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The December issue leading editorial , co-written by Natasha Lannin and our trials associate editor Avril Drummond , looks at the challenges facing the occupational therapy profession during the COVID-19 pandemic , discussing how the pandemic has led to significant changes in working practice .
It is of vital importance that changes are assessed for their long-term impact and are evidence based , with wellconducted randomised controlled trials ( RCTs ) remaining the best way to assess the efficacy of an intervention and inform practice .
One of the main strategic aims for BJOT is to raise the overall levels of evidence published by the journal , and we are keen to receive submissions of RCTs as well as being available to discuss studies with authors .
Systematic reviews also form a key part of this journal strategy , and our first editor ’ s choice article is a systematic review from Swanton et al , exploring cognitive strategy training for adults with neurological conditions and its effect on occupational performance .
For activity performance outcomes post-intervention , there was a significant benefit of cognitive strategy training over usual care , but the authors conclude that more high-quality research is needed to strengthen the evidence base for cognitive strategy interventions to improve activity performance outcomes for adults with non-progressive neurological conditions .
Following on from this , Mashizume et al present their article Experiences within a cross-cultural academic exchange programme and impacts on personal and professional development .
Qualitative data were collected from interviews with nine people who participated in an exchange programme at Thomas Jefferson University in the US and graduated from Kitasato University in Japan .
A strategy to improve social care
SCIE ( Social Care Institute for Excellence ), an improvement agency and charity committed to evidence-based and co-produced improvement across social care for people of all ages has published its strategy for 2020 to 2023 . SCIE seeks to :
• influence and shape national policy and practice through policy development and thought leadership ;
• drive better social care practice and outcomes by producing and sharing insight , research , guidance , improvement resources and materials ;
• co-produce its work with people with lived experience of the care and support system and support the adoption of co-production across social care ;
Participants reported that the programme helped them in acceptance of diversity , collaborating beyond boundaries and gaining confidence from challenges . These impacts persisted even after they graduated .
Hoshino et al , conducted a preliminary study to extract the characteristics of time estimation in patients with schizophrenia using the Questionnaire of Time Experience in Daily Activities . Time estimations of some daily activities of patients with schizophrenia were significantly different from those of healthy controls . This study will support the next phase of psychometric testing of the Questionnaire of Time Experience in Daily Activities , after which the results will applicable to practice .
Fieldhouse and Greatorex present qualitative data of experiences of young people at risk of homelessness who undertook a financial skills training programme . The trainees described the aspects of the programme that had a positive impact on their wellbeing , such as trusting relationships with programme workers and the provision of a stable environment to successfully work towards skills and life satisfaction .
The final article in the December issue is a retrospective analysis by Udovicich et al , investigating the effectiveness of a domestic activities of daily living group on the occupational performance and satisfaction of adult inpatients with cancer .
Acute oncology inpatients who attended a domestic activities of daily living intervention group reported a positive change in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure occupational performance and satisfaction .
This study highlights the potential benefit of a group-based domestic activities of daily living intervention in an acute oncology setting .
All articles are published online at the journal ’ s OnlineFirst page as soon as ready . Visit BJOT via your member login at www . rcot . co . uk to browse these and other recent publications in full ( please go via the RCOT website links to the journal ).
• equip people working within social care and support with the leadership qualities , skills and capabilities they need to deliver better and person-centred care , through training , coaching and leadership development ; and
• support organisations to improve the quality and impact of care and support through evidence-based consultancy . The strategy outlines SCIE ’ s purpose , values , key principles , and strategic objectives for the coming three years . It has pledged to : drive improvements in social care locally ; influence better policy and practice nationally ; and support better safeguarding everywhere .
All SCIE resources are free to download . Read the strategy in full at : www . scie . org . uk .
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