Verbal strategies used by occupational therapists in direct client encounters

Verbal interaction with clients is a major component of most occupational therapy interventions, yet there is a paucity of occupational therapy literature which has examined the ways therapists use verbal communication in practice. Communication accommodation is a verbal stance in which the speaker appropriately attunes his or her interaction in response to another person in order to enhance relationships and increase communicative efficiency. In this qualitative study the awareness of a group of occupational therapists regarding the use of communication accommodation was examined. Methods by which they determined the need to accommodate their speech and specific accommodation strategies they used in verbal interaction with clients were recorded

Developing Effective Hospice Staff Support Groups: Pilot Test of an Innovative Training Program

Although hospice staff support groups are frequently cited as a valuable resource in coping with hospice work stress, few guidelines exist for implementing a successful group experience. This article summarizes a pilot study of a 12-week audiotape staff support group training program for hospice and oncology workers developed collaboratively by the author and the UCLA California Self-Help Center. Two West Coast hospice groups participated in the study. Group members reported a high degree of satisfaction with the tape program and their group experience. Burnout scores were not significantly affected by the group experience. Preliminary data on coping strategies, implications for the development and strengthening social support networks in the hospice, and suggestions for future research efforts are discussed