Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Adaptation of the Assessment of Positive Occupation-15 (APO-15) in Serious Mental Illness

The concept of positive occupations that enhance physical, mental, and social well-being is a novel idea that integrates positive psychology and occupational therapy. Valid and reliable scales are required to assess positive occupations for well-being in mental health settings. In this regard, the Assessment of Positive Occupation-15 (APO-15) is unique, as it evaluates positive occupations that promote health and well-being. This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of and determine the cutoff value of the Turkish version of the APO-15 in individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). The study was conducted with 106 individuals with SMI. The structural validity of the scale items was determined using confirmatory factor analysis, while the reliability of the scale was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (ω) coefficients. The comparative fit index (0.964) and the Tucker-Lewis index (0.955) demonstrated a good fit. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were .826, .814, .707, and .674, and the total scale score was 0.924. McDonald's ω coefficients for the four scale dimensions were 0.832, 0.818, 0.716, and 0.727. The cutoff point of 49.50 for the APO-15 for point sensitivity (0.727) and specificity (0.766) yielded good results. The Turkish version of the APO-15 is an effective and reliable tool for assessing well-being in mental health settings.

Assessment of motor and process skills in Danish occupational therapy practice

BACKGROUND

The demand for employment of standardized evaluations is increasing. In Denmark, approximately 25% of all occupational therapists (OTs) are trained to use the standardized occupational therapy instrument Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS).

AIMS

To investigate the use of AMPS within Danish occupational therapy practice and determine factors supporting or hindering the use.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among OTs from various settings.

RESULTS

Overall, 844 calibrated OTs participated in the survey. Of these, 540 (64%) met the inclusion criteria and 486 (90%) completed the questionnaire. Forty percent of the participants used the AMPS in a standardized way during a one-month period and 56% reported being dissatisfied with the low number of AMPS evaluations completed. Five supporting and nine hindering factors were found to significantly influence the use of standardized AMPS evaluations.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Despite demands for standardized evaluations, the AMPS is not regularly used in a standardized way within Danish occupational therapy practice. Use of AMPS in clinical practice seems to be facilitated by an acknowledgement from the management and the OT's ability to develop habits and routines. Time restraints were reported, however, time to conduct evaluations was not a statistically significant influencing factor.

Clinical practices, challenges, and job satisfaction of occupational therapists working in Community Mental Health Centers in Turkey

Introduction:

Occupational therapists have been involved in Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) since 2016 in Turkey. To the best of our knowledge, no data about occupational therapists’ practices in CMHCs is available in the extant research literature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the clinical practices, challenges, and job satisfaction of occupational therapists working for CMHCs in Turkey.

Method:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey study in which 28 volunteer occupational therapists working in CMHCs participated. The participants filled out the Sociodemographic and Professional Experience Information Form and the Job Satisfaction Scale.

Results:

Occupational therapists were experienced practitioners implementing various occupational therapist practices in community mental health and they were generally satisfied with their job. The challenges facing Occupational therapists were communicating with caregivers, motivating the client, enabling the client to perform occupational participation. Collaborative teamwork and participation in training about community mental health were found as the important factors contributing to occupational therapist professionals’ job satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Investigating the professional behaviors of Occupational therapists, an emerging health profession in Turkey, is important for the development of the profession. The education and supervision specially adapted for community mental health and the supportive teamwork seem to be significant for the job satisfaction of community mental health Occupational therapists.

Identification and Use of Assessment Tools in Spanish Occupational Therapists: An Exploratory Study

The use of standardized assessment tools is essential for the occupational therapy intervention process to ensure clinical practice is appropriate and of high quality. This study aimed to explore which assessment tools Spanish occupational therapists use in their clinical practice. An ad hoc online questionnaire of 19 open and closed questions was used to collect information on assessment tools, socio-demographics, and academic background. The assessment tools were classified according to the main domains of occupational therapy using the last edition of the American Occupational Therapy Association framework. The survey was completed by 73 Spanish occupational therapists, of whom 86.3% were women; the median age was 31 years, and more than 60% treated people suffering from neurological and neurodegenerative disorders or worked in geriatric medicine. Of 147 assessment tools identified, those designed to assess activities of daily living, body functions, process skills, and motor skills were the instruments most frequently used. Specifically, the Barthel Index, Lawton Instrumental ADL Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Sensory Profile 2, and Mini-Examen Cognoscitivo were the tools most employed by Spanish occupational therapists. However, more than one third of the participants used assessment tools without knowing whether they were validated in the Spanish context and/or a specific target population. To our knowledge, this is the first time a study has examined the use and type of assessment tools in Spanish occupational therapists. Our results may constitute a positive step forward for developing strategies for enhancing evidence-based assessment in occupational therapy practice.

Routine use proportion and determining factors of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in the real-world setting: A retrospective cross-sectional study in Japan

Introduction

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study is to examine the routine use proportion and factors determining the use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in the real-world subacute rehabilitation setting.

Methods

This study retrospectively collected data from all inpatients and occupational therapists at a single Japanese subacute rehabilitation ward during 2017, including Functional Independence Measure motor/cognitive scores, years of experience, and rate of Canadian Occupational Performance Measure administration (that is, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure proportion). Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the determining factors of daily routine Canadian Occupational Performance Measure use/non-use, after which cut-off values were calculated.

Results

Of the 619 included clients, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure was applied in 232 cases (37%). A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed two significant determining factors of its use: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure proportion (odds ratio, 1.06) and Functional Independence Measure cognitive item (odds ratio, 1.22). The cut-off value, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively, were 35.4%, 0.73, and 0.36 ( p < 0.0001) for the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure proportion and 25.5, 0.84, and 0.45 ( p < 0.0001) for the Functional Independence Measure cognitive score.

Conclusion

The client’s high-level cognitive skill and occupational therapist’s attitude may determine the use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.

[Overview of the assessment practices of occupational therapists working in Quebec]

BACKGROUND.

In occupational therapy practice, client assessments are essential for establishing treatment priorities and determining the effectiveness of interventions. However, occupational therapists' assessment practices are not well documented.

PURPOSE.

This work aimed to provide an overview of the assessment practices of Quebec occupational therapists based on the person-environment-occupation components and clienteles.

METHOD.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online survey that was sent to occupational therapists in Quebec.

FINDINGS.

In paediatrics, occupational therapists tend to use standardized tools to assess physical and neurological abilities. Adult assessment focuses mainly on physical abilities and productivity. For seniors, assessment focuses mainly on functional aspects (physical abilities, personal care, and home safety) and screening for cognitive difficulties.

IMPLICATIONS.

Occupational therapy assessment mostly focuses on physicial abilities. To ensure a holistic approach, more occupational and environmental components should be included in the assessment practices.

Barriers and facilitators of participation in intervention research by mental health occupational therapists

Statement of context

Occupational therapists in clinical practice are required to deliver interventions within clinical trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions. Challenges to participation in intervention research by occupational therapists working in community mental health have been identified and require further investigation.

Critical reflection on practice

A cross-sectional online survey of occupational therapists working in mental health was used, and obtained a 50% ( n = 144) response rate. Limited time, large generic caseloads, and lack of skills and experience in research were identified barriers to participation in occupational therapy intervention research. Occupational therapists had limited dedicated time to carry out occupational therapy interventions and outcome measurement was limited.

Implications for practice

Occupational therapy roles need to be regained in adult community mental health alongside routine outcome measurement. This will enable occupational therapy interventions to contribute to community mental health services and support participation in clinical trials of occupational therapy interventions.

Influences of patient informed cognitive complaints on activities of daily living in patients with bipolar disorder. An exploratory cross-sectional study

Many patients with bipolar disorder (BD) experience debilitating cognitive deficits, with risk of impaired occupational and psychosocial functioning. However, knowledge of how these deficits impact the patients' ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL), tasks related to self-care and domestic life is limited. We explored the relation between impaired cognitive function and the ability to perform ADL in patients with BD. A total of 42 outpatients (mean age 36 years (range 19.0-58.0 years), 69% women) with BD in remission and with subjective cognitive complaints (≥ 13 on the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment questionnaire (COBRA)) were included. Objective neurocognitive function was evaluated with a short comprehensive cognitive test battery and ADL ability was evaluated with the performance-based Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) in the homes of the patients. Our findings indicate that low processing speed correlated with decreased ADL ability, and processing speed as measured by the cognitive test battery thus seems to be significantly related to patients' ability to live independently in the community. Overall, adding a performance based test to assess ADL ability in patients with BD home-surroundings seems to provide new insights regarding the effect of cognitive impairment in patients with BD.