PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
BJOT
NEXT ISSUE
Our October issue begins with an editorial by Boyle et al , ‘ Living with disability in a COVID-19 world ’. They discuss how those living with disabilities were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic , the challenges in providing equitable services using public funds amid rising demand , and suggest that research should focus on this area , emphasising the need for public involvement in any future studies to ensure their suitability .
BJOT supports patient and public involvement in research and has recently introduced PPI statements to our published articles to support this .
Our next article is a systematic review by Abadin et al , ‘ Employment programmes for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness in psychosocial rehabilitation ’. This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of intervention programmes and determine the best intervention for schizophrenia and other severe mental illness , considering both vocational and non-vocational outcomes .
Integrated supported employment was found to be the most effective approach for a vocational outcome . However , evidence concerning non-vocational outcomes of employment programmes and the use of cognitive training remains unclear .
Kondo et al , present a pilot randomised controlled trial , ‘ Effects of a nurse-occupational therapist meeting on function and motivation in hospitalised elderly patients ’, which assessed the effectiveness of a nurse-occupational therapist meeting on improving motor and socialcognitive functions , as well as motivation , in a subacute hospital setting , finding significant improvement in motor function in both groups and additional improvements in social-cognitive function and motivation in the intervention group .
Following on from this , Wallis et al , present their article , ‘ Living beyond cancer : adolescent and young adult perspectives on choice of and participation in meaningful occupational roles ’. Earlier this year , BJOT published a special issue on cancer for which we received a huge number of quality submissions , giving us the opportunity to publish further ‘ mini-sections ’ in this area , such as the two articles found in this issue .
The aim of their study was to understand the implications of having survived cancer for the young person ’ s choice of , and participation in , meaningful occupational roles . Understanding the opportunities and challenges this population may face when living beyond cancer can assist in providing enhanced age-aware occupational therapy , potentially optimising outcomes for young people .
In the article , ‘ Defining the role of occupational therapy with people living with and beyond cancer : perspectives of British and Irish occupational therapists ’, Mackenzie , used a cross-sectional online survey of 141 occupational therapists to identify the perspectives of UK and Irish occupational therapists about their views on the role .
The study identified gaps in best practice that need to be addressed to accommodate the predicted growth in numbers of people living with and beyond cancer .
Finally , in the article by Sandhu et al , ‘ Lived experiences in daily life with myalgic encephalomyelitis ’, in-depth qualitative interviews with seven persons with myalgic encephalomyelitis aged 31 to 61 years were analysed with qualitative content analysis . The participants experienced major changes in everyday life with the onset of myalgic encephalomyelitis and need assistance to enable a successful occupational adaptation and preserve hope .
NETWORKING Risk-related discharge decisions survey
As part of a PhD research project , occupational therapists and occupational therapy student participants are invited to take a short survey that focuses on risk-related discharge decisions for older adults .
Assessments of a person ’ s suitability to look after themselves after a period of hospitalisation involves determining the level of risk they will be exposed to . Risk is a phenomenon which is often viewed as a subjective process which can involve conscious or unconscious reaction to a hazard ( s ) that has intrinsic or extrinsic relevance to a client ’ s continued health and wellbeing .
Risk assessments are multifactorial and involve considerations as to what presents as professional and or organisational risk , as well as decisions to ensure a client ’ s safety and autonomy while improving function , so they can continue to benefit from the occupations they want or need to do .
Where risk taking activities cannot be mitigated to a reasonable safe level , occupational therapists may consider
discontinuing or not supporting the activity after mitigating the risk to go forward as safely as possible ( RCOT 2017 ).
This survey involves reading four typical and hypothetical scenarios ( vignettes ) to answer one risk-related question . This research has ethics approval from Northumbria University . The data you provide is anonymised , protected , and collected using a GDPR-compliant web-based survey platform .
The survey can be found at : https :// nupsych . qualtrics . com / jfe / form / SV _ 6JTTEPZOywzKoyG .
This research project is planned to continue with a follow up study . If you would like further information , please contact : craig . newman @ northumbria . ac . uk .
Reference
RCOT ( 2017 ) Embracing risk ; enabling choice [ Online ]. RCOT . Available at : www . rcot . co . uk / practice-resources / rcot-publications / downloads / embracing-risk [ accessed 11 December 2019 ].
OTnews October 2021 59