Ruth Zemke

Cost‐Effectiveness of Preventive Occupational Therapy for Independent‐Living Older Adults

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of a 9‐month preventive occupational therapy (OT) program in the Well‐Elderly Study: a randomized trial in independent‐living older adults that found significant health, function, and quality of life benefits attributable to preventive OT.

Shaping the Temporal Patterns of our Lives: The Social Coordination of

Abstract This review synthesizes occupational science, psychology, and sociology research and theory to describe how social interaction within daily rounds of occupations may be organized within the stream of time. The coordination and orchestration of activities between individuals is a highly sophisticated process that is proposed to rely on entrainment between members, shared background expectancies that promote orderly interactions within daily routines and mutually accepted beliefs about time. This article begins by describing the roots of the ideation and patterning of temporal socialization which is drawn from biological rhythms, values and beliefs, work and social commitments, cultural beliefs and engagement in activity. Next it introduces the key concept of occupatio‐temporality or how occupation itself patterns participation through the rhythm, tempo, sequence, synchronization, requirement for personal resources, and compatibility with other occupations. Finally, examples from research studies illustrate the complexity of social coordination of activities within work and home settings, including the construction of temporal synchronicity for co‐workers and families.

Occupational Choices of Persons with Schizophrenia Living in the Community

Abstract The purposes of this research were to explore the relationship between occupation and health through studying people with chronic schizophrenia, and to examine how they manage occupational choice. We describe the experiences of stress and relaxation during daily occupations of 89 persons with schizophrenia living in the community in Sapporo, Japan. For one day, participants rated their occupations based on a scale ranging from very stressful to very relaxing. Additionally, qualitative interview methods were employed with three informants. The findings suggest that people with schizophrenia cope with daily living occupations using two main stress management strategies. First, they choose certain occupations such as sleep, music, TV, and leisure, through which they can relieve or reduce stress. Second, they choose other occupations including work‐related routines (work, co‐op shop, day care) or homemaking, even though they are stressful, because they believe these occupations positively influence life satisfaction, control stress, provide time structure, and assist in promoting health.

Derivation and pilot assessment of a health promotion program for Mandarin-speaking Chinese older adults.

As the percentage of older adults of diverse ethnicities increases in the United States, the call for culturally sensitive health care service strategies that target the special needs of older people grows. The present report describes methods used to adapt a health care program so that it would better meet the needs of a group of well, older Mandarin-speaking Chinese residents of Los Angeles. The specific qualitative research procedures that we used to adapt the treatment program are described, along with the particular adaptations that emerged. Additionally, outcomes from a randomized pilot experiment are presented that are consistent with the notion that the adapted program was effective in reducing health-related declines among older Mandarin-speaking men and women. The overall outcome of this project is in agreement with other reports in the health care literature that address the importance of providing culturally sensitive health care service for elders.

Extending occupational science education

ABSTRACT Influenced by diverse philosophical and cultural contexts, occupational scientists have made varied and rich contributions to occupational science. In addition to studying and disseminating knowledge of occupation through conferences and journals, they are also called on to be educators. This paper traces the initial educational program at the University of Southern California in the US, which produces PhD qualified researchers, to opportunities opening up to teach occupation at bachelors level. If occupational science is to deliver on the original vision, of contributing to eradication of complex social problems, it argues that everyone needs a basic introduction to occupational science. While bachelors’ degrees in occupational science are generally only taken up by those pursuing a post-graduate professional degree, minors in occupational science offer college students understandings that reach into their personal lives, perhaps inspiring them to join occupational scientists in working for healthy occupation for all.

Promoting Quality of Life in Elders: An Occupation-Based Occupational Therapy Program

Abstract The practice of occupational therapy for elders is becoming more challenging. This article presents Lifestyle Redesign, an intervention model that promotes quality of life in well elders. Studies will be discussed that demonstrate the long-term efficacy of this treatment and that support the use of occupation-based occupational therapy for independent living. The key concepts of the program and process of delivery will be addressed. Finally, the necessity for cultural sensitivity on a global level will be discussed as it relates to designing similar programs for other cultures.

The Consistency of the Magnitude of the ATNR Response in Normal Preschool Children

Clinical questions regarding the ATNR have stimulated study of the normality of its presence, frequency of its incidence and magnitude of response in normal populations of young children. This study assesses the consistency or reproducibility of electrogoniometric measurement of the ATNR response in 40 three- and five-year-old children. Sixteen repetitions included quadrupedal and supine postures, with left and right head rotations randomly sequenced. Data analysis showed no significant effect related to repetition and statistically significant reliability on the average and for any single trial. Therapists may consider the magnitude of the ATNR response a consistent, reliable measure.