5,368 research outputs found
Occupational therapy in mental health: A review of the literature
This review of the literature was conducted as part of the development of a position paper on the way ahead for research, education and practice in occupational therapy in mental health. It included publications over the past decade and concentrated on the British Journal of Occupational Therapy. Recognising experience from other countries would be beneficial, aspects of the literature from the National Journals in American, Canada and Australia which were most relevant to practice in the UK were included. The shortage of articles on mental health was conspicuous and their diverse topics and descriptive nature were notable. In the UK literature, the clinical subjects featured most often were dementia, work rehabilitation, community mental health and forensic psychiatry, with other subjects either appearing infrequently or not being included. The literature from the other countries also explored new roles for occupational therapy, reflecting the changes in the delivery of mental health services. In the American Journal of Occupational Therapy there was concern about the declining number of occupational therapists working in mental health. The review identified major themes in the literature and posed questions for education, research and practice in occupational therapy and formed the foundation for the position paper
Educating occupational therapists for mental health practice
The last of four elements of the Mental Health Project, established by the College of Occupational Therapists to produce a position paper on the way ahead for research, education and practice in occupational therapy in mental health (Craik et al 1998a), focused on educating occupational therapy students to work in mental health.
First, the views of practitioners about their pre-registration education were derived from one component of the practitioners' survey (Craik et al 1998b). One hundred and eleven (81%) practitioners considered that their pre-registration education had been sufficient or partially sufficient to meet their needs on first working in mental health.
Secondly, the views of occupational therapy educators were elicited by a short qualitative survey that replicated three questions about future issues in mental health, which had formed a key constituent of both the practitioners' survey (Craik et al 1998b) and the managers' survey (Craik et al 1999). Important issues for educators were focusing on clients who would benefit most from occupational therapy in community and primary care settings, preparing undergraduates for the unique approach of occupational therapy and the need for more research to support evidence-based practice. Both groups highlighted the value of positive fieldwork placements
Students’ choice of occupational therapy as a second degree
There has been little research in the United Kingdom into the recruitment of
occupational therapy students. This study focused on one aspect and surveyed
students already holding a degree, in order to ascertain the factors that
attracted them to occupational therapy and why they chose a further
3-year degree course in preference to postgraduate alternative routes to
qualification.
Sixty-four students, holding degrees predominantly in the human sciences
and the arts, were motivated to study occupational therapy at Brunel
University through a desire to obtain a vocational qualification and to pursue a
career that helped others and offered variety and personal satisfaction. The
majority of the students learned of the profession through working in health
and social care environments, and chose to study at Brunel University owing to
its location in London and its reputation for attracting mature students.
Although 90% of the students had been aware of the 2-year accelerated
postgraduate diplomas in occupational therapy, more than a third preferred to
undertake a 3-year degree course because it allowed more time for study and
part-time employment.
The need to target recruitment at school leavers, graduates in related
degrees and those already working in health or social care was identifie
Recommended from our members
Factors supporting and hindering the participation of people with mental health problems in leisure
Although leisure is recognised as a key aspect of occupational therapy, few studies have explored it in relation to people with enduring mental health problems. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants with mental health problems living in the community, randomly selected from clients referred to a local assertive outreach service in South-East England. Initially, the data were analysed for content and the phrases, language and words used; subsequently, emerging themes were
identified, which were confirmed by a second occupational therapist. The three themes arising from the data reported here were the number and range of occupations engaged in, the factors enabling participation in leisure and the factors hindering participation in leisure. The range of leisure occupations was similar to that noted in the literature. The main enabling factor was having an adequate network of people to provide support, while the main hindering factors were physical limitations, lack of finances and lack of transport. In the absence of paid employment, leisure was important to the clients. Occupational therapists need to recognise that enhancing the factors enabling participation in leisure and assisting clients to overcome the factors hindering participation in leisure will lead to the increased wellbeing of people with enduring mental health problems
The use of evidence based practice by occupational therapists who treat adult stroke patients
The study identified the extent to which members of the National Association
of Neurological Occupational Therapists (NANOT) who treated adult stroke
patients used evidence-based practice (EBP). A random sample of NANOT
members (n = 200) was surveyed by a postal questionnaire on the use of EBP
and the results were analysed for the 125 therapists who worked with adult
stroke patients.
The principal factor that `greatly’ influenced the choice of intervention of
three-quarters of the respondents was working with other therapists, followed
by attendance at postgraduate courses; gaining postgraduate qualifications
had the least influence. Although over 90% of the respondents considered that
they used EBP at some time, the most frequently reported levels of evidence
used were custom and practice and expert opinion, which were at the lower
end of the hierarchy. Therefore, although the respondents who treated adult
stroke patients did use EBP, they did not use the higher levels recommended.
The respondents who used the higher levels of evidence were those who were
most recently qualified. The factors influencing the use of EBP were the
relevance of research to practice, time, lack of therapists’ knowledge and lack
of support
Recommended from our members
Careers advisors’ opinion of the College of Occupational Therapists Careers Video
Using a mixed methodology, this study investigated the effectiveness of the
College of Occupational Therapists’ careers video in increasing the knowledge
of six careers advisers about the profession and obtained their views of the
video as a promotional tool. To quantify the advisers’ knowledge, a pre-test
post-test questionnaire was used before and after viewing the video. A short
qualitative interview then ascertained their impressions of the video. Despite a
high baseline knowledge, viewing the video was effective in increasing it. The
advisers had mixed opinions about the video, suggesting that it could be
improved and clarified
Recommended from our members
Occupation, mental illness and medium security: A study of occupational engagement in two forensic regional secure units
Research investigating occupational experience among people with mental
illness has highlighted their difficulties in selecting, organising, valuing, enjoying
and competently performing occupations. Although occupational therapy
literature consistently identifies environmental factors as key in facilitating
successful and valued engagement, few authors have studied the implications
of detention in secure mental health settings for this population.
This study investigated the occupational experiences of five people with
schizophrenia in two forensic regional secure units. Quantitative and qualitative
methodologies were used, with semi-structured interviews adding depth and
subjectivity to Occupational Questionnaire (Smith et al 1986) responses. The
quantitative data were analysed using non-parametric analysis, with content
analysis applied to the qualitative data.
Time-use was characterised predominantly by engagement in passive
leisure and rest occupations. This reflects the findings of both inpatient and
community-based studies elsewhere and suggests that mental illness is a common
factor influencing time-use. The participants chose occupations based on
expectations of enjoyment and success, and associations with independence
and normality. Significant correlations were found between perceived competence,
value and enjoyment (p<0.01), and the participants were more likely to enjoy
self-chosen occupations (p<0.05).
Forensic occupational therapists must use evidence to optimise resources
and deliver interventions that facilitate choice and autonomy and reflect
individual needs. Further research with larger samples and longitudinal
methodologies will facilitate generalisation and establish temporal perspective
Promotion of occupational therapy as a career: A survey of occupational therapy managers
A careers pack distributed to 184 occupational therapy managers in and around
London contained a questionnaire which gathered information about their role
in promoting occupational therapy as a career. Twenty-six managers responded
(14.1%) and considered that the College of Occupational Therapists had the
principal responsibility for promoting the profession. Three-quarters
considered that the careers pack was fairly effective and two-thirds were
willing to use it to promote the profession.
Although pleased to have received the pack, the managers had more
negative than positive comments about it. Managers may not appreciate their
influential position in recruitment to the profession and other stakeholders
should collaborate to support them in their pivotal rol
Some factors influencing occupational engagement for people with schizophrenia living in the community
With the emergence of occupational science, there has been renewed interest
in the health benefits of occupational engagement and a call for more research
into the occupational nature of humans. Engaging in occupations is known to
have a positive effect on an individual’s health and sense of wellbeing. A
common feature of people with schizophrenia, however, is a decrease in
volition and a reduction in the occupations performed. This study explored
some of the influences on occupational engagement for people with
schizophrenia living in the community.
A qualitative approach was chosen, using semi-structured interviews. Four
male and four female participants, aged 23 to 49 years, described the
influences on their occupational engagement. Content analysis, primarily using
coding and memoing, was employed to categorise the data. Four main themes
emerged: health, routine, external factors and internal factors. Some specific
factors identified within these themes were medication, daily schedules, staff,
family, work, self-concept and challenges. The implications of the results are
discussed, with particular reference to assisting occupational therapists to
enable clients with schizophrenia to engage more successfully in occupations
Recommended from our members
Without leisure … ‘it wouldn’t be much of a life’: The meaning of leisure for people with mental health problems living in the community
Previous research has explored the occupational engagement of people with
mental health problems. This study set out to establish the meaning and value
of leisure for people with enduring mental health problems living in the
community. Using a mainly qualitative design, semi-structured interviews were
conducted with 10 participants randomly selected from clients referred to a
local assertive outreach service in South-East England. Initially, the data were
analysed for content, phrases, language and words used; subsequently, emerging
themes were identified which were confirmed by a second occupational
therapist. Three themes are reported here: why certain occupations were
considered to be leisure, the feelings expressed during leisure and the value
of leisure.
Although the participants had some difficulty in articulating their views,
leisure was differentiated from other occupations, with the time available to
complete a task in the absence of pressure being the distinguishing feature.
Overall, the participants had positive views about leisure, which was valued in
terms of meeting their individual and unique needs. The implications for
occupational therapy are explored. In determining the meaning and value of
leisure for people with mental health problems, more emphasis should be
given to their actions and less to their skill in verbalising emotion
- …