The effects of dry needling on the thumb: A case report

Introduction Dry needling has been identified as a potential intervention for a variety of diagnoses. Limited evidence exists to support the use of dry needling following surgical intervention of a distal radius fracture. This case report demonstrates the impact of dry needling in the thumb following a distal radius fracture. Methods The patient was a 31-year-old healthy female who sustained a distal radius fracture and required surgical intervention. The patient required a volar plate removal and extensor tenolysis. The patient attended traditional occupational therapy with one session of dry needling to assist in improving range of motion and decreasing pain. Results The patient benefited from the use of dry needling. The patient had no pain with functional grasping and pinching following dry needling and improved on the Kapandji score from eight to nine out of ten. The patient also reported a decrease in overall pain, from seven to two on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Discussion The patient benefited from dry needling in the thumb to improve both range of motion and pain symptoms. While the evidence is limited, dry needling may be an appropriate intervention to assist in recovery and reduce thumb pain following distal radius fractures.

Impact of Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Combined with Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on the Cognitive Performance of Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background The most common cognitive dysfunctions in patients with schizophrenia are information processing, memory, and learning. Based on the hypothesis of rehabilitation and brain stimulation in memory and learning, adding a form of neuromodulation to conventional rehabilitation might increase the effectiveness of treatments. Aims To explore the effects of psychosocial occupational therapy combined with anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive performance in patients with Schizophrenia. Methods Twenty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomized into the experimental and control groups. We used The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment battery (LOTCA) to assess spatial recognition, attention, visual memory, learning abilities, and high-level cognitive functions like problem-solving. All participants received customized psychosocial occupational therapy activities. Furthermore, the experimental group received 12 sessions of active anodal tDCS for 20 minutes with 2 mA intensity on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) while the patients in the sham group received sham tDCS. Results Combining tDCS to conventional psychosocial occupational therapy resulted in a significant increase in spatial memory, visual learning, and attention. Conclusions Anodal tDCS on the left DLPFC improved visual memory, attention, and learning abilities. Contrary to our expectations, we could not find any changes in complex and more demanding cognitive functions.

Psychometric properties of the Korean Motor-free Visual Perception Test-4 in healthy people

Objective This study was conducted to cross-culturally adapt the Motor-free Visual Perception Test 4 (MVPT-4) for use in Korean contexts and examine its psychometric properties. Methods The Korean MVPT-4 (K-MVPT-4) was developed via the process of translation, back-translation, and expert committee review. To establish internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity and construct validity of the K-MVPT-4, 295 healthy people aged 10 to 79 years participated in this study. Participants completed the measures for the test-retest reliability on two occasions, 2 weeks apart. Results After three steps of cross-cultural adaptation, the K-MVPT-4 was revised to improve its alignment with Korean cultural norms. Cronbach’s α for internal consistency was .857 and intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was .949. The K-MVPT-4 scores were significantly correlated with those of three motor-reduced subscales of the Korean Developmental Test of Visual Perception-Adolescent (K-DTVP-A) ( r = .44–.46, p < .01). Participants’ age significantly influenced the K-MVPT-4 scores ( p < .001) while their gender did not affect those scores ( p = .409). As the age increased, the K-MVPT-4 scores decreased. Conclusions The findings indicated that the K-MVPT-4 is a reliable and valid test that Korean rehabilitation service providers can use with confidence to assess clients’ visual perceptual abilities.

Psychometric properties and correlates of Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS-10) in people with common mental disorders with different employment Statuses

Background/objectives Several studies have indicated that stress is associated with common mental disorders, and work stress trebles the risk of developing them. However, a validated assessment tool for measuring and establishing psychological stress correlates in this group of clients remains unavailable. The objectives of the present study were to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (CPSS-10) on people with common mental disorders with different employment statuses and explore its correlates. Methods Two hundred and fifty-two participants with common mental disorders were recruited. The data were analysed through exploratory factor and confirmatory analyses to investigate construct validity. The convergent and discriminant validities were examined based on their correlation with other measures, while the internal consistency was estimated using Cronbach’s α coefficient. A t-test was used to detect differences between groups. The CPSS-10 correlates were explored using multiple linear regression analysis. Results Principal component analysis with varimax rotation yielded two factors, which accounted for 63.82% of the total variance, while confirmatory factor analysis confirmed its factor structure. The CPSS-10 had a positively moderate to strong correlation with other measures, thereby indicating its acceptable convergent and discriminant validities. The internal consistency ranged from acceptable to good for the two subscales and ten overall items, while the item-total correlation was adequate except for the seventh item. There were no group differences in gender nor employment status. Finally, the CPSS-10 predictors were studied. Conclusion The CPSS-10 is a reliable and valid instrument for people with common mental disorders with different employment statuses.

Examining the validity and reliability of the revised developmental work personality scale (RDWPS)-traditional Chinese version

Background Work personality was found to relate to successful work adjustment, job readiness, work motivation and job maintenance. The revised developmental work personality scale (RDWPS) is a self-reported assessment to evaluate the work personality of the examinee which further psychometric study is required and needs to be applied to different culture. The aim of this study was to examine the theoretical structure, validity, and reliability of the traditional Chinese version of the RDWPS. Methods The subjects were 113 university students with no known physical or mental illness who aged between 19 and 22. Cluster analysis was used to examine the theoretical structure. Rasch analysis was applied to examine the psychometric properties. Results We dropped the unfit three items and found the 11 items of traditional Chinese version of the RDWPS was adequate to fit the theoretical construct. The results of the Rasch analysis showed that the 11 items with a three-point rating scale of the traditional Chinese version of the RDWPS had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.76), moderate reliability, and met the criteria of unidimensionality. Conclusions The results of this study provided initial evidence that the traditional Chinese version of the RDWPS can be readily applied to research related to work behavior for those whose primary language is traditional Chinese, with adequate reliability and validity.

Differences of expected intervention effects between participant-led and facilitator-led preventive care services in Japan

Objective To examine the effect of different management methods on the effectiveness of care preventive programmes for community-dwelling older adults. Methods This study comprised two facilitator-led (FL) and one participant-led (PL) preventive care classes in Japan. All participants received the intervention for approximately 12 weeks. Functional assessments, occupational dysfunctions, and subjective health were measured before and after the interventions. A two-way mixed design analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was adopted to examine the effect of the interventions, adjusted for previous experiences with preventive care services. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Fourteen participants in the PL group (76.64 ± 6.48 years, 92.9% women) and 29 participants in the FL group (76.55 ± 5.75 years, 75.9% women) were included in the statistical analysis. ANCOVA showed significant group × time interaction effects in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSST), the Timed Up & Go (TUG), occupational deprivation of the Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction Scale, and self-rated health. Simple main effect tests showed that the TUG decreased significantly in the PL group, while occupational deprivation and self-rated health scores improved significantly. In contrast, FTSST scores significantly improved in the FL group. Conclusion PL-type management may be more appropriate for preventing social isolation and withdrawal, while FL-type management may be more appropriate for preventing physical frailty. Selecting not only adequate programmes but also an appropriate management type that matches the service purpose can help provide more effective care preventive services.

Patient functional independence and occupational therapist time-use in inpatient services: Patient demographic and clinical correlates

Introduction Health care expenditure has rapidly increased in Australia. Effective management of occupational therapy services is required to meet clinical demand. Improving our understanding of factors which influence occupational therapy service delivery is a vital step to manage workload distribution and optimise service efficiency. This study aims to examine the influence of patient sociodemographic characteristics, diagnosis and functional independence on the utilisation of occupational therapy resources in hospital inpatients over 18 years old. Methods Prospective, cross-sectional, observational cohort study of 4549 inpatients from three hospital sites in Melbourne, Australia. Data extracted from organisational databases and included in this study were: patient demographics, diagnosis, functional level assessed using the SMAF (Functional Autonomy Measurement System) and occupational therapy time-use. Data were analysed using univariable and multivariable modelling. Results Occupational therapy time-use was significantly associated with all variables included in analysis ( p < 0.05). For each variable the amount and direction of effect differed between hospital sites. The SMAF was the only variable consistently associated with occupational therapy time-use. Higher occupational therapy time-use was associated with lower functional independence (leading to a 3.5 min increase in median occupational therapy time for every unit decrease in SMAF score). Conclusions Management of resources within busy hospitals require knowledge of factors associated with occupational therapist time-use. This study identified that time-use could in part be predicted by functional independence, diagnosis and sociodemographic characteristics. Occupational therapy managers can use this information to support decision making while acknowledging other patient and therapist level factors also influence time-use.

Transition practice before entering primary school: A longitudinal study of children with and without special needs across a year

Introduction The transition to primary school is a significant milestone for children. Transition periods can offer new opportunities to build skills, relationships, and experiences that strengthen self-efficacy. In Singapore, parents play an important role in supporting transition as preschools and primary schools operate independently. Occupational therapists are involved in supporting children with special needs in transitions. Objective Focusing on the transition period of getting children ready for primary school, the objectives are (i) to learn about the strategies that parents used for the purpose of transition and understand the intentions behind what they do and (ii) to compare the transition practices and perceived school readiness between parents of children with and without special needs. Method A longitudinal study involving 48 parents was conducted over 12 months. Parents completed a survey at the start and end of the year to detect changes from baseline, and semi-structured interviews every two months to gather their subjective experiences and track their child’s readiness for transition. The surveys and interviews were conducted on a mobile instant messaging platform. Coding of responses was guided by school readiness domains identified in earlier studies and Occupational Therapy Practice Framework’s approaches to intervention. Results Most parents focused on establishing and maintaining new self-help and academic skills across the year while few were “modifying” or “preventing”. Increasing trends in child readiness were noted for both children with and without special needs. Conclusion In family-centred practice, it is important to recognise parents’ expertise and resources.

The application of an information support robot to reduce agitation in an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease living alone in a community dwelling: a case study

Objective/background: Agitation is a common behaviour of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Although healing robots have previously been used for alleviating agitation for people with dementia in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, its effects remain unclear whether an information-support robot capable of disseminating information with user needs may have similar effects when it is applied in community dwellings. This study was to investigate the effects of information-support robots for reducing agitation in older people with AD residing alone in community-dwellings. Methods One participant with AD who lived alone in a community-dwelling was recruited. Participant’s frequencies, durations, and time courses of four patterns of agitation at home at baseline and during intervention were analysed. In this study, agitation was defined as: (a) restlessness going to the corridor (RLtoC), (b) restlessness going to the toilet (RLtoT), (c) restlessness going to the entrance (RLtoE), and (d) restlessness going to multiple places (RLtoMP). In the intervention phase, the information-support robot disseminated daily schedule or date information to the participant. Results RLtoC and RLtoMP were significantly reduced in frequency during the intervention. The durations of each episode of RLtoT and RLtoMP in the intervention were slightly reduced than those at the baseline. There were no differences in time courses of episodes of RLtoC and RLtoMP after the intervention. Conclusion This case study showed that information-support robot was useful to alleviate agitation of an older adult with AD living alone in a community-dwelling. Further study is warranted.

Predicting outcomes of conservative treatment for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: Group- and individual-based rehabilitation

Objective To identify predicting factors of treatment outcomes of a two stage group-based and then individual-based intervention programme for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods A prospective cohort study where patients diagnosed with CTS were recruited from an out-patient occupational therapy clinic to join the two-stage CTS programme. The Stage-One programme consisted of splinting and educational talks in a group format, while the Stage-Two programme consisted of four weekly individual sessions providing psychosocial support, reinforcing correct ergonomics and mobilization. Baseline assessment on six potential predicting factors and four outcome measures was done for all patients. Patients were re-assessed at the end of the Stage-One and the Stage-Two programme. Analysis was done by binary logistic regression adjusted for baseline covariates. Results One hundred and sixty-six patients completed the Stage-One programme and 46 patients also completed the Stage-Two programme. Results showed that the Chinese Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) baseline score was the only significant predictor for the Stage-One programme outcomes (AUC for ROC was 0.708) with an optimum cut-off score of 23.5. On the other hand, the Chinese QuickDASH baseline score was the only significant predictor for the Stage-Two programme outcomes (AUC for ROC was 0.801) with an optimum cut-off score of 27.4. Conclusions The significant predictor for the Stage One Programme was the Chinese SSS baseline score and that for the Stage Two Programme was the Chinese QuickDASH baseline score. The optimum cut-off scores identified may be applied clinically to guide client-centered treatment planning.