Sue Rugg

Electrically Powered Indoor/Outdoor Wheelchairs: Recipients' Views of Their Effects on Occupational Performance and Quality of Life:

The National Health Service (NHS) provides manually propelled wheelchairs for people permanently unable to mobilise independently (Great Britain Parliament 1977). For those unable to self-propel, but still requiring independent mobility, electrically powered indoor wheelchairs (EPICs) and indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) were made available, funded with an initial ring-fenced sum of £6.4 million (NHS Guidelines 1996, NHS Wheelchair Services 2003). Although the number of NHS EPIOC users has grown in recent years (from 2,545 in 1996/1997 to 11,356 in 1999/2000) (NHS Executive and Department of Health 2000), no commitment has been made to continue such funding. Substantial waiting lists now exist, reflecting unmet demand. This ongoing picture is influenced by rising numbers of people with severe disabilities and growing expectations for full societal participation (Great Britain Parliament 1995, 2005, White and Lemmer 1998, NHS Executive and Department of Health 2000). EPIOC provision costs are also rising, with basic models starting at £2,000 and top-of-the-range models costing 10 times that sum (Korner 2004, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign 2004). Electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs: recipients’ views of their effects on occupational performance and quality of life

A Preliminary Study of Occupational Therapy Staff concerning the Use of Computers in Their Profession

Fifty-one occupational therapy staff, working in Salisbury Health District and the corresponding Wiltshire Social Services Area, participated in a study investigating their perception of occupational therapy, computers and computer use within the profession. Information was collected by interview and purpose-designed questionnaire upon 11 variables (personal, professional, and computer experience) of potential influence. Results indicated that most respondents perceived occupational therapy as having important and/or unique features, mainly with regard to patient care, and held a range of opinions about computers in general. The majority anticipated computer use in occupational therapy affecting the profession, generally in a beneficial direction, and cited a potential range of effects upon both patients and staff. The findings indicate a need for further investigation of occupational therapy staffs perception of computers, their use within the profession and their potential for influence, both in areas of current use and beyond.

‘He Who Can, Does. He Who Cannot, Teaches.’ Is it True for Occupational Therapy?

This article compares informally the skills used in occupational therapy in the clinical field and in occupational therapy education. The comparison is structured using the physical, social, cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal activity components suggested by Reed and Sanderson.1 Reflection seems to suggest that while there are subtle differences between the two fields, little conflict is apparent in the skills required by each. Occupational therapy education would, therefore, appear to be a good avenue for using the high level of skills developed in clinical practice.

Electronic Care Records: an Update on the Garner Project

Change is omnipresent in modern society. Much of it relates to new technology and, in particular, to information, communication and management technology. To thrive, individuals and organisations must react appropriately to the challenges offered by such change. This opinion piece outlines the most recent phase of a continuing project exploring the use of information and communication technologies in the allied health professions. It focuses on the use of electronic patient records, or electronic care records as they have more recently become known. Such records form an important strand in the National Health Services vast, ongoing National Programme for Information Technology (Granger 2003, NPfIT 2004). The piece concludes by outlining the steps that occupational therapists and occupational therapy services can take to ensure that they are well placed to participate in current and future electronic care records initiatives.

Once is an Incident: MRSA and the Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists are increasingly finding themselves working in settings where they are exposed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This article explores the epidemiological and clinical background to this area, highlighting some of the most important issues.

Charlotte Paterson and colleagues respond to Margaret McCartney

The CACTUS Study is a randomised pragmatic trial with a nested qualitative study comparing traditional acupuncture with usual care in people who consult frequently with medically unexplained symptoms.1 2 Margaret McCartney has based her Observations article about it on several inaccuracies (quotations from her article in italics below).3 (1) The “wellbeing score” was better in the control group than in the acupuncture group . This statement is untrue: an adjusted mean difference in favour of acupuncture was seen with wellbeing (wellbeing questionnaire, W-BQ12: 4.4 (1.6 to 7.2); P=0.002). This difference remained significant after missing values were imputed (3.4 (0.5 to 6.3); P=0.02). (2) The graphical …

‘Positive Preparation’: Educational Input on HIV/AIDS in British Occupational Therapy Schools

This article presents the results of a national postal survey to determine the type and amount of educational input on HIV/AIDS received by British occupational therapy students. All respondents (18/25 courses, 72%) indicated that they currently provided such input, with an average of 11.9 hours of course time being devoted to it. The majority of presenters were occupational therapists, although colleagues from many other backgrounds were also involved. Much of the material was considered in small group settings, with the content being balanced among a range of aspects. The article concludes that most British occupational therapy students are ‘positively prepared’ to work with clients with HIV/AIDS.