Mothers’ experience of being involved with the transfer of the CO-OP approach: A qualitative study

Introduction Since mothers are the best persons to facilitate transfer in their children, it is important to understand their experience with implementing the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance approach at home. Therefore, this study aims to explore mothers’ experiences in facilitating transfer during implementing cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance approach at the home in children with specific learning disorder. Method A semi-structured interview was applied for mothers of children receiving cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and the data were analyzed using a continuous comparison technique and inductive content analysis. Results Five themes emerged which described the mothers’ experiences of being involved with the transfer of cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance approach at home including (1) mothers’ feelings toward themselves; (2) supportive therapist; (3) supportive social settings; (4) multidimensional educational content; and (5) educational methods. Conclusion Mothers expressed that cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance approach was simple, but they needed deeper information and skills. They provided suggestions for increasing the involvement during cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance intervention to increase transfer.

Cognitive orientation to daily occupation group in the adult day rehabilitation setting: A feasibility study Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance in day rehabilitation

Introduction The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) ApproachTM is a leading approach in occupational therapy. Implementing the CO-OP ApproachTM in a group format in day rehabilitation has not yet been explored. Method In day rehabilitation, a barrier to implementing the CO-OP ApproachTM is the group model. To address these challenges, this feasibility study involved the development, implementation, and evaluation of a CO-OP group for adults. Four patients participated in six group sessions. Pre- and post-measures included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS). Subjective data were collected to reflect the participant’s experiences during the group. Results 80% of participants recruited completed the group. All participants demonstrated improvement in goals addressed within the group and goals not addressed within the group on the COPM. AMPS findings were inconclusive. Subjective findings indicated participants appreciated the group learning environment, valued the CO-OP process, were motivated to participate, and would have liked more groups. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first adult CO-OP group in a clinical setting. Results support the feasibility of a CO-OP group in day rehabilitation and the need for further examination of the effectiveness of this intervention.

Brain functional connectivity in children with developmental coordination disorder following rehabilitation intervention

Background Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show improved motor function after Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention; however, the neural basis for these improvements is unknown. Methods In this randomized waitlist-controlled trial, 78 children with DCD (with/without ADHD) were randomly assigned to either a treatment or waitlist group and underwent three resting-state MRI scans over six months. The treatment group received intervention between the first and second scan; the waitlist group received intervention between the second and third scan. Results After CO-OP intervention, children with DCD [13 male, 8 female; mean (SD) age: 10.0 (1.7) years] showed increased functional connectivity between the default mode network and right anterior cingulate gyrus (p < 0.01). Additional gains were noted at follow-up three months after the intervention, with greater functional connectivity between the dorsal attention network and precentral gyrus (p < 0.02). However, children with DCD + ADHD [18 male, 1 female; mean (SD) age: 10.0 (1.14) years] did not show brain changes following CO-OP. Conclusion For children with DCD, increased functional connectivity in networks associated with self-, emotion-, and attention-regulation may underlie motor skill improvements observed after CO-OP intervention. Modifications to the CO-OP protocol may be required to induce similar brain changes in children with DCD + ADHD. Impact This study provides neuroscientific evidence for the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach as an effective rehabilitation intervention to induce brain and behavioral changes in children with DCD. While children with DCD ± ADHD showed improved motor function after CO-OP, only children with DCD showed brain changes after intervention. Children with DCD showed increased functional connectivity in networks associated with self-, emotion-, and attention-regulation after the intervention. Treatment modifications may be required to induce similar brain changes in children with DCD + ADHD. Pediatricians are encouraged to refer children with DCD with and without ADHD for CO-OP intervention to improve their motor skills.

COMMUNICATION STYLE: THE MANY SHADES OF GRAY

"The major aspects of communication include the communicating individual, the addressee, and the style of communication which can be more objective or subjective. The present study examines the role of the communicator’s motivation and the identity of the addressee of the communication in regard to the style of communication. The motivation was assessed in terms of the cognitive orientation approach (Kreitler & Kreitler) which assumes that motivation is a function of beliefs that may not be completely conscious. The motivation to communicate may be oriented towards sharing and self disclosure or towards withdrawal and distancing oneself from others. The style of communication was assessed in terms of the Kreitler meaning system which enables characterizing the degree to which the communication is based on means that are more objective and interpersonally-shared means (viz. attributive and comparative means) or more personal-subjective ones (viz. examples and metaphors). The hypothesis was that the style of communication is determined by one’s motivation and by the recipient’s characteristics, which in the present context was gender. It was expected that when the motivation supports sharing and the addressee is a woman the style would be mainly subjective, while when the motivation supports withholding information and the addressee is a man the style would be objective. The participants were 70 undergraduates. The tool was a cognitive orientation questionnaire. The experimental task was a story that had to be recounted. The narratives were coded in terms of the Kreitler meaning system. The data was analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards model. The findings supported the hypothesis of the study. Major conclusions referred to the motivational determinants of communication styles."

Principles and criteria of learning speech material’s selection and organisation for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence among university’s students

Principles and criteria of selection and organisation of learning speech material are shown and analysed for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence among students of a linguistic university. The research is based on intercultural and competency building approaches. Its main methods are a scientifical literature searching in regards to selection and organisation of learning speech material, analysis and synthesis methods of current principles and criteria. The author chooses three principles of selection and organisation of learning speech material for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence – the principle of the intercultural orientation, the functional principle and the principle of cognitive orientation. These principles are divided into universal and variable groups. Each principle is realised in some criteria, which detail it. An important issue in the article is a systematised list of principles and criteria of selection and organisation of learning speech material for the formation of intercultural foreign language communicative competence.