scholarly journals Occupational therapists’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport

2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262097394
Author(s):  
Deborah Bullen ◽  
Channine Clarke

Introduction In response to growing demands on health and social care services there is an emphasis on communities addressing the needs of local populations to improve lives and reduce inequalities. Occupational therapists are responding to these demands by expanding their scope of practice into innovative settings, such as working with refugees, the homeless and residents of nursing homes, and within sport and leisure environments. The benefits of sport are widely acknowledged, and this paper argues that occupational therapists could play a pivotal role in enabling people to participate. Method This qualitative study drew on a phenomenological approach and used interviews and thematic analysis to explore five occupational therapists’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport. Findings Findings revealed that participants demonstrated the uniqueness of occupational therapy when enabling people to participate in sport and practised according to their professional philosophy. There were opportunities to reach wider communities and promote the value of occupational therapy by collaborating with organisations, but there were also challenges when working outside of traditional settings. Conclusion The study emphasises the unique skills occupational therapists can bring to this setting. It highlights opportunities to expand their practice, to forge new partnerships in sports and leisure environments, and to address the national inactivity crisis.

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 302-309
Author(s):  
Stephanie Best

Introduction Integrating services is a key tenet to developing services across the United Kingdom. While many aspects of integration have been explored, how to facilitate integration of services remains unclear. Method An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken in 2015 to explore occupational therapists’ perceptions on integrating service provision across health and social care organisational boundaries. The views of practitioners who had experienced integration were sought on a range of aspects of integrating services. This paper focuses on the facilitators for delivering integration and the essential enablers are identified. Findings Numerous factors were noted to facilitate integration and three essential enablers were highlighted. Leadership, communication and joint education were recognised as playing a central role in integrating services across organisational boundaries; without these three essential enablers, integration is liable to fail. Conclusion Integration is a process rather than an event; continued emphasis will be required on leadership, communication and joint education to progress integration achievements made to date.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Somaya H. Malkawi ◽  
Nisrin S. Alqatarneh ◽  
Elaine K. Fehringer

Background. Occupational therapy’s origins draw from Western culture, values, and beliefs which may impact the application of traditional occupational therapy practice in non-Western cultures. Purpose. This study explored how occupational therapists in Jordan facilitate occupational therapy practice within Islamic Eastern culture. Method. A phenomenological approach was used in this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eleven occupational therapists that work in Jordan and have at least two years of experience. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. Results. Three central themes emerged: impact of Jordanian culture and Islamic beliefs about independence and disability on occupational therapy practice, the therapists’ notions of ideal occupational therapy practice vs. daily reality, and challenges posed by workspace and the availability of equipment. Conclusion. This study highlights the growing need to translate and expand the core values of occupational therapy to align with cultures in non-Western countries and cultures.


2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (11) ◽  
pp. 502-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Riley

The College of Occupational Therapists' recent document, A Strategy for Modernising Occupational Therapy Services in Local Health and Social Care Communities - a Consultation (COT 2002), has provoked debate within the profession on the future delivery of occupational therapy services across health and social care. This seems an appropriate time to reflect on events of 30 years ago when, following the initial separation of health and social services, the profession was faced with the dilemma as to where occupational therapists should be located. This paper looks at the events and issues influencing the profession's decisions then, using a grounded theory approach and drawing on literature and documentation. At that time, discussions raised concerns about the division of skills, adherence to the ethical code and the status within the profession of occupational therapists working in local authorities. The profession's immaturity, lack of autonomy and medical orientation were key factors in influencing its response, which focused on drawing all occupational therapists into the health service. Despite lengthy discussions and consultations, the profession could not influence events and some local authority occupational therapists automatically became part of the newly set-up social services departments. Analysis reveals a possible missed opportunity to establish a firm foundation for occupational therapy in social services, the consequences of which are still evident today.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teena Clouston

The involvement of the user in decisions about his or her own health and social care has become a key element of the changes encapsulated in the Government's legislation. Listening to the service user and responding to his or her needs is an integral part of that change. Occupational therapy philosophy has always engendered client-centred practice and, therefore, listening to and valuing the voice of the user. Now, more than ever, occupational therapists have to show that this is an integral part of their everyday practice. Narrative is one method that could be used to explore the lived experiences of users of occupational therapy. This study explored the relevant literature about narrative using qualitative methodology. The emerging themes from the data suggest that narrative, in its varied forms, could be a useful tool in clinical and research-based occupational therapy activity. Also, occupational therapists' own approach and reflexivity within the narrative process are key elements in the effectiveness of this technique.


2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
pp. 633-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Curtis ◽  
Jennifer Beecham

Introduction The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has launched a campaign to demonstrate that occupational therapists improve lives and save money for health and social care services. Occupational therapists play a major part in supporting older and disabled people to remain in their own homes through the provision of home adaptations. Among other benefits, studies have shown that home adaptations can reduce falls in the home and could therefore help reduce hospital admissions. However, to evidence savings, information on the full costs of supplying and fitting home adaptations are needed. Method Local authorities and Home Improvement Agencies were surveyed in 2014–2015 to obtain the information required to estimate these costs. Time inputs for staff involved in their provision have been collected and staff costs and total costs calculated for 18 commonly fitted adaptations. The process of obtaining publicly funded home adaptations is also discussed. Findings For major adaptations, the total mean cost was £16,647, ranging from £2474 to £36,681. Staffing costs absorbed up to 24% of the total mean cost. The total mean cost for minor adaptations was £451, with average staffing costs forming 76%. Conclusion Staff costs are an important consideration when estimating the costs of providing home adaptations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Pomey ◽  
M. de Guise ◽  
M. Desforges ◽  
K. Bouchard ◽  
C. Vialaron ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Quebec is one of the Canadian provinces with the highest rates of cancer incidence and prevalence. A study by the Rossy Cancer Network (RCN) of McGill university assessed six aspects of the patient experience among cancer patients and found that emotional support is the aspect most lacking. To improve this support, trained patient advisors (PAs) can be included as full-fledged members of the healthcare team, given that PA can rely on their knowledge with experiencing the disease and from using health and social care services to accompany cancer patients, they could help to round out the health and social care services offer in oncology. However, the feasibility of integrating PAs in clinical oncology teams has not been studied. In this multisite study, we will explore how to integrate PAs in clinical oncology teams and, under what conditions this can be successfully done. We aim to better understand effects of this PA intervention on patients, on the PAs themselves, the health and social care team, the administrators, and on the organization of services and to identify associated ethical and legal issues. Methods/design We will conduct six mixed methods longitudinal case studies. Qualitative data will be used to study the integration of the PAs into clinical oncology teams and to identify the factors that are facilitators and inhibitors of the process, the associated ethical and legal issues, and the challenges that the PAs experience. Quantitative data will be used to assess effects on patients, PAs and team members, if any, of the PA intervention. The results will be used to support oncology programs in the integration of PAs into their healthcare teams and to design a future randomized pragmatic trial to evaluate the impact of PAs as full-fledged members of clinical oncology teams on cancer patients’ experience of emotional support throughout their care trajectory. Discussion This study will be the first to integrate PAs as full-fledged members of the clinical oncology team and to assess possible clinical and organizational level effects. Given the unique role of PAs, this study will complement the body of research on peer support and patient navigation. An additional innovative aspect of this study will be consideration of the ethical and legal issues at stake and how to address them in the health care organizations.


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