BJOT
NEXT ISSUE
The leading editorial from our November issue has been extremely popular on our social media channels .
Making a difference : Belonging , diversity and inclusion in occupational therapy by Atwal et al , explores an extremely important topic with an aim first to share conversations with occupational therapists in the UK around racism , support for ethnic minorities and career progression ; and second , to stimulate debate and dialogue with the wider occupational therapy profession alongside multi-professional groups .
Our next article from Özkan and Akı is a randomised controlled trial studying the effect of occupation-based postural stability training on postural stability and occupational performance in visually impaired individuals .
The control group received only postural stability training with the Biodex Balance System and the study group received individualised occupation-based postural stability training with the Biodex Balance System BBS during a 12-week intervention , with statistically significant improvement in both groups , as well as significantly improved occupational performance in the study group versus control .
This is followed by a second randomised controlled trial by Ercan Doğu et al , The effectiveness of a combination of occupational therapy and social skills training in people with schizophrenia . Again , the randomised controlled trial showed a significant improvement in the study group versus control , with clients receiving the combination of occupational therapy and social skills training showing a better improvement compared to the social skills training group in terms of occupational performance , social participation , and severity of clinical symptoms .
We hope that these two randomised controlled trials will contribute positively to the evidence base in informing clinical and professional decision making .
In their article Partners in play : exploring “ playing with ” children living with severe physical and intellectual disabilities , O ’ Connor et al present a qualitative study which combined observations of children ’ s play with adult interviews and focus groups to explore factors that influence play in home and school contexts .
Three themes emerged : play as an occupation , play as an activity ; an empowered and empowering play partner ; and the ‘ just-right ’ play object and environment .
A second qualitative study from Bullen and Clarke , Occupational therapists ’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport drew on a phenomenological approach and used interviews and thematic analysis to explore five occupational therapists ’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport .
Findings revealed that participants demonstrated the uniqueness of occupational therapy when enabling people to participate in sport and emphasises the unique skills occupational therapists can bring to this setting .
In their article ‘ Exploring young children ’ s activity and participation change following six months ’ power mobility experience ’, Livingstone and Field explored the effect of children ’ s six months ’ experience in one of four early power mobility devices .
Forty-six children with mobility limitations , aged 13 to 68 months participated and the study showed that children at all phases of power mobility skill , using various devices and access methods , can demonstrate activity and participation change following power mobility experience .
Our final article in November is from Peoples et al , Perceptions of quality of life by people with advanced cancer who live at home . The purpose of this study was to explore , from an occupational perspective , how people with advanced cancer who live at home perceive quality of life .
The analysis identified three interrelated themes : ‘ quality of life during changing circumstances ’; ‘ striving to continue everyday life ’; and ‘ being independent and connected ’. The findings highlight the importance of everyday life continuity and ongoing changes and adjustments needed to maintain quality of life .
Read the latest and past issues at : www . rcot . co . uk / practiceresources / journals / bjot .
Roots of recovery : occupational therapy at the heart of health equity
Everyone should get the occupational therapy they need . Our RCOT ’ s new Roots of recovery report sets out a clear call to health and social care systems are for everyone . These are action with practical ways in which decision-makers and system simple , uncontroversial aims , but we all know that health inequality designers can use the skills offered by occupational therapy to has got worse since the first Marmot report in 2009 , and has make better use of existing resources . Read the report at : deteriorated still further during the pandemic . www . rcot . co . uk / node / 4726 .
Health equity is all our business and is one of RCOT ’ s priorities You can also read a blog from RCOT ’ s Karin Orman , assistant for 2022 , and why it is at the heart of the # OTsForEquity campaign director – professional practice , Working together for health equity and Occupational Therapy Week this year ( see pages 11 and 12 ). at : www . rcot . co . uk / news / working-together-health-equity .
58 OTnews November 2021