Sharon Green

Occupation as a Quality of Life Constituent: A Nursing Home Perspective

Occupational therapy, with its core belief in the occupational needs of individuals, facilitates independent and meaningful activity. When clients become elderly, frail and subject to multiple pathology, they may need the care of a nursing home. Here, through the lack of use of residual abilities, a spiral of decline in occupational performance can occur. To increase knowledge of the factors that contribute most to enabling occupational performance in nursing home settings, a study was carried out in the north-west of England (n=20). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the matrons to determine the philosophy of care, the daily routines and the approach to activity provision for residents. The data were analysed using a person/environment/occupation framework. The results indicated that the level of function of the residents greatly influenced the amount and types of activity offered. The matrons role was found to be crucial in recognising the therapeutic value of non-traditional activities and in maximising the use of staff and resources to enhance quality of life for the residents. Flexibility and a creative use of resources were found to have a greater positive influence on the quality of life of severely disabled residents than official policy. In these settings, the role of the occupational therapist moves from hands-on provider to consultant, primarily to the matron.

Elderly Mentally Ill People and Quality of Life: Who Wants Activities?

Purposeful activity, accepted as an important constituent of quality living by many people, has not been well researched in relation to elderly mentally Ill people. In a 43-bed nursing home in the north west of England, a small study explored initial patient, relative and staff reactions to a newly introduced part-time activity programme. The results highlighted the importance of a flexible programme of activities, coordinated by an appointed person and providing mental stimulation for the residents. The willingness of staff to become further involved as the programme expands suggests that additional staff training and specific time allocation would be needed.

Travelling via Delphi: A New Route to the Accreditation of Fieldwork Educators

The Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Liverpool, has recently developed and introduced a new system of accreditation for fieldwork educators. A team of educators and practitioners used a Delphi technique to determine and refine the systems content and structure. Implementation was preceded by a planned education phase, using formal conferences and informal meetings with staff teams, to ensure familiarity with the new system. Both national and university credit rating has been sought.

Occupational Therapy and Information Technology: One Decade on

A brief historical introduction outlines the development of computer use in occupational therapy in the United Kingdom, over a decade from its embryonic beginnings at the closure of the governmental technology awareness initiative in March 1985. In an attempt to study the changing pattern of usage, a research project is detailed in which finalist occupational therapy students from Liverpool, between 1985 and 1995, were asked to give their observations of computer use during fieldwork placements. The results indicated a shift towards computer time being devoted to administration, with maximum therapeutic use being seen in specialist centres. The implications for future student education are discussed.

Designing Computer Training to Meet Clinical Needs for Occupational Therapy Students: A Feasibility Study

In the spring of 1985, 52 finalist occupational therapy students in Liverpool completed questionnaires relating computer experience on clinical placement to needs for changing computer curriculum content in college. Computing must now be regarded as a common treatment medium: More than half of the students worked in a department with at least one computer for client treatment. However, use of the new technology was not optimal and the reasons for this are discussed. The observed applications for computing are reported, as are student recommendations for future college-based computer training.

Book Review: Microelectronics and Pupils with Special Educational NeedsMICROELECTRONICS AND PUPILS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.GarrettJ, DykeB, eds. Manchester University Press1988. 72 pp. £8.95 (classroom exercises); £12.95 (tutor's notes). ISBN 0 7190 2490 0.

This book takes a refreshing approach to research, that it is an integral part of practice, and attempts to outline the need and characteristics of research. A considerable amount of time is spent discussing the attitude of the researcher and research consumer. This approach is highly successful and the material in the book is well presented and provides a considerable amount of information for thought and serious consideration. Particular emphasis is placed on judging research as an informed consumer,

Book Review: The Practice of Occupational Therapy: An Introduction to the Treatment of Physical DysfunctionTHE PRACTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TREATMENT OF PHYSICAL DYSFUNCTION. TurnerA, ed. 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone1987. 593 pp. £22.50. ISBN 0 443 03457 5.

Systematically laid out, the book covers 31separate topics. The format and print is easy to read and the text is well illustrated with clear line drawings, photographs and sample charts and assessments. It is particularly helpful to see many sequences illustrated; for example, in dressing and transfer techniques and positioning of patients to reduce spasticity. References are given after each topic.