Elizabeth Blesedell Crepeau

I looked to her as a guide: the therapeutic relationship in hand therapy

Purpose. To illustrate important dimensions of the therapeutic relationship in a hand therapy patient–therapist dyad. Method. This instrumental case study utilised narrative analysis of semi-structured interviews of a patient–therapist dyad. Results. Four dimensions of the therapeutic relationship were identified. These were (1) humour to promote reciprocity, (2) ordinary conversation to build rapport, (3) social comparison to promote acceptance and (4) attention as caring. Conclusions. The therapeutic relationship is not a one-way flow from therapist to patient but a mutual exchange between equals. However, it is the therapist who is responsible for establishing the environment for the therapeutic relationship to develop and flourish.

An Ethnographic Analysis of a Church Supper in New England

This ethnographic study uses a transactional perspective to explore and explicate the co-occupation of preparing and serving of church suppers. Findings illustrate the importance of understanding how individual and group relationships, habits and routines, and the cultural, social, and historical context shapes the occupational experience of those involved. One conclusion drawn from this research is that although the observed church suppers are unique because of their situated nature, a careful and clear ethnographic analysis helps uncover aspects which may be used to understand other community co-occupations.

Emergence of Scholarship in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy

We undertook a content analysis of 192 American Journal of Occupational Therapy articles published from 1947 to 2010 to understand and explicate the emergence of scholarship within the profession. Scholarship includes scientific inquiry, empirical research, and other forms of inquiry. We identified and coded three aspects of the development of scholarship: argument, methodological rigor, and occupational focus. All three aspects increased over the evaluated period, during which substantial changes occurred in the professions practice and access to higher education. We see the development of scholarship as aligned with the claiming of the professions independence and voice.

“I need someone to keep an eye on me:” the power of attention in patient-practitioner interactions

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the importance of patient care and to explicate the impact of attention on my recovery from bilateral knee replacement surgery and a subsequent revision. Method: The paper uses vignettes to illustrate attention in patient-practitioner interaction. Results: Attention is a precursor to understanding the patient as a unique individual and the problems the patient brings to the therapy experience. Conclusions: The capacity of practitioners to attend to their patients has an impact on patient satisfaction and recovery. Implications for Rehabilitation Attention is the precursor to establishing positive therapeutic alliances with patients. It is essential to attend to the patient as a person with unique experiences, perspectives, and attitudes and to modify treatment based on the person’s priorities and desires. Practitioners need to develop the interaction skills necessary to understand their patients as unique individuals.