Theses and Dissertations (Occupational Therapy)http://hdl.handle.net/2263/324942024-03-19T11:46:49Z2024-03-19T11:46:49ZTrauma releasing exercises as a treatment technique : a scoping reviewhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/940852024-02-26T09:31:45Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZTrauma releasing exercises as a treatment technique : a scoping review
Introduction: Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) is a novel mind-body technique, used by some healthcare practitioners to address stress, anxiety and other related problems in clients. Occupational therapists use mind-body techniques to improve occupational performance, but are required to use evidence-based techniques. There has not yet been a solid base of synthesised literature on this technique to support evidence-based practice.
Aim: The aim of the study was to describe and synthesise the characteristics of TRE intervention studies. Such an overview of research evidence is helpful to understand the breadth and content of studies, to identify gaps and further research needs, and to guide the potential use of the technique in evidence-based treatment.
Methodology: A scoping review was conducted according to the JBI (formerly Joanna Briggs Institute) scoping review framework. A comprehensive search for all TRE intervention studies, peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed, with exclusion of non-English studies, was performed and 18 studies were selected. Data were extracted and data analysis was done with descriptive statistics. Results were presented in summarised text, tables and graphs.
Results: In the identified studies, TRE was used predominantly with populations exposed to stress and trauma, with measurement tools assessing various body functions typically impacted by stress and potentially improved with treatment. Possible benefit for clients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy was identified. Descriptive and inferential statistics from the studies indicated potential improvement in mood-related aspects, as well as improvement in anxiety-related sleep difficulties, pain and cognitive functions. The studies included a wide scope of study designs, including less rigorous methodologies, therefore the results should be considered as preliminary.
Conclusion: This technique could potentially be used with clients exposed to stress and trauma, diagnosed with neurological disorders and even other populations. The study results are, however, tentative. To use this technique within evidence-based practice, further and more rigorous research will be required.
Significance: A research synthesis will guide future research on this novel technique and enable healthcare practitioners to base treatment-related decisions on research evidence. With continuing research and a strengthened knowledge base, this technique could have a place in evidence-based occupational therapy practice.
Dissertation (MOccTher)--University of Pretoria, 2023.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZDevelopment of a clinical measurement tool for measuring voluntary eye movements in typical infants six months of agehttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/917392023-11-28T10:19:17Z2022-01-01T00:00:00ZDevelopment of a clinical measurement tool for measuring voluntary eye movements in typical infants six months of age
Occupational therapy is an essential service in early childhood intervention but does not yet fully understand the impact of the child’s neuro-visual plasticity on function. Voluntary eye movements are part of visual functioning, which affects all performance areas. The visual brain is highly neuro-plastic during early infancy. The maturation of visual functions depends on the typical goal-directed visual experiences in a critical period of development.
Development of visual function processes at different rates during the post-natal period including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual fields. The primary visual cortex receives visual information from the eyes and is then further processed onto the primary visual cortex for contrast, colour, disparity, direction, speed and orientation for perception. Vision related activities that represent functional vision are not only refined by the retinogeniculate projections but also the extrastriate cortex that encompasses multiple functional areas.
The post-natal development of the visual cortex, therefore, requires visual experiences during goal-directed participation. Vision for perception and vision for action provide a useful framework for understanding the functional organization of the human visual system. Perception and action depend on clear, stable, single vision and adequate control of voluntary eye movements, to convey the signals for processing. It was thus recommended to develop a clinical measurement tool for assessing voluntary eye movements in infants 6-to-7-months of age, as the maturation of visual processing depends on eye movements and visual experience in this age period. The researcher developed the voluntary eye movement measurement tool in infants 6-to-7-months of age to measure functional vision for participation. Voluntary eye movements are the foundation to process visual information efficiently for recognition, memory, organized purposeful actions, and attention on an ever-changing environment in all cultures to promote communication, social interaction, near task work, mobility and orientation. Each item of the voluntary eye movement measurement tool is developed and designed for related activity performances.
The 4 domains are functional vision for participation, gaze holding, gaze shifting and attention. The aim of the study was to develop a clinical measurement tool for measuring voluntary eye movements in typical 6-to-7-months-old infants.
A systematic eight-step process was followed to develop the voluntary eye movement measurement tool. The aim of the study was achieved by four objectives. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches were followed.
Construct analysis and theoretical validation were used to identify and select material to operationalize the construct. Processes of inductive and deductive reasoning contributed to the generation of the domains, sub-domains and measurable items. Theory on scale construction informed the final construction of the tool. Content validity index was determined where relevant. A pilot study confirmed that the voluntary eye movement measurement tool reflected a typical developed 6-to-7-months-old infant’s capability for using voluntary eye movements in a naturalistic interaction with persons, objects or the environment.
Objective one was to identify, define and analyse the construct of voluntary eye movements in 6-to-7-months-old infants by means of a theoretical exploration of literature, reviewing existing voluntary eye movements instruments/tools in children, personal communication with authors/publisher consultation with experts and the researcher’s clinical experience.
In objective two the voluntary eye movement measurement tool was constructed by observing voluntary eye movements performed during social interactions, near-tasks, mobility and orientation activities with attention as identified and defined in objective one, followed by scaling the steps for each item that reflected the quality of performance that was graded on a 3-point rating scale. Furthermore, the administrative user manual, administration procedures, outcomes, scoring criteria and scoring sheet were developed and designed.
The validity of the voluntary eye movement measurement tool was evaluated in objective three by using the content validity index quantified into a validity coefficient index. The study sample for this objective was obtained from experts in the paediatric neurology field of ophthalmology, optometry and occupational therapy. The expert panellist rated the voluntary eye movement measurement tool by using the content validity index to scale the: relevance of items for 6-to-7-months-old infants, the developed rating scale, user’s manual, administration and the scoring sheet. The content validity was determined to be extremely high.
The fourth objective was to pilot the voluntary eye movement measurement tool. The defined 4 domains, 5 sub-domains and 26 items generated for the voluntary eye movement measurement tool reflected the 6-to-7-months-old infant’s capability for using voluntary eye movements in a naturalistic interaction with persons, objects or environment.
The voluntary eye movement measurement tool provides an opportunity for occupational therapists to measure voluntary eye movements that relate to visual performances for development of perception and action. This tool will allow occupational therapists practicing in early intervention, to identify, adapt and control the visual inputs that the infant constantly receives from the environment to enhance participation and performance for development in all aspects of life. This will also provide the opportunity for multidisciplinary, holistic management strategies.
Thesis (PhD (Occupational Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZOccupation-centred practice : perspectives of occupational therapists working in acute mental health carehttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/784242021-09-22T14:10:38Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZOccupation-centred practice : perspectives of occupational therapists working in acute mental health care
Introduction: The prevalence of mental disorders is rising across the world and in South Africa driving the need for effective, occupation-centred practice in acute mental health care. In the acute setting, however, many occupational therapists experience challenges to practising in an occupation-centred manner. Occupation though remains the core construct of occupational therapy and occupational therapists everywhere are being urged to rediscover the power of occupation and embrace, develop, and maintain an occupation-centred practice.
Aim: This study aimed to describe occupation-centred practice from the perspective of occupational therapists working in acute mental health care, in and around the City of Tshwane, South Africa.
Methodology: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive design was used. Through maximum variance purposeful sampling nineteen participants were recruited to two focus groups. Transcriptions were analysed using the six steps of thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke to construct themes.
Results: Four themes were constructed namely, 1. The process of occupation-centred practice, 2. Activities enable occupation-centred practice, 3. The theoretical underpinnings of occupation-centred practice and 4. Influencers of occupation-centred practice.
Conclusion: Occupational therapists confirmed the centrality of occupation in their practice and further described occupation-centred practice as a process that entails the use of activities to facilitate experiences. Theoretical constructs that were helpful in guiding occupation-centred practice were highlighted. Influencers were experienced as either supporting or constraining occupation-centred practice. Significance: This study contributes to the evidence base of the profession in South Africa, ensuring that Occupational Therapy maintains its unique role and contribution to acute mental health care.
Dissertation (MOccTher)--University of Pretoria, 2020.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZExploring occupational therapy work intervention procedures for the public healthcare sector in Gauteng provincehttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/768992021-10-18T12:32:27Z2019-01-01T00:00:00ZExploring occupational therapy work intervention procedures for the public healthcare sector in Gauteng province
Occupational therapists form part of the vocational rehabilitation multidisciplinary team, in returning patients back to work after any form of injury or illness. Among the services that they provide is work intervention procedures, which is comprised of different components that are implemented to rehabilitate patients’ work occupation, in order to ensure entry into, and/or return to the open labour market.
The right of South African citizens’ opportunity to work is protected by specific legislation. When this right is affected by illness, injury or disability, the National Health Insurance system intervenes and ensures adequate healthcare services that are delivered equitably. The public healthcare services are delivered to over 84% of the South African population, of which a majority is dependent on public healthcare for medical intervention, including rehabilitation from different professions such as occupational therapists. To rehabilitate patients’ work occupation, occupational therapists follow different procedures as part of intervention. When researched, however, it was found that when this intervention was executed, it occurred haphazardly.
The aim of the study was to explore the occupational therapy work intervention procedures that should be implemented by occupational therapists in the Gauteng public healthcare sector.
A qualitative, explorative and descriptive research design was used. Data was collected through a workshop, working from an appreciative stance. Purposive sampling was used. Seventeen occupational therapists who practised in vocational rehabilitation and implemented work intervention procedures in the Gauteng public healthcare sector attended the workshop. Data was analysed using the creative hermeneutic data analysis method.
The work intervention procedures for occupational therapists were generated. Client-centredness was identified to be at the heart of work intervention procedures, which entail different components, such as legislation, empowerment, assessment, planning, prevocational and vocational skills, work visit, job analysis, work hardening and conditioning, placement and follow-up.
Occupational Therapy work intervention procedures for the public healthcare sector in the Gauteng province, were successfully explored and generated. The results showed that although there are procedures that can be followed in work intervention, the implementation process is not linear, and the procedures should be customised to individual patients.
Dissertation (MOccTher)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
2019-01-01T00:00:00Z