Eye gaze technology : a South African perspective

PURPOSE : Based on the bioecological model by Bronfenbrenner, this paper will provide a broad perspective on factors that need to be taken into account in order to facilitate communication and participation in preliterate children making use of electronic Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems accessed through eye gaze. METHOD : Two case studies of children who have been provided with the technology described are presented. The case studies were analysed using the four nested systems of the ecology as a framework to describe not only the environment, but also the processes and interactions between the persons and their context. RESULTS : Risk and opportunity factors are evident at all levels of the ecology. CONCLUSIONS : While a good fit between the person and the technology is an essential starting point, additional factors pertaining to the partner, the immediate environment as well as meso-, exo- and macrosystemic issues (such as societal attitudes and funding sources) have a significant influence on benefits derived. In resource-limited environments, the lack of support at more distal levels of the ecology (meso-, exo- and marosystemic levels) seems to be a factor that differentiates these environments from more resourced ones.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iidt202016-07-31hb201

The lived experiences of South African occupational therapists regarding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their wellness

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic impacted the wellness of health professionals around the world. In order to ensure that healthcare systems are sustainably able to provide services during times of emergency, the health and wellness of health professionals should be safeguarded. The researchers were interested in exploring the impact of the first wave of the pandemic on the holistic wellness of South African occupational therapists and to identify strategies therapists employed to facilitate their own wellness. Method: The study followed a qualitative research design with phenomenological characteristics. Two asynchronous (text-based) online focus groups were conducted, each with eight participants. Participants providing occupational therapy services in different fields of practice and in different contexts were purposefully selected. Participants in both groups were asked a series of five questions in an online forum over a period of six days. Two researchers facilitated interaction within the groups to encourage in depth discussions. Results and Discussion: The data were analysed by means of deductive thematic analysis, whereby the dimensions of holistic wellness were used to guide analysis. The results illustrate the pervasive influence the COVID-19 pandemic had on the wellness of South African occupational therapists. Conclusion: Lessons learnt are discussed to facilitate the preparedness of South African occupational therapists for future pandemics. Implications for practice • Occupational therapists should endeavour to prioritise theirown wellness to the best of their abilities. • Occupational therapists should utilise familiar strategies to facilitate their own wellness during future highly stressful times, such as during future pandemics or states of emergency. • Occupational therapists may be excellently positioned to facilitate the fostering of wellness of other HPs in the professional team

Influences on selection of assistive technology for young children in South Africa : perspectives from rehabilitation professionals

ABSTRACT : Selection of assistive technology for young children is a complex process. Within a context with limited resources, such as South Africa, research is needed to determine the factors influencing the assistive technology selection process, as these could ultimately either facilitate or hinder the availability and accessibility of affordable, adaptable, acceptable, and high quality assistive technology for this age group. METHOD : Two asynchronous online focus groups were conducted with 16 rehabilitation professionals to identify the factors they perceived to influence the selection and provision of assistive technology to young children within the South African context. DATA ANALYSIS : A process of deductive thematic analysis was followed by inductive analysis of the data. Components of the Assistive Technology Device Selection Framework were used as themes to guide the deductive analysis, followed by inductive analysis to create subthemes. DISCUSSION : The important role of the professional was highlighted in negotiating all the factors to consider in the assistive technology selection and provision process. Adaptation of the Assistive Technology Device Selection Framework is suggested in order to facilitate application to low resourced contexts, such as South Africa.The National Research Foundation Tutuka Grantholder linked bursary (TTK 150708124127) and the Research Office of the University of Pretoria.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/idre202019-12-01hj2019Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC

From work-integrated learning to virtual case studies : navigating an alternative to fieldwork in paediatric occupational therapy

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is a crucial component of learning in the undergraduate occupational therapy (OT) programme. WIL provides essential work exposure, allows for theory-practice integration and forms part of the 1 000 clinical hours required by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), in order for graduates to be registered as occupational therapists. In March 2020, with the implementation of COVID‑19 restrictions, OT training – characterised by regular face-to-face contact between lecturers, students and service users – had to transform rapidly to virtual contact sessions. Although the HPCSA adapted regulations to allow for alternatives to traditional WIL, navigating the transformation to alternative clinical learning activities was challenging for teaching staff. Lecturers were concerned about whether they would be able to guide students to reach the learning outcomes of the curriculum.http://www.sajs.org.za/index.php/ajhpeEducation InnovationOccupational Therap

Multilingualism and augmentative and alternative communication in South Africa – Exploring the views of persons with complex communication needs

Background: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can assist persons with complex communication needs to communicate competently with a variety of communication partners in a variety of contexts. However, AAC systems and intervention often do not take multilingual aspects into consideration. Objective: This small-scale exploratory study had three aims, namely: (1) to describe the self-reported language skills of multilingual South African adults using AAC, (2) to describe the languages and communication modalities they used in interaction and (3) to obtain their views regarding access to various languages. Methods: Twenty-seven adults using AAC were recruited via an empowerment programme, as well as an email list for persons interested in AAC, and provided responses to a questionnaire. To compensate for access and written language challenges, the questionnaire was administered with help and/or as a face-to-face interview where needed. Responses were analysed using mostly descriptive statistics. Results: Participants generally could not express themselves in all the languages they understood and were regularly exposed to. Speech-generating devices specifically gave access almost exclusively to English. Participants expressed a desire to increase their expressive language repertoire, and mentioned both limitations of communication technology as well as their own literacy skills as barriers to overcome in this regard. Conclusion: In order for multilingual South African adults using AAC to express themselves in multiple languages, appropriate AAC systems and interventions as well as literacy learning opportunities need to be developed and provided

Multilingualism and augmentative and alternative communication in South Africa – exploring the views of persons with complex communication needs

BACKGROUND : Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can assist persons with complex communication needs to communicate competently with a variety of communication partners in a variety of contexts. However, AAC systems and intervention often do not take multilingual aspects into consideration. OBJECTIVE : This small-scale exploratory study had three aims, namely: (1) to describe the self-reported language skills of multilingual South African adults using AAC, (2) to describe the languages and communication modalities they used in interaction and (3) to obtain their views regarding access to various languages. METHODS : Twenty-seven adults using AAC were recruited via an empowerment programme, as well as an email list for persons interested in AAC, and provided responses to a questionnaire. To compensate for access and written language challenges, the questionnaire was administered with help and/or as a face-to-face interview where needed. Responses were analysed using mostly descriptive statistics. RESULTS : Participants generally could not express themselves in all the languages they understood and were regularly exposed to. Speech-generating devices specifically gave access almost exclusively to English. Participants expressed a desire to increase their expressive language repertoire, and mentioned both limitations of communication technology as well as their own literacy skills as barriers to overcome in this regard. CONCLUSION : In order for multilingual South African adults using AAC to express themselves in multiple languages, appropriate AAC systems and interventions as well as literacy learning opportunities need to be developed and provided.The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Research Office of the University of Pretoria (grant number TTK 150617119597).http://www.ajod.orghj2019Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC

Fire-arm Related Homicides in Gauteng

This fact sheet reports on firearm-related homicide, recorded by the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS), at nine forensic pathology services in the province of Gauteng for 2011, the latest year for which NIMSS data are available. NIMSS is managed and co-ordinated by the Safety and Peace Promotion Research Unit of the Medical Research Council and University of South Africa (MRC-UNISA SAPPRU). NIMSS aims to: provide comprehensive information about deaths due to external causes, establish a permanent comprehensive automated system that will timeously register all injury deaths that occur in all nine provinces of South Africa, and inform initiatives for the prevention of non-natural fatalities. NIMSS provides information on the major causes of non-natural deaths and their related demographic, seasonal and circumstantial factors. Presently, NIMSS focuses on the provinces of Gauteng and Mpumalanga in South Africa

Children in South Africa with and without intellectual disabilities’ rating of their frequency of participation in everyday activities

In a low-and middle-income country (LMIC) such as South Africa, not much is known about how children with intellectual disabilities (ID) participate in everyday activities, as no studies to date have compared their participation to peers without ID from the same background. Using a newly developed, contextually valid measure of participation, Picture my Participation (PmP), 106 children with (73) and without ID (33), rated their frequency of participation in activities of daily living. Previous international research has established that children with ID tend to participate less frequently than children without ID in everyday activities outside of the school setting. However, much of this research is based on proxy ratings from caregivers rather than children with ID themselves. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests children with disabilities have uniquely different views of their own participation than their caregivers. The existing research evidence is also delimited to studies conducted predominantly in high income contexts (HICSs). Since it is universally acknowledged that participation patterns are affected by the environment, it is important to evaluate the generalizability of the current evidence to LMICs. The current study found that there were many similar patterns of participation between the two groups although significant differences were noted in social, community, leisure and self-care activities. We compare these results to findings from studies conducted in HICs and find that there are similarities but also differences across contexts. This study highlights the importance of gaining a child’s perspective of participation and understanding how intellectual disability can affect participation relative to peers without ID in LMICS.The National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT).http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerphpm2021Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC

The impact of COVID-19 on occupational therapy services in Gauteng province, South Africa : a qualitative study

The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare services has been widely reported, but limited information is available on its impact on rehabilitation services in South Africa. This article reports on the impact of COVID-19 on Occupational Therapy services and programmes in public and private health care as delivered by occupational therapists.A qualitative case study design was selected to explore the perceptions of occupational therapists in private and public healthcare settings regarding the impact of COVID-19 on rehabilitation services. Asynchronous on-line focus group interviews were conducted by a team of researchers. The data were thematically analysed.Three themes emerged from the data. Theme 1, the ‘impact on the practice context’, revealed that infection prevention and control protocols were a barrier to achieving rehabilitation goals. An enabler was the therapists’ creativity and new ways of practice. Theme 2 described the ‘impact on the service-users’ where isolation and physical distancing curbed access to rehabilitation services. The struggle of vulnerable populations and socio-economic disparities in healthcare was evident in these data. Theme 3 referred to changes in the ‘professional and personal self’ of the occupational therapists. Challenges to ethical practices − for example, the uncertainty of the benefit of adapted services − resulted in stress and anxiety among therapists. Constantly adapting to changes in Regulations caused compassion fatigue, but therapists also reported healthy coping strategies and resilience. Occupational Therapy rehabilitation services should be listed as essential in times of a pandemic. Better health and social support to vulnerable populations should be established, as their challenges escalated during COVID-19. Research is required to determine practice guidelines and effectiveness of novel rehabilitation practices that were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.http://www.journals.co.za/content/journal/healthrOccupational Therap

Physical activity resource needs of occupational therapists in primary public health care in Gauteng, South Africa

DATA AVAILABILITY : Upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.INTRODUCTION : Resource constraints in primary health care settings in South Africa give rise to challenges for occupational therapists. This study aimed to determine the physical activity resource needs (including objects used and space demands) of occupational therapists in the primary health care context of Gauteng, South Africa. METHOD : A qualitative, descriptive research design was used. The participants were occupational therapists working in primary health care settings in Gauteng. Convenience and snowball sampling were used. Data were collected through two online asynchronised focus groups, conducted over three days each. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS : Findings included the resource constraints experienced by occupational therapists and how the occupational therapists' adaptability helped them overcome these constraints. Space, resources for basic and instrumental activities of daily living, assistive devices, Bobath plinths and recyclable and low-cost materials were identified as being particularly useful physical activity resource needs. CONCLUSION : Although limited physical activity resources were available in the settings, therapists' skills in adaptability proved useful in using unconventional resources instead. This study's results identify physical resources deemed as most useful to provide occupational therapy services in primary health care. Furthermore, the results provide information to the education faculty in order to adapt the undergraduate curriculum to better prepare occupational therapy students for practice in primary health care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE : • The findings can be communicated to management of primary health care facilities in order to procure or advocate for the procurement of resources deemed as essential in primary health care practice contexts. • Innovation, problem-solving and adaptability can be valuable characteristics used in professional reasoning that may enable occupational therapists to overcome physical resource barriers. • Faculty at tertiary educational institutions may utilise the findings in order to adapt curriculums to better prepare occupational therapists for work in the South African primary health care context. • Occupational therapy students should gain experience in developing and adapting activities using recyclable and reusable materials for diverse clients, including children and adults.http://www.sajot.co.za/index.php/sajothj2023Occupational Therap