Sarah Bodell

Using Facebook for Professional Networking: A Modern-Day Essential:

Networking is a fundamental aspect in developing a strong professional identity and furthering professional development. This opinion piece asserts that networking is an essential activity for occupational therapists, and that many of the challenges involved in creating an effective network can be ameliorated by harnessing the power of the online environment. By sharing the experience of using Facebook, an online social networking platform, with the specific aim of furthering professional development, clear and tangible outcomes of this being achieved are shown in order to inspire more occupational therapists to connect online for the benefit of the profession.

Virtual Teamworking and Collaboration in Occupational Therapy: A Paradox

This practice analysis focuses on a project arising from a training event provided for 15 geographically dispersed occupational therapists in England. They wanted to continue the collaborative opportunities afforded by spending time together and it was suggested that an online space might be useful. Although enthusiastic about virtual teamworking, the therapists did not engage meaningfully with the online space. This unsuccessful outcome has been analysed in relation to three of the five paradoxes inherent in virtual teams, resulting in an understanding of the reasons for the projects failure and suggestions for others undertaking a similar initiative.

A qualitative evaluation of occupational therapy-led work rehabilitation for people with inflammatory arthritis : patients' views

Introduction This qualitative study, nested in a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial, explored the views of working people with inflammatory arthritis on the impact of a work rehabilitation programme received. Method Thirty-two participants, drawn from the 55 participants in the associated randomised controlled trial, were recruited from secondary care in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted at six (n = 32) and nine months follow-up (n = 31). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a constant comparative approach, under the theoretical framework of critical realism. Findings Three overarching themes emerged: (1) intervention group participants valued the work rehabilitation programme received, and highlighted the benefits of occupational therapy; (2) control group participants reported no benefits in relation to the written work advice pack, and lacked future aspirations to stay employed; (3) the majority of participants reported not reading the written work advice pack provided, which was the only work advice received by the control group. Conclusion Working people with inflammatory arthritis highly valued the practical support received from the therapists, and emphasised the value of the therapeutic relationship in the rehabilitation process. A tailor-made work rehabilitation programme, which incorporates cognitive-behavioural strategies into patient education, may help to reduce work instability in people with inflammatory arthritis, and increase their perceived self-efficacy.