and have access to self-directed learning and resource .
Time is then allocated at the end of each session for patients to socialise with other group members if they wish to do so .
Training
For the acupuncture , a RCOT Approved Learning course , ‘ Acupuncture for Occupational Therapists ’, was undertaken over two days , by two staff members , with the National Centre of Rehabilitation Education ( NCORE ).
The course aims to help occupational therapists maintain occupation at the centre of practice within hand therapy and pain management services and teaches 10 influential acupuncture points and their safe implementation in practice .
Tai Chi / Qi Gong training was undertaken by two PCN OT members with ‘ Tai Chi for therapists online ’. This involved six weeks of one-hour live online sessions , once a week , with the addition of three hours self-directed learning each week .
Outcomes
In order to obtain outcomes , the team obtained a license for use of the Measure Yourself Medical Outcomes Profile ( Paterson 1996 ). MYMOP ® is a problem-specific and individualised measure , which is brief and simple to use . Its measures capture what patients consider are the two most important symptoms associated with a specific problem and an activity of daily living that is affected by these symptoms .
It also captures general wellbeing and is therefore applicable to all people who present with symptoms , whether physical , emotional or social .
This is completed by patients at the first acupuncture or Tai Chi / Qi Gong session and then a follow up is completed at the final session . This provides both the occupational therapist and patient with objective data on improvements in symptoms and improvements in functional level . We have found that the inclusion of both acupuncture and Tai Chi / Qi Gong as interventions within the primary care occupational therapy service has demonstrated measurable positive outcomes . These are evident through both the qualitative and quantitative data collected .
The PCN OT service is able to provide meaningful occupation in both group and one-toone settings through Tai Chi / Qi Gong for a variety of health conditions . Acupuncture helps to support individuals to engage in occupation and maximise function when chronic pain has become a barrier to this alongside other occupational therapy interventions , such as psychoeducation , goal setting , equipment provision , relaxation techniques and mindfulness .
The inclusion of these traditional eastern practices as part of the PCN OT toolkit within a primary care preventative model has provided patients with an opportunity to experience intervention outside of the traditional medical model which is often limited in this setting to support them holistically .
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Words ELIZABETH SMITH , VICKY JONES and BETH JACKSON-DALE , First Contact Practitioner Occupational Therapists , Leek and Biddulph PCN , contact elizabeth . smith @ staffs . nhs . uk , vicky . jones @ staffs . nhs . uk or beth . jacksondale @ staffs . nhs . uk
32 OTnews February 2024