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Lim GH, Yong C, Breen LJ, Keesing S, Buchanan A. Occupations and occupational therapy practice with Chinese older adults living with life-limiting illnesses in Singapore: A focus group study. Aust Occup Ther J 2024; 71:565-577. [PMID: 38499502 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While Singapore is rapidly ageing and the need for palliative care services is projected to rise, there has been limited exploration of the occupations of Chinese older adults with life-limiting conditions. This study is the third in a series of three studies aimed to address this issue. This study also sought to discuss future directions for occupational therapy practice with Chinese older adults living with life-limiting illnesses in Singapore. METHOD The study adopted a qualitative exploratory design using focus groups. Participants were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were occupational therapists who had attained full registration status with the Allied Health Professionals Council in Singapore, had two or more years of practice as an occupational therapist, and had a current or recent palliative care caseload. FINDINGS Three focus groups with 16 participants were conducted, and three themes were constructed from the data through reflexive thematic analysis. Reflections on culture and occupations is about the impact of a collectivist culture on occupations, such as tensions new caregivers experience between keeping clients safe and respecting clients' choices. It also highlights that there will always be individual differences within any cultural group. Challenges of occupational therapy practice in palliative care describe the need for therapists to be comfortable with rest and ethical tensions participants faced with billing for sessions that mainly involved time spent conversing with clients and when clients and caregivers' goals differed. Finally, Moving forward is about the importance of having mentors and the learning needs of occupational therapists in palliative care. CONCLUSION Occupational therapists experienced in providing services to palliative care clients in Singapore emphasised the collectivist nature of Singaporean Chinese families and contributed more information to its possible impact on occupations and occupational therapy practice and made suggestions for future practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geck Hoon Lim
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Health & Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
| | | | - Lauren J Breen
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Curtin enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sharon Keesing
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Angus Buchanan
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Babish YR, Nammoura L, Abu-Asabeh K. The Effects of Culture and Gender on Occupational Therapy Practice for Adults: From Palestinian Therapists' Perspective. Occup Ther Health Care 2024:1-20. [PMID: 38860889 DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2024.2366331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
As the occupational therapy profession is rooted in Western ideals, it may encounter complexities in culturally traditional settings like Palestine, especially for adults. This study reveals the challenges faced by occupational therapists in Palestine. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used, interviewing six experienced female therapists using semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling ensured a diverse participant selection. Thematic analysis revealed several key themes, such as the continuous adaptation to Western practices to fit the Palestinian context, the value of interdependence, and the unique life balance. Results show that cultural and gender norms significantly shape occupational therapy practices in Palestine. The discussion emphasizes the theoretical necessity for cultural sensitivity in occupational therapy, advocating alignment with local values and addressing resource limitations for effective service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef R Babish
- Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bethlehem University, Palestine
| | - Lama Nammoura
- Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Bethlehem University, Palestine
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Alwawi DA, Jarrar M, Malkawi S. Attitudes and perceived barriers to evidence-based practice among occupational therapists in Jordan. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299013. [PMID: 38781274 PMCID: PMC11115225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Evidence-based practice (EBP) refers to the clinical decision-making process incorporating the best available evidence from research, therapists' clinical experience, and patient values. The current study aimed to examine the experience of Jordanian occupational therapy practitioners (OTs) in using EBP and to identify the perceived barriers to implementing EBP among OTs in Jordan. The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive study design. A questionnaire was emailed to OTs who have been working in Jordan for the last six months of their practice in a clinical setting. The majority of the participants had a positive attitude toward EBP. However, they reported several barriers to implementing EBP, including a lack of tools and equipment in clinical settings as a major barrier (65.8%). National collaborative actions are needed to develop strategies to improve the utilization of EBP in occupational therapy (OT) practice and to overcome the barriers therapists experience with implementing EBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dua’a Akram Alwawi
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Majd Jarrar
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Somaya Malkawi
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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Aljabri NQ, Bulkeley K, Cusick A. The Occupational Therapy Profession in Saudi Arabia. Occup Ther Int 2024; 2024:9982661. [PMID: 38274406 PMCID: PMC10807978 DOI: 10.1155/2024/9982661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective To provide an evidence-based description of how the occupational therapy profession operates in Saudi Arabia. Methods A case study methodology set out an evidence-based description of occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia. Three procedures were used: (1) a structured narrative review of publications on occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia based on searches of seven healthcare databases; (2) an audit of "grey literature" about or referring to occupational therapy education, practice, research, or the profession in Saudi Arabia using Google Scholar, Google search, official documents and websites, and relevant global organisation such as the WFOT website and documents; and (3) consultation with occupational therapists to further discuss emerging evidence from peer-reviewed articles and grey literature about occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected in Arabic and English. Findings. Occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia is a rapidly growing and emerging profession primarily focused on rehabilitation practice. Between 2010 and 2019, seven academic organisations commenced bachelor's degree programmes. Occupational therapy services in Saudi Arabia are concentrated in city-based secondary and tertiary healthcare services targeting rehabilitation and disability support. The practice aims to promote the reduction in impairment and increase activity performance and participation in valued life roles. Despite the increasing demand for occupational therapy services, there needs to be more access to and availability of their services. Enhancement of the awareness of occupational therapy among the public and other healthcare professionals is needed. A consistent definition of occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia would strengthen the profession, along with a national scope of practice, practice guidelines, increased workforce and development, and professional education information. Conclusion Occupational therapy in Saudi Arabia is growing regarding the size of the workforce and the number of programmes and services provided, thus contributing to the health and well-being of the population primarily through rehabilitation. Further development of the profession is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif Qasem Aljabri
- College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kim Bulkeley
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anne Cusick
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Abdalrahim MS, Issa SS, Albusoul R. Spiritual well-being among patients newly diagnosed with cancer in Jordan: thematic analysis. Support Care Cancer 2023; 31:620. [PMID: 37815651 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08095-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients newly diagnosed with cancer experience a grief process that disturbs their spiritual well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the spiritual well-being among patients with cancer within the first 3 months of diagnosis. METHODS The study used a qualitative approach using thematic analysis. In-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen participants diagnosed with cancer within the first 3 months prior to data collection using a purposive sampling method. The interviews took place in oncology outpatient clinics at three selected hospitals in Jordan. RESULTS Four main themes emerged from the texts of the participants' stories. These themes were "Hopeful yet uncertain expectation of achieving future goals," "A wake-up call for self-transcendence," "Religious struggle," and "Facing Reality provoke questions about meaning of life." CONCLUSION To conclude, analysis of texts from the Jordanian patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer has revealed rich and meaningful evidence of the effect of this diagnosis on disturbing patients' beliefs and meaning of life. Those patients may experience uncertainty; however, they become more connected with others and God. Health care providers need to understand patients' sources of hope and adjustment that may influence management goals before and during starting treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysoon S Abdalrahim
- Clinical Nursing Department, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan.
| | - Shaymma S Issa
- School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Randa Albusoul
- Clinical Nursing Department, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
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Lim GH, Yong C, Breen LJ, Keesing S, Buchanan A. Occupational therapy practice with terminally ill Chinese older adults in Singapore: A qualitative exploratory study. Aust Occup Ther J 2023; 70:18-31. [PMID: 35791064 PMCID: PMC10083987 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1630.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As the majority of occupational therapy philosophy has Western origins, occupational therapists working with palliative care clients in Singapore can provide invaluable insight into the practice of occupational therapy within a non-Western, family-centric population. This study aimed to describe occupational therapists' perceptions of the occupations of terminally ill Chinese older adults and their caregivers and explore occupational therapy practice with terminally ill Chinese older adults in Singapore. METHODS Eleven occupational therapists were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were being fully registered with the Allied Health Professionals Council (Singapore) with at least 2 years of working experience and currently working with/had experience working with terminally ill patients within the past 2 years. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS Five themes were constructed from the data: (1) Independence may not be for everyone, (2) it is a family unit, (3) contributing to others' lives is important, (4) what respecting clients means, and (5) a different way of engaging. These themes describe how occupational therapists adapted their practice to better meet the needs of clients and families in Singapore. DISCUSSION In family-centric societies, it may be more relevant for occupational therapists to facilitate interdependence instead of independence in activities of daily living. In addition, activities that contribute to others' lives tangibly/intangibly may be more meaningful and relevant. Finally, occupational therapists could engage clients through the 'being' instead of 'doing' dimension of occupation. CONCLUSION While occupational therapists in Singapore faced some challenges working with terminally ill clients and families due to differences between occupational therapy philosophy and practice context, by reframing their thinking, they were able to adapt their practices to meet the needs of a family-centric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geck Hoon Lim
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Health and Social Sciences, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
| | | | - Lauren J Breen
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.,Curtin enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Sharon Keesing
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Angus Buchanan
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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Al-Heizan MO, Shoman A, Tawffeq A, Banamah A, Balkhair F, Filimban S, Alsinan W, Batouk O, Turkistani T. The Efficacy of a Preoperative Occupational Therapy Educational Session for Saudi Patients Undergoing a Lower Extremity Joint Replacement. J Multidiscip Healthc 2023; 16:31-38. [PMID: 36647439 PMCID: PMC9840369 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s394761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Prior to a lower extremity joint replacement, many surgical candidates participate in a preoperative occupational therapy educational program that is meant to increase patient awareness, promote positive health behaviors, and improve health outcomes after surgery. With the limited number of occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia, patients may only receive one preoperative educational session. The objective of the study was to explore the efficacy of one preoperative occupational therapy educational session for patients undergoing a lower extremity joint replacement. Methods A total of 19 participants were included in the study, 7 participants to the intervention and 12 participants to the control groups. Participants underwent either a total knee or total hip replacement. The intervention group received one preoperative educational session prior to the surgery and the control group received usual care. After the surgery, both groups were assessed on pain (SF-MPQ), Satisfaction (SPSQ), Quality of life (QOLS), functional performance (FIM). Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare between groups. Results The findings showed significant improvements in both pain (12.14 ± 7.22 vs 21.25 ± 8.60; p=0.02) and satisfaction (106.28 ± 25.17 vs 78.08 ± 31.49; p=0.03) when compared to usual care. Although both FIM and QOLS scores indicated improvements when compared to usual care, these results were not statistically significant. Effect sizes showed moderate and large effects for score differences on both the SF-MPQ and SPSQ (r= 0.47, r=0.52) respectively. Whereas effect sizes for score differences on both the FIM and QOLS were small. Conclusion An occupational therapy preoperative education session shows promise for patients undergoing lower extremity joint replacement; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad O Al-Heizan
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,Correspondence: Muhammad O Al-Heizan, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 503483618, Email
| | - Amna Shoman
- Saudi Autistic Society, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Tawffeq
- King Khalid National Guard Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ansam Banamah
- Sinad City for Special Education, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fanar Balkhair
- Children with Disability Association, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Walla Alsinan
- King Khalid National Guard Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar Batouk
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Taghreed Turkistani
- Occupational Therapy Department, Armed Forces Center for Health Rehabilitation, Taif, Saudi Arabia
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Ouellet L, Grandisson M, Fletcher C. Development of rehabilitation services in an Inuit sociocultural context: challenges, strategies and considerations for the future. Int J Circumpolar Health 2022; 81:2058694. [PMID: 35354359 PMCID: PMC8973344 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2022.2058694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a new rehabilitation programme has been developed on the Hudson Bay coast of Nunavik. The purpose of this article is to reflect on the experience of an occupational and physical therapy programme development in an Inuit sociocultural context. To do so, the challenges encountered during the first years following the implementation of rehabilitation services and the strategies implemented by the professionals to overcome them were identified, examined in the light of the literature, and discussed with members of the rehabilitation team. The challenges encountered and strategies implemented were divided into 10 major themes: (1) diverse clinical needs; (2) communication issues; (3) acquisition of cross-cultural interaction and population-specific knowledge; (4) adaptation of clinical practice to Nunavimmiut; (5) client engagement in rehabilitation; (6) professional isolation; (7) lack of awareness around the objectives and scope of rehabilitation practice; (8) use of culturally safe assessment tools; (9) staff turnover; (10) large geographic area to be served. This exercise highlighted the need to adapt clinical rehabilitation practices to Nunavimmiut’s worldviews and culture, as well as to adopt a reflective practice in order to improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of rehabilitation services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauriane Ouellet
- Département de réadaptation, Centre de santé Inuulitsivik, Nunavik, QC, Canada.,Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, QC, Canada.,Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie Grandisson
- Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département de réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Fletcher
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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