Cognitive Assessments Used in Occupational Therapy Practice: A Global Perspective

Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Perceptions on Addressing Cognition in Acute Care: A National Survey

This study aimed to identify commonly used standardized cognitive screens and functional performance assessments among occupational therapy practitioners at level 1 trauma centers in the USA. A survey completed by 269 occupational therapy practitioners revealed the most common cognitive screens and the association between cognitive tool training and standardized cognitive tool implementation. Implications for practice are discussed with suggestions for improving occupational therapy practice.

Profile of paediatric occupational therapy practice in Eastern Mediterranean countries

BACKGROUND

Paediatric occupational therapy (OT) is considered the largest practice area in OT in several regions, including the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to establish a profile of paediatric occupational therapists in EM countries to identify theoretical models, assessments and interventions employed. It also investigated the therapists' usage of evidence-based practice in their practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire which was distributed electronically to occupational therapists working with children.

RESULTS

The participants included 118 therapists. Majority of the participants were working at rehabilitation centres. The primary client groups were pre- and school-age children with autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. The most frequently used assessments were sensory-related tools. Activities of daily living and play were the most often targeted interventional area. Participants highlighted some of the challenges faced in implementing evidence in their practice.

CONCLUSION

Paediatric occupational therapists are usually exposed to specific age groups and conditions. However, a lack of knowledge practice in some areas and challenges in others exist.

SIGNIFICANCE

Within the EM region, knowledge regarding therapists' practices is lacking. Actions should be taken to improve current practice and meet the current needs of clients, and utilise evidence-based practices.

Loss-of-Set and Strategy Application on the Menu Task: An Exploratory Study

Background. The Menu Task (MT) is an occupational therapy screening measure designed to identify people in need of functional cognitive (FC) assessment. Purpose. To explore whether test-taker strategy selection on the MT is clinically informative. Methods. Using a cross-sectional design we administered assessments of FC including the MT and the After MT interview, cognitive screening measures, and self-report instrumental activities of daily living assessment to a convenience sample of 55 community-dwelling adults. After MT interviews responses were qualitatively characterized as (a) loss of set (e.g., not recognizing that food preferences are irrelevant to task performance), (b) calorie counting, or (c) planning. Findings. Loss of set was associated with poorer performance on most study measures, calorie counting was associated with superior performance on most study measures, and no differences were observed relating to planning. Implications. Determining the test-takers approach to the MT adds information to that provided by the MT itself.

Telerehabilitation use and experiences in occupational and physical therapy through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Telehealth has helped to increase access to rehabilitative services such as occupational and physical therapy. The early COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for remote access to care, and the rapid implementation of telehealth systems provided a unique opportunity to learn from clinicians' experiences adopting telehealth for telerehabilitation applications. To understand these experiences, a self-administered online survey was conducted to capture perspectives on ease of telerehabilitation use and adoption from occupational and physical therapists. The survey captured retrospective views on telerehabilitation use pre-pandemic as well as real-time perspectives on telerehabilitation during the early stages of the pandemic (July to August 2020). The survey gathered information on clinician demographics (N = 109), clinicians' experiences with adopting or utilizing telerehabilitation systems, and their perceptions on remotely performing cognitive, emotional, and physical assessments via video-conferencing (a common mode of telehealth). Responses demonstrated a modest increase in telerehabilitation as a care setting (rate increase from 3.4% to 19.3%), and telerehabilitation was more generally tried during the early stages of the pandemic (41 clinicians explicitly reported telerehabilitation use). However, technology access and acceptance remained low, with 38 clinicians (35%) expressing concerns that technology was ineffective or impractical, unavailable, not covered by insurance, or not desired by their patients. Video-conferencing technology was perceived as generally ill-equipped to support clinicians in performing remote assessment tasks. Physical assessment tasks were considered particularly difficult, with 55% of clinicians rating their ability to perform these tasks in the range of moderately difficult to unable to perform. To address these difficulties and better augment clinical care, clinicians require more robust assessment methods that may combine video, mobile, and wearable technologies that would be accessible to a patient at home. When designing future telerehabilitation tools, information captured through these modes must be task-relevant, standardized, and understandable to a remote clinician.

Feasibility of Increasing Occupation-Based Assessment Using the Knowledge to Action Framework

The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) is a standardized occupation-based measure; however, barriers often limit use in practice. The Knowledge to Action Framework (KTA) is one of the most widely used implementation approaches to induce practice change. The objective of the study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a KTA-informed intervention to increase the use of the AMPS. AMPS-trained occupational therapists were recruited through convenience sampling. Interventions included workshops, action planning, goal setting, peer support, and organizational resources. Recruitment and retention were tracked. Pre- and post-survey results of interventions' helpfulness, AMPS behaviors, and motivational changes informed acceptability. Participants (n = 5) rated 7/7 (100%) intervention strategies as helpful, reported decreased barriers and increased frequency of AMPS administration, increased resources for AMPS implementation, and improved compatibility with practice. Implementation of a KTA-informed intervention to increase AMPS practice was feasible and supported by environmental changes and peer support in a physical rehabilitation setting.

Clinical practices, challenges, and job satisfaction of occupational therapists working in Community Mental Health Centers in Turkey

Introduction:

Occupational therapists have been involved in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) since 2016 in Turkey. To the best of our knowledge, no data about occupational therapists’ practices in CMHCs is available in the extant research literature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical practices, challenges, and job satisfaction of occupational therapists working for CMHCs in Turkey.

Method:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey study in which 28 volunteer occupational therapists working in CMHCs participated. The participants filled out the Sociodemographic and Professional Experience Information Form and the Job Satisfaction Scale.

Results:

Occupational therapists were experienced practitioners implementing various occupational therapist practices in community mental health and they were generally satisfied with their job. The challenges facing Occupational therapists were communicating with caregivers, motivating the client, enabling the client to perform occupational participation. Collaborative teamwork and participation in training about community mental health were found as the important factors contributing to occupational therapist professionals’ job satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Investigating the professional behaviors of Occupational therapists, an emerging health profession in Turkey, is important for the development of the profession. The education and supervision specially adapted for community mental health and the supportive teamwork seem to be significant for the job satisfaction of community mental health Occupational therapists.

Assessments of Functional Cognition Used with Patients following Traumatic Brain Injury in Acute Care: A Survey of Australian Occupational Therapists

This study aimed to describe how occupational therapists working in acute care settings in Australia assess cognitive function in patients with TBI, the influences on assessment choice, and clinician perceptions of performance-based assessment. An online survey was completed by 81 occupational therapists. The most common method of cognitive assessment was reported as non-standardized observation of functional tasks (94.7%), followed by carer-report / self-report (93%). Despite their being positive perceptions of performance-based assessment there was limited use in practice. Assessment use was impacted by practical and organizational constraints including access to assessment resources, time and the built environment in acute care.

Methodological Issues in Advancing the Status of Functional Cognitive Assessment

Many individuals in acute hospital and post-acute care settings experience changes in their capacity to perform complex activities of daily living associated with deficits in functional cognition. Occupational therapists regularly assess and treat these occupational performance deficits. The construct of functional cognition offers oportunities for occupational therapists to define an approach to cognition that is both distinct from that of other disciplines and that supports evidence-based interventions. This article provides a rationale for performance-based assessment of functional cognition and an overview of the methodological issues associated with the development and implementation of reliable and valid screening and comprehensive asseements of functional.

Advancing Smart Home Awareness-A Conceptual Computational Modelling Framework for the Execution of Daily Activities of People with Alzheimer's Disease

Utilizing context-aware tools in smart homes (SH) helps to incorporate higher quality interaction paradigms between the house and specific groups of users such as people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). One method of delivering these interaction paradigms acceptably and efficiently is through context processing the behavior of the residents within the SH. Predicting human behavior and uncertain events is crucial in the prevention of upcoming missteps and confusion when people with AD perform their daily activities. Modelling human behavior and mental states using cognitive architectures produces computational models capable of replicating real use case scenarios. In this way, SHs can reinforce the execution of daily activities effectively once they acquire adequate awareness about the missteps, interruptions, memory problems, and unpredictable events that can arise during the daily life of a person living with cognitive deterioration. This paper presents a conceptual computational framework for the modelling of daily living activities of people with AD and their progression through different stages of AD. Simulations and initial results demonstrate that it is feasible to effectively estimate and predict common errors and behaviors in the execution of daily activities under specific assessment tests.