Astrid Kinébanian

Occupation and Well-being: A Study of Some Slovenian People's Experiences of Engagement in Occupation in Relation to Well-being

This study investigated some Slovenian peoples experiences of well-being whilst engaged in daily occupations. No research has previously been carried out in this area in Slovenia. Research is needed to improve our knowledge about peoples experiences while carrying out occupations to be able to better understand the needs of potential clients. In this qualitative study, focus groups involving 24 Slovenians from different parts of the country participated in the data collection. Four central themes were identified in the analysis: (1) occupation as the organizer of a preferred rhythm that creates a feeling of balance in life, (2) occupation as the creator of an experience of mastery and control, (3) occupation as a facilitator of social relationships, and (4) occupation as a way to connect and contribute to family and society.

An exploration of choir singing: Achieving wholeness through challenge

This qualitative study explored the experience of choir singing as an example of a leisure occupation. Data were collected through participant observations during choir meetings and one‐to‐one interviews, and analyzed using a comparative, interpretive method. Three themes emerged. Although participants at times felt unsafe or restless, the choir generally functioned as a platform where they felt safe and connected to others. Choir singing was experienced as offering a challenge, which seemed to function as a catalyst for the doing, a stimulus to act and a motivator to participate in the choir. The participants valued experiencing something different from the ordinary things in life, and being distracted from daily routines. The study revealed an interwoven relationship between the challenge provided by choir singing, the experience of doing something different, and the ‘doing’ itself, which brings about the perception of enacting wholeness. This ‘wholeness’ seemed to have been facilitated by both the challenging nature of the occupation and the safe environment in which the doing was situated.

Living with myotonic dystrophy; what can be learned from couples? a qualitative study

BackgroundMyotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) is one of the most prevalent neuromuscular diseases, yet very little is known about how MD1 affects the lives of couples and how they themselves manage individually and together. To better match health care to their problems, concerns and needs, it is important to understand their perspective of living with this hereditary, systemic disease.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out with a purposive sample of five middle-aged couples, including three men and two women with MD1 and their partners. Fifteen in-depth interviews with persons with MD1, with their partners and with both of them as a couple took place in the homes of the couples in two cities and three villages in the Netherlands in 2009.ResultsPeople with MD1 associate this progressive, neuromuscular condition with decreasing abilities, describing physical, cognitive and psychosocial barriers to everyday activities and social participation. Partners highlighted the increasing care giving burden, giving directions and using reminders to compensate for the lack of initiative and avoidant behaviour due to MD1. Couples portrayed the dilemmas and frustrations of renegotiating roles and responsibilities; stressing the importance of achieving a balance between individual and shared activities. All participants experienced a lack of understanding from relatives, friends, and society, including health care, leading to withdrawal and isolation. Health care was perceived as fragmentary, with specialists focusing on specific aspects of the disease rather than seeking to understand the implications of the systemic disorder on daily life.ConclusionsLearning from these couples has resulted in recommendations that challenge the tendency to treat MD1 as a condition with primarily physical impairments. It is vital to listen to couples, to elicit the impact of MD1, as a multisystem disorder that influences every aspect of their life together. Couple management, supporting the self-management skills of both partners is proposed as a way of reducing the mismatch between health services and health needs.

I think of my family, therefore I am: perceptions of daily occupations of some Albanians in Switzerland

Abstract The purpose of this qualitative study was to increase the understanding of the relationship between culture and occupation by exploring the perceptions of current daily occupations of some immigrants living in Switzerland. Semi-structured interviews with eight healthy Muslim Albanian men doing blue-collar work were analysed in a comparative manner followed by an interpretation. Three themes were identified: “Everything I do I do for my family”; “Where do I belong?”; and “Doing something for myself”. These themes reflect the occupational perceptions of the participants. The findings are discussed in relation to the ongoing discourses on individualism and collectivism. To offer occupational therapy appropriately to a multicultural clientele the findings indicate the necessity to be conscious of the differences between ones own and the clients attitudes regarding individualism and collectivism.

Grondslagen van de ergotherapie

I. PLAATSBEPALING EN IDENTITEIT VAN DE ERGOTHERAPIE 1. Oorsprong en ontwikkeling van het beroep 2. Ergotherapie in een dynamische zorgsector 3. Paradigma en toepassingsgebied van de ergotherapie 4. Interculturele beschouwing II. THEORIEEN EN MODELLEN IN DE ERGOTHERAPIE 5. Adaptation through occupation model 6. Model of human occupation 7. Adaptive skills model 8. Cognitive disability model 9. Activity health model 10. Canadian model of occupation performance 11. Interculturele beschouwing bij de ergotherapeutische praktijkmodellen 12. Procesmodellen in de ergotherapie 13. Ontwikkelingstheorieen 14. Leertheorieen 15. Systeemtheorie 16. Patientenvoorlichting 17. Revalidatie 18. Rehabilitatie 19. Klinisch redeneren III. TAAKGEBIEDEN IN DE ERGOTHERAPIE 20. Methodisch handelen en de taakgebieden 21. Taakgebied behandelen 22. Taakgebied trajectbegeleiding 23. Taakgebied adviseren 24. Taakgebied ontwikkeling, onderzoek en organisatie 25. Interculturele beschouwing bij methodisch handelen in de taakgebieden

How Persons with a Neuromuscular Disease Perceive Employment Participation : A Qualitative Study

Introduction A qualitative study was carried out to understand how people with a slow progressive adult type neuromuscular disease (NMD) perceive employment participation. Methods 16 paid employed persons with NMD were interviewed in open, in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method. Results Four themes were identified in the analyses: (1) Experiences regarding the meaning of work; (2) Solving problems oneself; (3) Reaching a turning point; and (4) Taking into account environmental aspects. Persons with NMD highlighted benefits of staying at work as well as the tension they felt how to shape decisions to handle progressive physical hindrances in job retention. This study shows how participants at work with NMD were challenged to keep up appearances at work and at home, the tension felt around when and if to disclose, the effect of their condition on colleagues and work reorganisation challenges. Participants experienced that disclosure did not always make things better. With increasing disability participants’ focus shifted from the importance of assistive products towards considerate colleague, in particular superior’s willingness in supporting job retention. Conclusions Implications for health professionals might include awareness of the significant impact of changes in physical condition on employment. Timely communication and if appropriate referral to a health or occupational professional may empower employees with NMD to handle employment issues at a for themselves appropriate way. Assistive products and a supportive superior might enhance employment participation.

International efforts to disseminate and develop the model of human occupation.

This paper documents efforts in Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Hispanoamerica, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, and Taiwan to disseminate the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). We aim to characterize the challenges involved, the strategies used, and the impact of these efforts in diverse cultural and social conditions.

Diversity matters: guiding principles on diversity and culture

Abstract Following the congress in Sydney in 2006, which highlighted culture and diversity in occupational therapy, the WFOT Council decided to prepare a document discussing approaches to this theme. This article addresses the results of the project. The document aims to encourage occupational therapists worldwide to discuss, appreciate and incorporate diversity and culture into their daily practice, education and research to meet the occupational needs of people throughout the world. Project management methodology was used to develop the document; involving a process of reciprocal discussions between project leaders and a feedback group until consensus was reached. Discovering the various ways in which people perform occupations in relation to their culture and giving them meaning can be a challenging and enriching experience for everybody involved, both clients and therapists. The article introduces the four guiding principles of the document. How the document can be used in practice is also discussed

A European Master of Science programme in occupational therapy

This article summarizes the experiences of the working group involved in setting up the European Master of Science in occupational therapy. This process has taken place over the last 5years, and the course currently involves 17 students from 5 countries. The first students will graduate in September 2001.