1,721,015 research outputs found
Assistive technology recommendations: measuring device use, discontinuance, and client satisfaction in rehabilitation settings
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: Device discontinuance is a widespread problem with assistive technology (AT) and durable medical equipment (DME), affecting approximately one third of people with disabilities who successfully acquire equipment. Consumers’ dissatisfaction with service and device-related factors can directly lead to AT device non-use. Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation Theory provides a foundation for understanding how to address device discontinuance, potentially through follow-up services.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this doctoral capstone is to discuss the piloting and feasibility of using follow-up outcome measures in an outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation setting in order to identify and address challenges with equipment discontinuance.
METHODS: A sample of 69 clients receiving equipment recommendations from a specialty AT clinic were contacted. The COPM, ATUFS, and QUEST 2.0 were piloted to measure device use and satisfaction. The feasibility of using these measures within a follow-up protocol for this outpatient practice was then evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 63% of the sample (N=69) was successfully contacted. The site-specific protocol successfully determined whether these clients had acquired and used their devices, subsequently allowing AT practitioners to provide additional supports for clients who had experienced discontinuance or non-acquisition.
CONCLUSION: Using standardized outcome measures to follow-up with clients in this setting was deemed not feasible secondary to time constraints and difficulty contacting clients. Recommendations for improving follow-up with and without use of standardized measures is discussed. Follow-up encouraged clients to schedule additional appointments, utilize recommended funding resources, or seek out referrals
Accessing adventure: designing accessible outcome measures for outdoor adventure programs
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: Despite the benefits of outdoor pursuits, people with disabilities engage in recreation less frequently and with less variety when compared to able-bodied peers. Waypoint Adventure, a non-profit organization, facilitates outdoor adventure programs for adults and youth with a range of disabilities. The organization is revising its program evaluation process to document outcomes that are meaningful to participants and communicate the benefits of programs to funders and other stakeholders.
OBJECTIVE: Utilize principles of Universal Design for Learning and activity analysis to create and implement a program evaluation process that is accessible and feasible for use by an adaptive recreation organization.
ACTIVITIES: A needs assessment was conducted to identify outcomes, stakeholders, and current program evaluation processes. Drawing upon evidence regarding cognitive accessibility design features, an accessible survey was created to measure participant outcomes. Data from cognitive interviews was used to revise the survey to address accessibility and increase response rates. Additional products include a Program Evaluation Manual, Program Evaluation Kit, and two surveys to elicit perspectives from parents and teachers.
OUTCOMES: The new program evaluation process was pilot tested over a one-month period. During 18 outdoor programs, 79 survey responses were collected, representing 61% of all participants. Staff satisfaction with the program evaluation process improved in all dimensions measured.
CONCLUSION: Integrating principles of Universal Design for Learning and activity analysis was an effective approach to improve the accessibility and efficacy of program evaluation for an adaptive recreation organization
Getting there together professional development course: shared-decision making in wheelchair evaluations
Full text linkThe wheelchair evaluation process is complicated for clinicians and consumers alike. Consumers report feeling uninvolved in the wheelchair evaluation process resulting in feeling uniformed and dissatisfied and in some cases, being prescribed wheelchairs that do not meet their needs. Consequently, consumers may abandon the recommended wheelchair which may impact participation in Mobility-Related Activities of Daily Living (M-RADLs). Shared-Decision Making (SDM), used in healthcare encounters, may be used by clinicians to facilitate a collaborative process when recommending wheelchairs. This project proposes a continuing education course designed to teach the principles of SDM and guide clinicians’ implementation of SDM into their practices
Online resource for parents of children with congenital hand differences
Full text linkChildren with congenital hand differences (CHD) are at risk for social isolation, increased anxiety, and lower rates of self-esteem when compared to their typically developing peers (Lumsdaine et al, 2016). Parents may feel guilt, isolation, and may have perceived lack of resources to best support their children (Ardon, Janssen, Hovius, Stam, & Selles, 2012; Murray, Kelley-Soderholm, & Murray, 2007). Goffman (1963) explained that society perceives that individuals with differences belong to the “other” category deprived of social privileges which are standard to those in the “in-group”. Many children with congenital hand differences and their parents have limited access to the resources to manage and cope effectively with the negative assumptions about their ability.. This doctoral capstone project describes the development of an online resource for parents of children with congenital hand differences. The content for the webpage is based on literature, clinical and personal experiences. The online resource was designed to increase feelings of support, community, and effective coping for parents of children with CHD.
Fourteen parents were recruited via social media platforms to review and evaluate the website. Responded evaluated the ease in website navigation, the usefulness of content, and rated their likelihood to use and to recommend the website. Parents on average found the website easy to navigate, useful, and were likely to use, and recommend the website
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Parent and student involvement in individualized education program development for transition-age autistic students
Full text linkParents and transition-age students are by law meant to be involved in the special education plan development process. Autistic1 youth and their parents, however, are often not meaningfully involved. The overall aim of the dissertation was to understand parents’ and youth’s experiences of their involvement in Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and their perspectives on ideal involvement for diploma-track autistic youth. The first study utilized data from IEP documents and interviews with parents and autistic youth to understand how their perspectives had been taken into account in the development of the youth’s IEP. Findings illustrated considerable variability in how parents’ and youth’s perspectives were documented and incorporated into students’ special education plans. The second study utilized data from interviews regarding parents’ and autistic youth’s ideal involvement in IEP development, and resulted in an initial conceptual framework that outlines different types of desired involvement, foundational ideal elements, and variable ideal elements of parent and student involvement in IEP planning. Findings from the dissertation have implications for special education practice and support further research inquiries focused on parent and student involvement in IEP development.2022-09-25T00:00:00
A qualitative follow-up study of adults who received sensory integration therapy as children
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: Sensory processing is associated with occupational performance in both children and adults; however, no studies have examined adults with confirmed childhood sensory processing challenges. Additionally, no follow-up or longitudinal studies on sensory processing from childhood into adulthood have been found.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this doctoral capstone was to better understand the lived experience of adults who had sensory processing challenges as children.
METHODS: Using a phenomenological design, four adults who received sensory integration therapy as children were interviewed regarding their perspective about current and past sensory processing and occupational performance. Retrospective and current data on demographics, sensory processing, and occupational performance were examined alongside interview data. Each data set was analyzed on an individual level, and then the four cases were compared and contrasted.
RESULTS: Participants had completed at least some undergraduate education and were employed or seeking employment. Two of the adults report current mental health diagnoses. The participants perceived themselves as currently having mild challenges or no challenges with sensory processing and motor coordination. Participants reported social-emotional difficulties and a lack of awareness of sensory processing. They view structure and routine as supports for their daily occupational performance.
CONCLUSION: Four adults who had sensory processing challenges as children reflected on their sensory processing and occupational performance. They attributed their occupational performance challenges to a range of factors, including sensory processing, motor coordination, stress, and anxiety. There is a need for therapists and caregivers to explain sensory processing and sensory integration therapy to children
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