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The Lived Experience of Therapists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study Using Photovoice Methodology
Get PDFBackground: The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of therapists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method: A qualitative phenomenological design using photovoice methodology for collecting data was used (Wang & Burris, 1997). The study participants included twelve therapists. Using photovoice methodology, the participants used a picture to represent their experience and wrote an accompanying narrative to address the question, “How has COVID-19 impacted your life?” Thematic analysis was used to code and develop themes for the participant photovoices and the virtual focus group transcripts (Braun & Clark, 2006). Zoom was used as the virtual platform for the virtual focus groups and member checking was used to verify themes.
Results: Four themes were identified: (a) work and life were characterized by disruption and change, (b) adaptations were necessary to manage this new reality, (c) hope and optimism were juxtaposed with continued uncertainty and fear, and (d) with the change came new opportunities, growth, renewed strength, and resilience.
Conclusion: The difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic were more apparent in the focus groups than in the initial photovoice project. The participants reported they felt the COVID-19 pandemic was more traumatic than their photovoices demonstrated. It was the therapists working on the COVID-19 units who expressed experiencing substantial stress and trauma
Establishing Reliability and Validity for a Professional Development Tool for Graduate Health Care Programs
Get PDFProfessional development ensures practitioners develop the necessary skills to succeed in multifaceted clinical roles. To provide evidence-based best practices, health practitioners need to possess critical thinking, executive functioning, and emotional intelligence skills. Study aimed to establish psychometric properties to the Inventory of Professional and Academic Reasoning (IPAR). Two cross-sectional studies of reliability and validity were used. The participants included 139 health profession students, of which 93 students participated in the first study and 46 occupational therapy students participated in the second study. Data were collected online and at fieldwork sites using a background questionnaire, IPAR, Executive Function Index, and the Student Evaluation of Level I Fieldwork. IPAR reliability was found satisfactory. No significant differences were found between students’ IPAR ratings across health professions programs. A discrepancy between students’ self-rating of professional skills and the supervisor’s evaluation of clinical competencies was found. The consistent pattern of overestimation of IPAR competencies suggests a gap in student self-awareness with actual practice skills. The IPAR can enhance the advisement process to support students’ professional development. It will enable students to gain insight into their strengths and weaknesses as they enter their respective fields
Health Considerations with GrandFamilies
Get PDFWith four decades of accumulated evidence, we understand that despite the challenges they face, custodial grandparents (CGPs) demonstrate remarkable resilience. As a population, however, they are at increased risk of diminished health, both physical and psychological. Understanding the complex health-related factors frequently associated with CGP is crucial to devising and implementing effective interventions. CGP health status may be impacted by the demands of caregiving, demographics, trauma-induced stress, other factors, or a combination thereof. Underscoring this is the recognition that CGPs disproportionately experience cumulative demographic risk factors compared to their non-caregiving peers
Curriculum for Kinship Caregivers: Evaluating the Feasibility of Implementing across Different Service Settings
Get PDFThis localized program evaluation provides an example of how to determine the feasibility of utilizing a kinship parent training across different service settings. A total of seven facilitators taught the curriculum in different service settings including structured in-person and online training classes, support groups, and the utilization of training by tribal kinship navigators as part of individual service delivery. The fidelity tracking process provided a venue for each of these service provider types to document the strengths and challenges of implementing each of the components of the Inherent Strengths curriculum across these different service settings with the kinship populations they serve. Suggestions are offered on how to adapt the curriculum to maximize its utility for each of the three types of service settings
Occupational Therapy’s Role for Gender-Affirming Genital Surgeries: Metoidioplasty and Phalloplasty
Get PDFThis article explores the new surgical population of gender-affirming surgery, specifically genital surgeries of phalloplasty and metoidioplasty for transgender and gender-diverse people. There are established perioperative rehabilitation guidelines for nearly all other surgeries. A growing population of people is seeking gender-affirming health care that includes genital surgery. This article reviews the guidelines set forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care, Version 8, explores the occupational needs of this population, as well as provides suggestions for future versions of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, version 4, to provide more inclusive language for the unique needs of this population following surgery