Spinal Cord Injury Induced by Gun Shot Wounds: Implications for Occupational Therapy

People with spinal cord injuries secondary to gunshot wounds present with many unique occupational challenges in terms of their overall health and well-being, and often live in violent cultures that limit occupational performance. Further awareness and understanding of this subgroup can enable occupational therapists to develop appropriate strategies needed to address the many challenges faced by this population. An in-depth understanding of cultural competence is necessary in the identification, planning, and delivery of appropriate and effective treatment. Further, a case example demonstrates the significant influence occupational therapy can achieve in this area of practice

Dementia in the context of disability

Patients and caregivers often associate dementia with devastation and a loss of productive contribution to society. People with dementia are often depicted as confused individuals struggling through embarrassing episodes, followed by a loss of independence. The burden and devastation of the diagnosis on the families of people with dementia is exacerbated by their assumption of the role of caregiver with inadequate preparation or training. Disability scholars, in contrast, offer physical and occupational therapists a nontragic view of disability that recognizes the importance of countering the stigma and discrimination that too often accompany dementia. This case example of a woman diagnosed with dementia provides insight into the negative impact of these tragic, dependent views of dementia throughout and following the diagnosis process. Viewing her experiences through the lens of disability scholarship can increase awareness and improve the quality of care on the part of both therapists and family caregivers

Human Patient Simulation: Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions

Human patient simulation uses technology to add advancements to learning that traditional learning methods cannot. Many programs are fast-paced and do not provide students with many hands-on experiences before clinical experiences. The literature notes the benefits of human patient simulation in other healthcare programs, yet limited studies exist in occupational therapy. This study examined student perspectives on the use of human patient simulators in occupational therapy curriculum. 146 first year master of occupational therapy students completed an open-ended survey after an evaluation experience with a physiologically based human patient simulator. Responses were collected during four consecutive years. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Four themes emerged and centered on the value of hands-on learning, team and family dynamics, the human experience, and relevance of clinically applicable skills. Findings indicate that students perceive this type of learning as beneficial before taking the next step towards fieldwork, and programs should consider offering a variety of simulated patient cases throughout the curriculum

Understanding Resource Needs of Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of family caregivers of persons with dementia in accessing resources as the disease progresses, using four focus groups. Findings indicate differences in caregiver needs by stage of dementia of the care recipient. Service professionals noted family-level dynamics as possibly hindering care and voiced concern with limited mental health services. The need to educate caregivers on the scope of available services and applicable information was clear

When more is too much: Compound caregiving, barriers to services, and service support for older families of people with disabilities

Using the theoretical lens of Family Quality of Life, this study evaluated perceptions of older compound caregivers (i.e., caring for more than one family member) regarding their need for services. Quantitative analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 112 caregivers (50 years and older) demonstrated that compound caregivers faced more barriers in accessing services for their families than noncompound caregivers. Although all caregivers shared similar perceptions on the importance, opportunities, initiative, and attainment of service support for their families, compound caregivers had lower stability and satisfaction than noncompound caregivers. Findings highlight the need to develop support programs to equip older caregivers in managing their daily challenges at the individual and family level