Play deprivation in children with physical disabilities: the role of the occupational therapist in preventing secondary disability.

Self-initiated free play experiences are vital for the normal growth and development of all children. In this paper, children with physical disabilities who are deprived of normal play opportunities are viewed as having a second disability that hinders their potential for independent behavior and performance. Physical, social, personal, and environmental barriers that may limit the play experiences of children with physical disabilities are delineated. Studies of the interactions of these children during play are discussed, and a case is made for the promotion of active, free play in the home, the school, and the community. As facilitators of this process, occupational therapists must consider a variety of factors, including the unique capabilities of the child, the influence of parent-child and peer relationships, the role of other caregiving adults, the adaptation of toys and materials, and the impact of the environment and setting.     

The role of the occupational therapist in Jordan: a survey of the members of the healthcare team exploring their knowledge about occupational therapy in rehabilitation hospitals

Purpose.?Occupational therapy (OT) is a developing profession that has only been introduced to Jordanian hospitals 18 years ago. The main objective of this study was to explore the level of knowledge the healthcare team members in Jordanian rehabilitation hospitals have about OT.

Method.?Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed to different members in the healthcare team in three major hospitals in Jordan. One hundred fifty-three questionnaires were returned and used for analysis.

Results.?Collectively, the results revealed a fair knowledge level about OT among the healthcare team members in rehabilitation, who stated that the main responsibilities of this profession were rehabilitation for activities of daily living, hand therapy and increasing the quality of life for disabled people. Furthermore, the majority of the respondents agreed that OT is a vital profession that plays an important role in rehabilitation teams, and expressed their expectations of developing standards and regulations for this profession.

Conclusion.?Actions should be channelled towards educating members of the team about OT through university curriculum. It is critical that the Jordanian Ministry of Health establishes specific statements and regulations which clarify the role of the OT within different settings of the healthcare system.     

Families' transition to a Canadian paediatric hospice. Part one: planning a pilot study

This article describes the rationale for planning and conducting a qualitative pilot study about families' transition to a Canadian paediatric hospice. Discussion includes: background information and a literature review pertinent to the study; debate around the term 'hospice' versus 'palliative care'; the different and unique needs of children requiring a palliative approach compared with adult hospice patients; and information about planning and beginning the study, including the rationale for a pilot, details about the study site, recruitment and procedures, and data collection and analysis. The results from the pilot study, as well as implications for practice and research are reported in part two.     

Milieu therapy and the elderly: a role for the occupational therapist consultant

In the evolving world of improved care for the elderly, the skills of an occupational therapist are increasingly being called into play. This article presents a conceptual framework--Milieu Therapy--for treatment of institutionalized elderly persons, and describes the underlying principles of the therapeutic community. In a redefinition of roles for staff and residents, OT's become consultants whose client becomes the staff and organization within the institutional environment. Some basic assumptions in working with staff are discussed and the major components of the process of change are briefly described. The result is a winning experience for everyone concerned--including the OT.     

Building a health/education partnership: the role of school-based health centers.

School-based health centers have helped low-income young people gain access to clinical care despite many barriers these individuals face. These health centers also play a key role in supporting health promoting behaviors among students and creating healthier student environments.     

The SunWise Policy intervention for school-based sun protection: a pilot study

Skin cancer is highly preventable, but clearly there is a critical need to focus on better ways to disseminate information about known skin cancer prevention. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SunWise Program is one channel for reaching children, teachers, and school nurses. In a pilot study designed to increase adoption of school-based sun protection policies, 28 schools were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Control, which included the EPA's original SunWise curriculum toolkit; SunWise Policy, which included a revised toolkit emphasizing policy; and SunWise Policy plus Technical Assistance, which included the policy toolkit and 3 technical assistance phone calls. The enhanced SunWise Policy plus Technical Assistance intervention led to more new sun protection policies. Use of study interventions for improving sun protection practices such as policy toolkits or brief counseling can be easily interwoven into school hours by school nurses and other health educators.