated by intervention programs, which are based on the principles of improving parent-child relations and are aimed at developing social and communication skills. Occupational therapy in ASD is aimed at overcoming motor anxiety, disorders of large and fine motor skills, coordination of movements and ability to learn, speech. SI-based occupational therapy is used to improve the processing of sensory information, improve the efficiency of "registration" and modulation of the senses, as well as help in the formation of simple adaptive responses. The effectiveness of sensory and motor interventions is manifested in positive changes in the social interaction of children, purposeful play and normalization of sensitivity. Sensory interventions of occupational therapists can reduce maladaptive behavior, hyperactivity, as well as inhibit self-stimulation, stereotyped movements and improve attention. Researchers recommend that occupational therapists combine sensory interventions with functional tasks that help the child's practice in achieving the goal of the activity. Conclusions. There is a large number of approaches and techniques used in occupational therapy for children with ASD. Given the lack of evidence to determine the most effective of them, it should be noted that additional research is needed to address this issue


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