British Journal of Occupational Therapy

This article discusses the process of computer program design for occupational therapy. It attempts to demonstrate the roles of the therapist and the programmer in this process. The article has largely assumed that program designers are not clinicians, but it is appreciated that this may not always be the case. Special considerations that the software designer can take into account are described, as are ways in which the therapist can help the designer to produce programs that are as useful as possible.

The role of leisure and its relevance to occupational therapy are discussed in the light of its historical context and economics. Implications for occupational therapy practice are considered in relation to leisure rehabilitation, using Herzburg's job satisfaction model and Parker's model of leisure as a guide. The focus is on the western way of life.

The behaviour of the therapist may play an important part in determining the amount and type of speech observed during activity therapy. In this study, one aspect of the therapist's behaviour (prompting) was systematically altered and resulted in specific changes in the patients' speech to each other and to the therapist.

This paper describes the development of a new community day centre in suburban London for adults with psychosocial problems. The centre is joint-funded by the health authority and the social services department and is operated according to a nonmedical model.

Does spreading the clinical placements throughout the 3-year training make any unhappy episodes a more positive educational experience for the student? This article provides a personal view on clinical placements.

Congratulations to the following who, having fulfilled the necessary requirements, have been awarded their Diplomas by the College of Occupational Therapists.

These names are in addition to the ones published in the September 1985 issue. The school's location is shown in brackets after each name.

A primary care occupational therapy service in Bromley Health Authority provides a bridge between existing occupational therapy provision in hospitals and social services. It enables immediate follow-up of patients discharged from hospital, assessment and follow-up of patients in casualty and short-stay wards, and assessment and rehabilitation of patients referred by general practitioners to prevent admission where possible.