British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Adopting new habits and routines in response to COVID-19 lockdown disruptions: A qualitative study
Kessler D, Boudreau E, Maitland J, Lysaght R, McColl MA, Alexander L, Wilson C, Batorowicz B, DePaul V and Donnelly C
COVID-19-related restrictions resulted in changes to time use and occupational participation, impacting individual and collective well-being. This study addressed a knowledge gap concerning the adaptive process during periods of occupational disruption. We explored the experience of occupational disruption and how people managed disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Implementation of a telerehabilitation program for children with neurodevelopmental disorders during the lockdown caused by COVID-19
Báez-Suárez A, Padrón-Rodriguez I, Santana-Cardeñosa D, Santana-Perez L, Lopez-Herrera VM and Pestana-Miranda R
Telerehabilitation is a tool for patients who, for different reasons, cannot participate in person with their physical presence. We aimed to identify the factors associated with satisfaction with telerehabilitation in families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders through a program that included physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Daily routine and habits during COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: An observational survey
Maritan Y, Pisaniello DM, Belvedere A and Battain PC
Between March-May 2020, the Italian Government applied restrictive measures to reduce the risk of contagion, fostering a potential condition of occupational deprivation.
Emotional distress and quality of life among adults with developmental coordination disorder during COVID-19
Engel-Yeger B and Engel A
Individuals with developmental coordination disorder frequently report emotional and functional difficulties. A stressful era as COVID-19 pandemic may enhance emotional load. The present study aimed to (1) examine the emotional distress and quality of life among adults with developmental coordination disorder during COVID-19 as compared to typical controls, and (2) examine the relationships between these factors in adults with developmental coordination disorder.
The impact of Covid-19 restrictions in Ireland on symptom severity in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease
Dolan C and McDermott A
The COVID pandemic and public health restrictions significantly impacted those living with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's Disease due to the curtailment of therapies. Patients attending a single centre movement disorders clinic reported reduced physical activity and quality of life during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the impact of pandemic restrictions on Parkinson's Disease symptom severity in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's Disease.
Investigation of the factors affecting the e-learning process in occupational therapy education during the pandemic with principal component analysis
Öztürk B, Akarsu R, Kayıhan H, Çelik Y and Kayhan SE
The aim of this study is to examine the factors affecting the e-learning process in occupational therapy education in the COVID-19 period.
Occupational performance coaching for stroke survivors delivered via telerehabilitation using a single-case experimental design
Kessler D, Anderson ND and Dawson DR
Sustaining a stroke has a devastating, long-term impact on participation in everyday life. Despite the recognition of participation as a key outcome of stroke rehabilitation, there are few effective interventions that address participation. Occupational performance coaching is a promising intervention designed to improve participation among stroke survivors. Delivery of occupational performance coaching using telerehabilitation could improve access. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability and potential efficacy of telerehabilitation occupational performance coaching.
(Dis)Ability-informed Mentors Support Occupational Performance for College Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders through Problem Solving and a Focus on Strengths
Kreider CM, Medina S and Koedam HM
Students with learning disabilities (LD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (LD/ADHD) are well-represented on college campuses. However, they experience challenges to meeting occupational and role expectations associated with being in college. Mentors serve as natural supports for young people within college environments. This study investigates the ways in which graduate-student mentors, who were supported in understanding LD/ADHD and their mentee's strengths and challenges through an occupational lens, provided problem solving supports for undergraduate mentees with LD/ADHD.
Differences in physical function across cancer recovery phases: Findings from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey
Hong I, Hreha K, Swartz MC, Pappadis MR, Yoo K and Ko M
Recent cancer survivors (<2 years post-diagnosis) report poorer general health and physical weakness compared to long-term cancer survivors (≥2 years post-diagnosis), but differences in functional limitations are unknown. It is unclear which daily tasks are more difficult for recent versus long-term survivors. We aimed to examine differences in functional performances across cancer recovery phases as potential targets for functional impairment screening.
Examining child mealtime behavior as parents are coached to implement the Mealtime PREP intervention in the home: Findings from a pilot study
Caldwell AR, Skidmore ER, Bendixen RM and Terhorst L
The purpose of this study was to examine parental use of evidence-based mealtime strategies, child mealtime behavior, and parental identification of mealtime problems over time as parents were coached to implement the Promoting Routines of Exploration and Play during Mealtime intervention as part of a pilot study.
Understanding activity participation among individuals with Wolfram Syndrome
Bumpus E, Hershey T, Doty T, Ranck S, Gronski M, Urano F and Foster ER
Wolfram Syndrome (WFS) is a rare genetic disease associated with a variety of progressive metabolic and neurologic impairments. Previous research has focused on WFS-related impairments and biomarkers for disease progression; however, information about how WFS impacts participation in daily activities is lacking.
Experience of sleep disruption in primary Sjögren's syndrome: A focus group study
Hackett KL, Deary V, Deane KH, Newton JL, Ng WF and Rapley T
Primary Sjögren's syndrome is the third most common systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease, following rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and results in dryness, fatigue, discomfort and sleep disturbances. Sleep is relatively unexplored in primary Sjögren's syndrome. We investigated the experiences of sleep disturbances from the viewpoint of primary Sjögren's syndrome patients and their partners and explored the acceptability of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.
The use of evidence-based guidance to enable reliable and accurate measurements of the home environment
Spiliotopoulou G, Atwal A and McIntyre A
High quality guidance in home strategies is needed to enable older people to measure their home environment and become involved in the provision of assistive devices and to promote consistency among professionals. This study aims to investigate the reliability of such guidance and its ability to promote accuracy of results when measurements are taken by both older people and professionals.
Enablers and challenges to occupational therapists' research engagement: A qualitative study
Di Bona L, Wenborn J, Field B, Hynes SM, Ledgerd R, Mountain G and Swinson T
To develop occupational therapy's evidence base and improve its clinical outcomes, occupational therapists must increase their research involvement. Barriers to research consumption and leadership are well documented, but those relating to delivering research interventions, less so. Yet, interventions need to be researched within practice to demonstrate their clinical effectiveness. This study aims to improve understanding of challenges and enablers experienced by occupational therapists who deliver interventions within research programmes.
Developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration: Incidence, associations and co-morbidities
Allen S and Casey J
Children with developmental coordination disorder or sensory processing and integration difficulties face challenges to participation in daily living. To date there has been no exploration of the co-occurrence of developmental coordination disorders and sensory processing and integration difficulties.
Assessment of unilateral neglect in stroke: Simplification and structuring of test items
Donoso Brown EV and Powell JM
Unilateral neglect is a complex impairment that is common after stroke and limits occupational performance. Sensitive assessment of unilateral neglect is critical for planning treatment and ensuring safe community discharge.
Restoring effective sleep tranquility (REST): A feasibility and pilot study
Eakman AM, Schmid AA, Henry KL, Rolle NR, Schelly C, Pott CE and Burns JE
The purpose of this pilot study was to establish the feasibility of completing a future controlled trial of a multi-component cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia program for military veterans with sleep disturbance.
A qualitative evaluation of occupational therapy-led work rehabilitation for people with inflammatory arthritis: Patients' views
Prior Y, Amanna AE, Bodell SJ and Hammond A
This qualitative study, nested in a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial, explored the views of working people with inflammatory arthritis on the impact of a work rehabilitation programme received.
The impact of handwriting difficulties on compositional quality in children with developmental coordination disorder
Prunty MM, Barnett AL, Wilmut K and Plumb MS
There is substantial evidence to support the relationship between transcription skills (handwriting and spelling) and compositional quality. For children with developmental coordination disorder, handwriting can be particularly challenging. While recent research has aimed to investigate their handwriting difficulties in more detail, the impact of transcription on their compositional quality has not previously been examined. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine compositional quality in children with developmental coordination disorder and to ascertain whether their transcription skills influence writing quality.
Feasibility of a Novel Intervention to Improve Participation after Stroke
Stark S, Keglovits M, Somerville E, Hu YL, Conte J and Yan Y
Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the US. With shorter inpatient hospital stays, more time in rehabilitation is devoted to medical stabilization and less on skills to regain independence in daily activities. The transition home may be an opportunity for intervention focused on regaining independence. We propose an enhanced rehabilitation transition program called: Community Participation Transition after Stroke (COMPASS).
A protocol for Removing Environmental Barriers to Independent Living (REBIL): An adapted evidence-based occupational therapy intervention to increase community participation for individuals aging with long-term physical disabilities
Chen SW, Somerville E, Devine M and Stark S
People aging with long-term physical disabilities (PAwLTPD) are living longer and experiencing the challenges of aging, including the onset of secondary and age-related health conditions. PAwLTPD are at high risk of falls, fall injuries, diminished functional abilities, and compromised participation. However, no available programs support PAwLTPD to participate safely at home and in the community. The proposed study is to examine the feasibility and efficacy of an adapted intervention: Removing Environmental Barriers to Independent Living (REBIL).