Brenda Merritt

ADL Differences in Individuals with Unilateral Hemispheric Stroke

Background. Literature regarding the ability of individuals who have a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) to perform activities of daily living (ADL) is inconclusive regarding the impact of gender, age or side of the lesion. Purpose. To determine if people with a CVA differ in their abilities to perform ADL tasks and actions as affected by their gender, age, and side of the lesion. Method. A descriptive comparison of 3878 people with a right or left CVA included in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) database. Results. People with stroke demonstrated statistically significant gender, age, and side of CVA differences in overall ADL ability. However, the gender and side of CVA differences were not clinically detectable. Increased age was associated with a gradual decline in ADL ability. Conclusion. Individuals with a right or left CVA have similar abilities when performing ADL tasks and actions. Practice Implications. These findings indicate that occupation-based intervention, which focuses on the utilization of intact ADL skills to compensate for ADL skill deficits (vs. the utilization of tests of body function), may be a more efficient and effective means of planning and implementing occupational therapy intervention for individuals with a stroke.

Utilizing AMPS ability measures to predict level of community dependence

The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of utilizing Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) ability measures as evidence for determining level of community dependence. The sample for the study was drawn from existing data from the AMPS International Project database, and consisted of adults from numerous world regions, with varying diagnoses and levels of ability (n=64,466). Findings support using ADL motor and process ability measures as evidence of a clients level of community dependence. When using ADL motor or process ability measures to identify the need for moderate to maximal assistance, the areas under the ROC curves were 0.74 (fair discrimination power) and 0.82 (good discrimination power), respectively. New ADL motor and process cutoff measures demarcating maximum assistance were set at 1.00 logit (sensitivity=0.70, specificity=0.66) and 0.70 logit (sensitivity=0.79, specificity=0.69), respectively. While ADL process ability continues to be the better predictor, the highest accuracy estimates occurred when motor and process decisions matched (n=30,835). For the first time, multiple AMPS cutoff measures, demarcating independent in the community and in need of maximal assistance, have been proposed.

Advancing research and practice in HIV and rehabilitation: a framework of research priorities in HIV, disability and rehabilitation

BackgroundHIV increasingly is experienced as a complex chronic illness where individuals are living longer with a range of physical, cognitive, mental and social health-related challenges associated with HIV, comorbidities and aging, a concept that may be termed ‘disability’. Rehabilitation such as physical therapy and occupational therapy can help address disability and has the potential to improve quality of life in people living with HIV. Hence, the role for rehabilitation in the context of HIV, aging and comorbidities is emerging. Our aim was to establish a framework of research priorities in HIV, disability and rehabilitation.MethodsWe convened people living with HIV, clinicians, researchers, service providers, representatives from community-based organizations and policy and funding stakeholders to participate in the first International Forum on HIV and Rehabilitation Research. We conducted a multi-stakeholder consultation to identify current and emerging issues in HIV, disability and rehabilitation. Data were collated and analyzed using content analytical techniques.ResultsNinety-two participants attended the Forum from Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Ireland and the United States. Situated within three overarching themes (episodic health and disability across the life course; rehabilitation; and methodological advances), the Framework of Research Priorities in HIV, Disability and Rehabilitation includes six research priorities: 1) episodic health and disability; 2) aging with HIV across the life course; 3) concurrent health conditions; 4) access to rehabilitation and models of rehabilitation service provision; 5) effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions; and 6) enhancing outcome measurement in HIV and rehabilitation research. The Framework includes methodological considerations and environmental and personal contextual factors (or lenses) through which to approach research in the field. Knowledge translation should be implemented throughout the development and application of research knowledge to inform HIV clinical practice, programming and policy.ConclusionsThese priorities highlight the emerging priorities of living long-term with HIV and outline a plan for HIV and rehabilitation research in resource-rich countries such as the UK and Canada.

HIV and disability: a pilot study exploring the use of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills to measure daily life performance

Limitations in performing activities of daily living (ADL) are important indicators of health and overall wellness, yet relatively few studies specifically identify the ADL abilities of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). Given the wide range of abilities and ages of PHAs, there is an urgent need to utilize an assessment of ADL ability that can validly evaluate those who are very able, as well as those who are very disabled, without the presence of ceiling or floor effects, to provide sensitive measures to detect change.

Curriculum evaluation: linking curriculum objectives to essential competencies.

Background. The essential competencies of occupational therapy practice are agreed upon and documented (ACOTRO, 2003), yet they have not been used to evaluate educational programs. Purpose. To evaluate the match between the planned curriculum and the nationally recognized competencies that define safe, effective, and ethical practice. Methods. Utilizing a comparative and systematic approach, course learning objectives in the approved curriculum map were matched to the ACOTRO (2003) competencies. Findings. A total of 218 links were made between the 179 learning objectives and the 30 essential competencies. There were no links to three competencies. Learning objectives were not equally represented across the ACOTRO units; initial analyses indicate the distribution is likely appropriate. Implications. This novel evaluative process allowed critical appraisal and subsequent minor revision of Dalhousie curriculum. The appropriate, relative weighting of curriculum content is unknown and is a professional issue for discussion by regulators, educators, and the profession at large.

Deliberative curriculum inquiry for integration in an MD curriculum: Dalhousie University's curriculum renewal process.

Background: Dalhousie Universitys MD Programme faced a one-year timeline for renewal of its undergraduate curriculum. Aim: Key goals were renewed faculty engagement for ongoing quality improvement and increased collaboration across disciplines for an integrated curriculum, with the goal of preparing physicians for practice in the twenty-first century. Methods: We engaged approximately 600 faculty members, students, staff and stakeholders external to the faculty of medicine in a process described by Harris (1993) as ‘deliberative curriculum inquiry’. Temporally overlapping and networked intraprofessional and interprofessional teams developed programme outcomes, completed environment scans of emerging content and best practices, and designed curricular units. Results: The resulting curriculum is the product of new collaborations among faculty and exemplifies distinct forms of integration. Innovations include content and cases shared by concurrent units, foundations courses at the beginning of each year and integrative experiences at the end, and an interprofessional community health mentors programme. Conclusion: The use of deliberative inquiry for pre-med curriculum renewal on a one-year time frame is feasible, in part through the use of technology. Ongoing structures for integration remain challenging. Although faculty collaboration fosters integration, a learner-centred lens must guide its design.

Allen Cognitive Level Screen for the classification of subjects treated for addiction

Abstract Introduction The Cognitive Disabilities Model (CDM) is an occupational approach that can allow the classification of the functional-cognitive abilities of persons with addictions. The objective of the study was to explore the applicability of the ACLS-5 to assess a sample of persons undergoing addiction-rehabilitation treatment. Methods A sample of 232 participants was recruited from an outpatient treatment centre in Madrid (Spain). The ACLS-5, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and the Prefrontal Symptom Inventory (PSI) were administered. Sociodemographic and addiction-related data were also obtained. Results Half of the sample showed serious deficits in functional cognition, which ultimately could be related to problems in their daily performance. Scores of ACLS-5 showed significant correlations with the severity of addiction, with those obtained with the MoCA, and with attentional symptoms on the PSI scale. Conclusions The data suggest the applicability of the ACLS-5 in assessing the degree of functional cognition in subjects treated for addiction, providing evidence to support ecological validity and facilitating the development of well-targeted cognitive rehabilitation programmes from an occupational perspective. The use of occupational-based instruments to assess the functioning of those with addictions is a requirement of occupational therapy professionals working in this general area.

Scoping review of the Multiple Errands Test: Is it relevant to youths with acquired brain injury?

Introduction For youths who sustain acquired brain injuries, distinguishing typical development of executive function from the impairment(s) can be a challenging but critical assessment consideration. Occupational therapists working with individuals after brain injury can use the Multiple Errands Test as a performance-based assessment of the effect of executive dysfunction in the real world. Although numerous test versions exist for different settings and diagnostic populations, their relevance to youths is unclear. We surveyed the non-virtual reality literature for test versions to determine the measurement properties and clinical utility for assessing youths in a community setting. Method A scoping review was completed to summarize study purpose/design, Multiple Errands Test structure, assessment environment, sample characteristics, psychometric properties, clinical utility and main findings of the test versions. Results We included 10 quantitative studies and found the strongest reliability and validity evidence for male adults with moderate to severe acquired brain injury, in a hospital setting. Multiple Errands Test versions can distinguish people with brain injury from controls and identify challenges in the home and community. No studies examined the test performance of younger participants. Conclusion This review highlights the research of several Multiple Errands Test versions and identifies gaps in that research, including the need for development of a test version for youths in a community setting.

Gender differences in the performance of activities of daily living11No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.

OBJECTIVES To verify that the activities of daily living (ADL) motor and process skill items and tasks in the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) are free from gender bias, and to compare mean differences in ADL motor and process ability between men and women. DESIGN Descriptive comparison; convenience sample. SETTING Existing data from the AMPS database. PARTICIPANTS Potential participants included nonwell persons (age range, 18-99y) matched within 3 age groups, first by functional level and then by diagnostic category. The resulting sample included 9250 men and 9250 women. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The AMPS, a standardized observational assessment of the quality of ADL task performance. RESULTS None of the AMPS task calibrations and 1 motor skill item calibration (Lifts) demonstrated an observable difference between men and women. Men had higher ADL motor ability (F(1,18494)=11.58, P<.01) and women had higher ADL process ability (F(1,18494)=76.18, P<.01). CONCLUSION The results suggest that the AMPS is free of gender bias. Although differences were found between men and women in mean ADL motor and process ability, they were not considered clinically detectable differences.