British Journal of Occupational Therapy

To evaluate the effects of internet-based interventions on physical and psychosocial outcomes in women with chronic pain through a systematic review.

A search of the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Two different authors separately tabulated the indices selected in identical predetermined forms. The methodological quality of all randomised trials was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias.

Seven articles were finally included. The main features of interventions included online cognitive-behavioural and/or psychoeducation therapy to improve health with an interactive component. The methodological quality showed a high risk of bias, mainly from a lack of blinding.

There are indicators that suggest that internet-based interventions may be useful for women with chronic pain. However, the validity of such a conclusion is limited as most trials included had a high risk of bias. More rigorous research is required before stating that such interventions can overcome the current limitations of traditional face-to-face care.

This study aimed to clarify factors associated with post-stroke depression in patients with acute stroke within 2 weeks of onset.

Eighty-eight patients with stroke were divided into post-stroke depression (n = 49) and non-post-stroke depression (n = 39) groups based on their Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores. We evaluated stroke severity, upper limb function, activities of daily living, frontal lobe/cognitive function, and level of apathy. Activity levels were measured using an ActiGraph GT9X Link system. Mann–Whitney U-tests were used to determine differences between the two groups. Spearman’s rank correlation and logistic regression analyses were also performed.

The post-stroke depression and non-post-stroke depression groups exhibited significant differences in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at admission and discharge; Functional Independence Measure exercise items, cognitive items, and total items at admission; Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores; and Apathy Rating Scale scores. Logistic regression indicated that Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores were associated with post-stroke depression.

Stroke severity, paralysis, and physical function/activities of daily living ability are associated with post-stroke depression in the acute phase. Our findings suggest that increases in physical impairment severity are associated with increased post-stroke depression risks. Rehabilitation professionals should focus on identifying post-stroke depression in early post-stroke stages.

Kitchen-related tasks are widely used in occupational therapy for adults with acquired brain injury. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of kitchen-related, task-based occupational therapy interventions for improving clinical and functional outcomes in the rehabilitation of adults with acquired brain injury.

A systematic review of the literature was conducted with narrative synthesis (PROSPERO registration CRD42019141898), by searching relevant electronic databases (BNI, CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, DORIS, OT Seeker etc.), registries of ongoing studies (ISRCTN, PROSPERO, etc.), and grey literature (OpenGrey, etc.). English-language studies that evaluated kitchen-related tasks in the rehabilitation of adults with acquired brain injury were included and independently appraised for their methodological quality by two reviewers.

Seventeen primary studies met the eligibility criteria. Studies were heterogeneous in methods, methodological quality, setting, sample size, purpose, and design of kitchen-related tasks. Fifteen studies evaluated kitchen-related, task-based treatments for improving function, and two studies examined kitchen-related task assessments for safety and task performance. This provides very limited evidence for the effectiveness of kitchen-related, task-based interventions compared to interventions not based on kitchen-related tasks.

While kitchen-related, task-based occupational therapy interventions in acquired brain injury rehabilitation are common practice, there is currently limited research evidence to support this. Further studies are warranted to strengthen the evidence base.

This study investigated whether listening and communication skills are predictive of occupational therapy students’ resilience.

135 third- and fourth-year undergraduate occupational therapy students (74% response rate) completed the Active-Empathetic Listening Scale, Listening Styles Profile – Revised, Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale, Resilience at University and Resilience Scale for Adults instruments. Linear regressions were completed with the Resilience at University and Resilience Scale for Adults subscales as the dependent variables and the Active-Empathetic Listening Scale, Listening Styles Profile – Revised and Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale subscales as the independent variables.

Regression analysis identified significant predictors of students’ resilience. The Active-Empathetic Listening Scale: Sensing Listening accounted for 5% (p = .009) and 4.3% (p = .011) of the unique variance of Resilience at University: Find Your Calling and Living Authentically. Listening Styles Profile – Revised: Analytical Listening accounted for 4.4% (p = .022) and 2.7% (p = .038) of the unique variance of Resilience at University: Managing Stress and Maintaining Perspective. Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale: Self-Disclosure accounted for 6.7% (p = .003), 3.6% (p = .035) and 3.4% (p = .047) of the unique variance of Resilience Scale for Adults: Social Resources, Resilience at University: Maintaining Perspective and Resilience Scale for Adults: Planned Future. Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale: Social Relaxation accounted for 8.5% (p = .001) of the unique variance of Resilience Scale for Adults: Social Competence.

Components of listening and interpersonal communication were found to be significant predictors of resilience in occupational therapy students. Further investigation in this area of research is recommended.

Occupation-based practice is a core tenet of occupational therapy. This study explores perspectives and experiences with occupation-based practice among Thai occupational therapists.

Using mixed methods, a focus group was conducted with eight occupational therapists, and the results were interpreted using thematic analysis. A questionnaire survey was also completed concerning practitioner perspectives (n = 216).

Three major themes were identified: (a) perspectives on occupation-based practice were related to practice areas and felt to strengthen the identity of occupational therapy (52% strongly agree), leading to improved services and better outcomes for clients (44% strongly agree); (b) approaches focused on activities of daily living were appropriate for cross-practice areas; and (c) occupation-based practice is consistent with integrated medical sciences and occupations for clients (52% strongly agree).

Implementing occupation-based practice will be of value to clients, provide benefits as a compass to direct processes, and enhance clinical reasoning and outcomes.