Paving the way forward
A group of occupational therapists from Edinburgh Napier University and researchers from the UK National Robotarium have been looking at integrating robotics with occupational therapy pre-registration education . Here they share more about the project and recent workshop learnings .
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ehabilitation has been considered by the World Health Organization ( WHO 2020 ) as a diverse range of interventions that can be adopted when working with people living with a variety of health conditions , to enhance function and minimise disability .
In recent years , attention has increasingly turned towards the potential role of digital technology and rehabilitation . Recognising that healthcare graduates will need to develop skills , knowledge and understanding of how and in what way digital technology can shape and inform health and care practice in the future ( Topol 2019 ).
This wider context has shaped the creation of the Healthcare Technologies Research Group ( HTRG ) at Edinburgh Napier University , led by occupational therapist Professor Alison Porter-Armstrong . One aim of which is to transform health technology learning and teaching to support , prepare and enable colleagues in practice , including allied health professional students at the university , to respond .
This has led to the development of the first collaborative partnership in Scotland between the HTRG and the UK National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University , Edinburgh .
Occupational therapists Dr Fiona Maclean , Dr Ciara Ryan and Ashleigh Gray from Edinburgh Napier University , have come together with Dr Mauro Dragone and Dr Scott Macleod , researchers from the CARE Group at the National Robotarium , to co-create a programme of learning and teaching connected to robotics .
Specifically , to explore how and in what way robotic technology can be translated from the laboratory and integrated with and to occupational therapy and physiotherapy practice .
As such , in February 2024 , 46 occupational therapy and physiotherapy MSc ( pre reg ) students attended an immersive workshop to learn about and gain training in various robotic technologies at the National Robotarium .
The workshop was supported by the UK Network EMERGENCE . The aim of the network is to facilitate the creation of a sustainable healthcare robotics eco-system connecting researchers , industry and healthcare providers , in order to build the infrastructure and systems to drive world-class advances in healthcare robotics research and development to support people living with frailty within communities in the UK .
34 OTnews May 2024