Barbara Posthuma

Interview Scores and Academic Grades as Selection Criteria for Admission to an Occupational Therapy Program

This paper investigates the relationship of previous academic performance and selection interview results to the academic and fieldwork performance of students during four years of study in Occupational Therapy. Only students who met the basic academic requirements of the occupational therapy department were included. Half of the students who were admitted were selected on the basis of highest academic grades and half were selected on the basis of highest interview scores. At the end of the academic program evaluations indicated no significant difference beween the two groups in terms of academic performance. Over the four years those students who were selected by high interview scores showed more improvement in fieldwork performance than students admitted only on the basis of previous academic grades. Students who had some previous university experience exhibited significantly greater improvement in fieldwork performance than those admitted directly from high school.

Book Review: The Evaluative Process in Psychiatric Occupational Therapy:

agency. Because of these problems, conflicts may arise between the needs of the worker and of the youth. However, there are also advantages inherent in this type of work such as flexible hours, responsibility, and the benefits derived from a relationship with an adolescent. We are also given a glimpse at the profile of the type of person to whom contract work would appeal. This publication looks at many issues that are involved in the establishment of the contract worker system. The author provides a good summary of the key issues and gives the reader a sound basis in the understanding of the system. Many good references are also provided that could be used to expand ones knowledge. The reading of this publication does not provide sufficient knowledge for the establishment of a contract worker system. However, it does educate the reader about this approach to youth work and it provides a sound basis on which the reader can build.

Faculty Recruitment: Where are the Applicants?

This paper investigates the interest, perceptions and attitudes of occupational therapists towards academic positions. An 18 item questionnaire was mailed to 300 occupational therapists, randomly selected on a proportional basis from each province. The 192 responses (64%) received indicated that loss of patient contact and perceived lack of qualifications were the prime deterrents of active interest in academic positions. Other deterrents were personal commitments (children, husbands work, disinterest in relocation) and perceived stress in faculty positions. Academic appointments were most appealing to therapists under 40 years of age, therapists with graduate degrees, and therapists involved in academic studies.

Learning to Touch

This paper examines the use of touch by various health professionals within the health care system. Trends, norms and standards of touching behavior in society in general are discussed, It is hypothesized that such norms and standards can be altered by desensitization through touching. The results of a project involving two consecutive classes of third year occupational therapy students are reported. An analysis of covariance did not show a significant difference between the experimental and the control group. However, differences observed between the two groups in an interview situation suggest that important changes may have occured.

Sensory Integration in Mental Health: Dialogue with Lorna Jean King

Lorna Jean King is interviewed concerning the present status of sensory integration as a treatment modality in the area of mental health. Topics covered are: use of sensory integration techniques with adults and adolescents in both chronic and acute mental health settings; goals and expected outcomes of using sensory integration techniques; cost-effectiveness of these techniques; differences between occupational therapy and other professions utilizing similar treatment modalities and useful assessments or evaluations in mental health.

Simulated Patients in the Education of Occupational Therapy Students

This paper discusses the evolvement of using simulated patients in the education of health professionals. Specifically it adresses the viability of using volunteers to simulate patients with psycho-social disorders in teaching and evaluating interview skills and techniques with occupational therapy students. Included is a general discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing simulated patients in an educational setting. The arrangements and teaching process necessary to train a simulated psychiatric patient are also presented.

Book Review: Psychosocial Components of Occupational TherapyPsychosocial Components of Occupational Therapy. MoseyAnne CroninRaven Press, 1140 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10036. U.S.A., 1986, 606 pp.,

have purposely been arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Suggested topics or questions for discussion also follow most of the examples. This is done with the goal of directing or inspiring investigation into the solutions of the problems. The chapters all end with sections devoted to the solutions, discussion of the solutions and occasionally commentaries. The authors can be commended for their unique and enlightening approach to this dreaded subject. Any practicing therapist or student will read this text and get something out of it. However, one feels strongly that unless the readers high school math skills are fresh, then fully comprehending the solutions and conclusions will be uncertain. Therefore, possibly this book would be more effective as a teaching tool for instructors because necessary mathematical skills are more intact for students than practising therapists, for example, who have not had occasion to use their algebra math for some time. This book demonstrates principles of biomechanics which occupational therapy instructors and clinical supervisors can apply to such issues as prevocational assessment, splinting, and the therapeutic use of activities. In summary, this book can act as a vehicle by which therapists come to better understand biomechanics and use it more regularly and comfortably, as one firmly believes it is the only way we can effectively upgrade the care of our patients.

39.50 (U.S.)

would be needed to substitute for institutional care. The subjects are 100 patients from four Massachusetts hospitals who met six selection criteria. The author is very methodical in his presentation and no detail of the design of this complex study or its results has been omitted. The body of the book is divided into three main sections. The first describes the context of the study by discussing the reasons for the evolving long term care crises, the need for humaneness in the care provided and the effectiveness of that care. The second section begins with a detailed description of the design of the study, then the execution of the study and finally a discussion of the study sample including their age, sex, marital status and functional ability. The final section presents the findings of the study and a discussion of their implications. Several findings are discussed but this review will provide only three as examples. He found that by diverting to home care those patients for whom it is cheaper, substantial savings will be gained. It is cheaper to care for the less disabled at home, and there was a slight tendency for professionals to prescribe more hours of care in their own field. As was indicated earlier, this book is very complex. The discussion is very detailed and statistical and no possible variable or influencing factor is omitted. Therefore, the answers to the questions he raises are quite complex and would appeal more to a researcher than a clinician. However, extensive references are provided with each chapter and a lengthy bibliography appears at the end of the book. These references would provide good resource material for anyone wishing to do work in this area.

Book Review: Clinical Psychiatry in Primary Care

In keeping with the theme, Adult Psychiatry, the Editorial Board felt it was an opportune time to canvas the faculty of Canadian occupational therapy programs for articles and books which they felt were highly pertinent to students, professors and clinicians. As you will see, some of the submissions deal with the complexities of psychiatric patients; others help the reader to gain a theoretical and practical understanding of treatment techniques currently used in occupational therapy. One is challenged to rethink some traditional concepts, for example, the role of women in society. New ideas are also presented, such as the part the body plays in emotional makeup and the upcoming role of the occupational therapist as a researcher. It is hoped that this selection will prove to be both interesting and useful.