Cats and dogs and pheromones: researching the student experience

Pheromone Therapy is a unique online course pioneered by the University of Lincoln and delivered through the university's virtual learning environment. The course adopted innovative practices such as induction activities designed to embed the skills required for successful online learning, a range of interactions with content and focus on opportunities for socialisation including ‘café’ forums and a student gallery. Retention is a key issue with distance delivery (Simpson, 2003) but listening to the student voice is only a comparatively recent initiative. Past studies have focussed on non-completion (Yorke & Longden, 2008) or the student experience on campus (JISC, 2007). Pheromone Therapy was an opportunity to capture data about distance learner’s experience of learning in isolation and collect individual responses to the course design. Findings provided a rich source of information for the construction and delivery of online courses in the future. Social aspects of learning online have been suggested as prime motivators in building a sense of collegiality. Pheromone Therapy was designed to include opportunities for social interaction but students demonstrated how the learning experiences which were situated in practice, with opportunities for shared participation, created the greatest cohesion and sense of community

Integrating Expressive Arts Therapies into Facilitated Online Therapy Groups for Adults: A Review of the Literature

In early 2020, COVID-19 infections soared throughout the world, driving most group interactions online. Online adult Expressive Arts Therapy (EAT) groups faced unique challenges and opportunities, as the arts interventions did not always translate directly online without adaptations. In this literature review, this thesis focuses on how the specialization of Expressive Arts has been applied to these online adult therapy groups. Where the literature lacked references to the Expressive Arts specifically, the individual arts of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), Expressive Writing (EW), Art Therapy, and Music Therapy were considered. This capstone thesis offers suggestions for areas of future research to include the use of Expressive Arts Therapies as ways to ameliorate challenges found in online therapy groups; to consider ways in which the use of online Expressive Arts Therapy groups might serve some populations better than in-person groups; and to apply the Expressive Therapies Continuum as a theoretical framework through which to reimagine Expressive Arts interventions with adult therapy clients in online settings

Systemic Therapy in Endometrial Cancer: Recent Advances.

Endometrial cancer is a chemosensitive disease. Studies have established a clear benefit of chemotherapy in advanced stages and trials are ongoing to define its role in early stages as well. As more molecular pathways are being elucidated there is increasing role for targeted agents and future looks quite promising. We did an extensive search both online and offline for all the relevant articles including chemotherapy and targeted therapy for endometrial cancer

Mental Health Teletherapy: An Essential Mental Health Resource After COVID-19

The purpose of this paper is to present an exceptional summation of knowledge in human services while focusing on the specific aspect of online mental therapy. This thoroughly investigated paper discusses the challenges our society currently faces with mental healthcare amidst COVID-19 and how online therapy is one venue that we have, for a long time, chosen not to utilize in the past, but must now recognize its viability as a solid, therapeutic resource for the mental healthcare industry. This paper seeks to confront the various reasons for opposing online therapy and share evidence of ongoing programs that have embraced online therapy and are thriving in their communities. It also lays the groundwork for how therapists today may incorporate online mental therapy as an essential mental health tool for the benefit their clients in the future. Keywords: mental health, teletherapy, psychotherapy, COVID-19, online, direct access, advancements, stigm

Using Art Therapy With Grieving Adolescents Through Telehealth: A Critical Review of the Literature

Grief is an inevitable part of the human experience. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, art therapists across the world were abruptly forced to adapt their services to an online model, most with little to no training on how to do so. Adolescents experienced death of loves ones and trauma at colossal rates. Legal and ethical issues arose as art therapists blindly began navigating this new terrain all while maintaining client caseloads. This literature review examines the strengths and limitations of the rising use of art therapy through telehealth with grieving adolescents. A search for literature on using art therapy with grieving adolescents through telehealth was conducted using online databases from Lesley University, Google Scholar, and University of Massachusetts Lowell. In my limited findings, it was suggested that grief is not linear and, if left unprocessed, can lead to a multitude of mental health concerns. Art therapy is often used with grieving adolescents due to its nonverbal processes, stimulation of creative processes, active shaping abilities, and sensory experiences. Studies have shown art therapists successfully created online art therapy directives in group as well as individual settings. While online art therapy poses its own set of frameworks, ethical standards, and practices different from traditional in-person art therapy, the future of online art therapy remains bright

Attitudes toward innovative mental health treatment approaches in Germany: E-mental health and home treatment

E-mental health and home treatment are treatment approaches that have proven to be effective, but are only slowly implemented in the German health care system. This paper explores the attitudes toward these innovative treatment approaches. Data was collected in two large, non-clinical samples representative of the German population in spring 2020 (N = 2,503) and winter 2020/2021 (N = 2,519). Statistical associations between variables were examined using two-tailed tests. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were performed to predict attitudes toward online-based treatment concepts and home treatment approaches. Only few (<20%) people preferred online-based treatment approaches, while a larger proportion (~50%) could imagine being treated at home. Overall, younger subjects were more open to online-therapy approaches, while people with lower education preferred more often a traditional therapy setting. Acceptance of online-therapy did not raise significantly during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. When different online-based treatment options were available, the probability of accepting home treatment significantly increased with increasing levels of therapeutic support. Further promotion of acceptance for online-therapy and home treatment seems to be necessary. In the future, more information on innovative treatment approaches should be actively provided

Making connections and promoting the profession: social media use by World Federation of Occupational Therapy member organisations

BACKGROUND: World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) member organisations comprise 77 national occupational therapy organisations across the world. Each national organisation interacts with its members and the public using diverse methods. Increasingly, national organisations are broadening their communication methods. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine if and how occupational therapy organisations are using social media for communication, and if so, the types of concerns or barriers they experience and what role they anticipate social media might play in the near future. METHODS: An online survey was developed; 57 of 77 WFOT member organisations responded. FINDINGS: This study identified that WFOT national organisations are using social media, to varying degrees, with or without an individual formally assigned to manage social media. Respondents reported that they used social media to: communicate with members, promote the organisation and promote the profession. Commonly expressed needs included assistance with guide- lines for ethical social media use, developing technical expertise, and recognition of limits of time and competing priorities. Recommendations arising from this research are at the global, national, local and individual levels and incorporate active dissemination and pure diffusion approaches. Taking steps to increase the use of social media could indirectly impact occu- pational therapy practice through enhancing organisations’ abilities to support practitioners to enhance their practice. LIMITATIONS AND RECOMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Although 57% of WFOT member organisations returned usable responses, there may be some additional perspectives that were not captured. It would be helpful to contact non-responding organisations to explore their social media use and plans. Further research could examine how future initiatives put in place by WFOT impact social media use by member organisations.Published versio

Evaluating an online support package delivered within a disability unemployment service: study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study

Background Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression are known to be higher in those who are unemployed. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a recognised support for people with such problems and can improve the ability of people to get back to work.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods/design Participants with symptoms of low mood will be recruited from the disability employment service, Remploy. Participants will receive either immediate or delayed access to an online CBT-based life skills intervention, the “Living Life” package. The primary end point will be at 3 months when the delayed group will be offered the intervention. This feasibility study will test the trial design and assess recruitment, retention, acceptability and adherence, as well as providing efficacy data.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Discussion The study will inform the design and sample size for a future full randomised controlled trial (RCT) which will be carried out to determine the effectiveness of the online package in improving mood and employment status.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt

COPILOT – Development and Implementation of International Cooperative Online Intercultural Learning

This article presents the products and evaluation results of COPILOT (Cooperative Online Peer-assisted and Intercultural Learning in Occupational Therapy), an Erasmus+ funded project undertaken by a consortium of six European universities from 2018 to 2021, which addresses the need for internationalization and intercultural learning by developing competences graduates will need in the future. Internationalization has become one of the main avenues to developing global learning in higher education. Online education has a significant role in providing opportunities for internationalization online without the high cost of travel that might deter some students. The interest in online intercultural exchange has been significantly growing in the past five years, though there is still a scarcity of fully developed models and online learning activities to facilitate the practical implementation of this kind of learning. The COPILOT project produced a theoretical framework and a practical model for facilitating online intercultural learning in occupational therapy, as well as a manual with nine innovative, accessible and flexible online learning modules, complete with practical tips on how to implement them, and a collection of online educational resources (OERs). The modules were piloted with 498 students from nine universities and then evaluated by students and teachers. The results show that the project products offer a practical opportunity to implement international and intercultural learning online for all students of occupational therapy. The need for intercultural competence within occupational therapy programs is discussed

Connecting in place: older adults' experience of online mindfulness therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: the negative consequences of COVID-19 distancing measures on older adults' mental health and ability to access services have been well documented. Online cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness interventions for older adults, carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown that these interventions are feasible and have potential mental health benefits. However, little research has been carried out on older adults' experiences of engaging with online psychological therapy, and specifically mindfulness therapy. OBJECTIVES: to understand the experience of older adults engaging with online mindfulness therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: a qualitative analysis of four community-based focus groups. PARTICIPANTS: thirty-six community dwelling older adults aged between 65 and 85 years were recruited via older adult organisations, charities and the local press. Nineteen percent had long-term physical health conditions, 25% had severe and enduring mental health difficulties and 19% had mild to moderate mental health difficulties. RESULTS: there was a strong sense of group cohesion and community from the participants.Three main themes were identified: reasons for applying, experience of the mindfulness therapy and connecting at home. CONCLUSIONS: the majority of participants were positive about attending a mindfulness group online. This extended to the perceived psychological and social benefits as well as practical considerations. While some participants noted technological hurdles at the beginning of the course, the findings challenge previous studies that suggest older adults are reluctant to engage in online psychological therapies and has important implications for the future provision of psychological therapies to this population