Current provision of rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in the UK.
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OBJECTIVES: Rheumatological conditions are common and all health professionals (HPs) therefore need sufficient knowledge and skills to manage patients safely and effectively. The aim of this study was to examine current undergraduate education in rheumatology for HPs in the UK. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to curriculum organizers and clinical placement officers for all undergraduate courses in adult nursing, occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) in the UK to ascertain the nature and amount of rheumatology theory and clinical exposure provided. RESULTS: Of the 47 adult nursing, 26 OT and 30 PT undergraduate courses surveyed, 85-90% responded. Overall, rheumatology teaching is 5-10 h over 3 yr. Nursing students receive moderate/in-depth teaching on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in only 52% of courses (OT 91%, PT 96%) and on osteoarthritis (OA) in 63% (OT 91%, PT 92%). Clinical experience of RA is probably/definitely available in only 56% of nursing courses (OT 72%, PT 88%), with similar results in OA. Overall, nursing students receive the least rheumatology exposure, particularly in psychosocial issues and symptom management, while PT students receive the most. OT students have limited opportunities for clinical exposure to psychosocial and joint protection issues. Use of local rheumatology clinical HP experts is variable (18-93%) and cross-disciplinary exposure is limited (0-36%). Many educators consider their rheumatology training to be insufficient (nursing 50%, PT 42%, OT 24%). CONCLUSIONS: Rheumatology training for undergraduate HPs is limited in key areas and often fails to take advantage of local clinical expertise, with nursing students particularly restricted. Clinical HP experts should consider novel methods of addressing these shortfalls within the limited curriculum time available. (+info)
Effectiveness of the primary therapist model for rheumatoid arthritis rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial.
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OBJECTIVE: To compare the primary therapist model (PTM), provided by a single rheumatology-trained primary therapist, with the traditional treatment model (TTM), provided by a physical therapy (PT) and/or occupational therapy (OT) generalist, for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Eligible patients were adults requiring rehabilitation treatment who had not received PT/OT in the past 2 years. Participants were randomized to the PTM or TTM group. The primary outcome was defined as the proportion of clinical responders who experienced a > or =20% improvement in 2 of the following measures from baseline to 6 months: Health Assessment Questionnaire, pain visual analog scale, and Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit RA Knowledge Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of 144 consenting patients, 33 (10 PTM participants, 23 TTM participants) dropped out without completing any followup assessment, leaving 111 for analysis (63 PTM participants, 48 TTM participants). The majority were women (PTM 87.3%, TTM 79.2%), with a mean age of 54.2 years and 56.8 years for the PTM and TTM groups, respectively. Average disease duration was 10.6 years and 13.2 years for each group, respectively. At 6 months, 44.4% of patients in the PTM group were clinical responders versus 18.8% in the TTM group (chi(2) = 8.09, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Compared with the TTM, the PTM was associated with better outcomes in patients with RA. The results, however, should be interpreted with caution due to the high dropout rate in the TTM group. (+info)
Intra- and inter-rater reliability of the assessment of capacity for myoelectric control.
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OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability of the Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control (ACMC) in children and adults with a myoelectric prosthetic hand. DESIGN: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability estimated from reported assessments by 3 different raters. PATIENTS: A sample of convenience of 26 subjects (11 males, 15 females) with upper limb reduction deficiency or amputation and myoelectric prosthetic hands were video-taped during a regular clinical visit for ACMC. Participants' ages ranged from 2 to 40 years. METHODS: After instruction, 3 occupational therapists with no, 10 weeks' and 15 years' clinical experience of myoelectric prosthesis training and follow-up independently rated the 30 ACMC items for each patient. The ratings were repeated after 2-4 weeks. Inter- and intra-rater reliability in items was examined by using weighted kappa statistics and Rasch-measurement analyses. RESULTS: The mean intra-rater agreement in items was excellent (kappa 0.81) in the more experienced raters. Fit statistics showed too much variation in the least experienced rater, who also had only good (kappa 0.65) agreement in items. The stability of rater calibrations between first and second assessment showed that no rater varied beyond chance (>0.50 logit) in severity. The mean inter-rater agreement in items was fair; kappa 0.60, between the experienced raters and kappa 0.47 between raters with no and 10 weeks' experience. CONCLUSION: Overall, the agreement was higher in the more experienced raters, indicating that reliable measures of the ACMC require clinical experience from myoelectric prosthesis training. (+info)
Stroke rehabilitation in Europe: what do physiotherapists and occupational therapists actually do?
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physiotherapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are key components of stroke rehabilitation. Little is known about their content. This study aimed to define and compare the content of PT and OT for stroke patients between 4 European rehabilitation centers. METHODS: In each center, 15 individual PT and 15 OT sessions of patients fitting predetermined criteria were videotaped. The content was recorded using a list comprising 12 therapeutic categories. A generalized estimating equation model was fitted to the relative frequency of each category resulting in odds ratios. RESULTS: Comparison of PT and OT between centers revealed significant differences for only 2 of the 12 categories: ambulatory exercises and selective movements. Comparison of the 2 therapeutic disciplines on the pooled data of the 4 centers revealed that ambulatory exercises, transfers, exercises, and balance in standing and lying occurred significantly more often in PT sessions. Activities of daily living, domestic activities, leisure activities, and sensory, perceptual training, and cognition occurred significantly more often in OT sessions. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that the content of each therapeutic discipline was consistent between the 4 centers. PT and OT proved to be distinct professions with clear demarcation of roles. (+info)
Occupational gaps in everyday life 1-4 years after acquired brain injury.
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OBJECTIVE: To explore adaptation, by examining the occupational gaps occurring between what individuals want to do and what they actually do in terms of their everyday activities before and after brain injury. In addition, the relationships between occupational gaps and impairment/activity limitations and the time lapse since the brain injury were explored. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A total of 187 persons, affected by traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid haemorrhage 1-4 years previously. METHODS: A postal questionnaire encompassing questions concerning gaps in the performance of activities in everyday life before and after the brain injury and perceived impairment/activity limitations. RESULTS: The numbers of occupational gaps increased after the injury, with the number of gaps having increased from 46% to 71%. The number of occupational gaps was significantly related to executive impairment/activity limitations, and motor impairment/activity limitations and other somatic impairments, such as headache, also had an impact. The time lapse since the brain injury had no significant effect on the number of occupational gaps. CONCLUSION: The results suggests that there is a need for adaptation in everyday activities, even several years after a brain injury, which indicates that follow-up and access to individualized rehabilitation interventions in the long-term are required. (+info)
Development of a teletechnology protocol for in-home rehabilitation.
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Our ability to provide in-home rehabilitation is limited by distance and available personnel. We may be able to meet some rehabilitation needs with videoconferencing technology. This article describes the feasibility of teletechnology for delivering multifactorial, in-home rehabilitation interventions to community-dwelling adults recently prescribed a mobility aid. We used standard telephone lines to provide two-way video and audio interaction. The interventions included prescription of and/or training in functionally based exercises, home-hazard assessment, assistive technology, environmental modifications, and adaptive strategies. Patients were evaluated in three transfer and three mobility tasks, and appropriate treatment was provided over the course of four visits. To date, 13 of the 14 subjects enrolled in the rehabilitation study have completed all four visits (56 visits total). Equipment-related problems were most common early in the study, particularly on the initial visit to a subject's house. We identified (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) 13.1 +/- 7.9 mobility/self-care problems per subject and made 12.5 +/- 8.3 recommendations per subject to address those problems. At 6-week follow-up, 60.1 percent of our recommendations had been implemented. The greatest number of problems was identified for tub transfers (mean +/- SD = 3.4 +/- 1.4), the greatest number of recommendations was made for toilet transfers (mean +/- SD = 3.1 +/- 3.4), and the most frequently implemented recommendations were for transition between locations. Overall, our results show promise that both the telerehabilitation technology and intervention procedures are feasible. (+info)
Cluster randomized pilot controlled trial of an occupational therapy intervention for residents with stroke in UK care homes.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A pilot evaluation of an occupational therapy intervention to improve self-care independence for residents with stroke-related disability living in care homes was the basis of this study. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial with care home as the unit of randomization was undertaken in Oxfordshire, UK. Twelve homes (118 residents) were randomly allocated to either intervention (6 homes, 63 residents) or control (6 homes, 55 residents). Occupational therapy was provided to individuals but included carer education. The control group received usual care. Assessments were made at baseline, postintervention (3 months) and at 6-months to estimate change using the Barthel Activity of Daily Living Index (BI) scores, "poor global outcome", (defined as deterioration in BI score, or death) and the Rivermead Mobility Index. RESULTS: At 3 months BI score in survivors had increased by 0.6 (SD 3.9) in the intervention group and decreased by 0.9 (2.2) in the control group; a difference of 1.5 (95% CI allowing for cluster design, -0.5 to 3.5). At 6 months the difference was 1.9 (-0.7 to 4.4). Global poor outcome was less common in the intervention group. At 3 months, 20/63 (32%) were worse/dead in the intervention group compared with 31/55 (56%) in the control group, difference -25% (-51% to 1%). At 6 months the difference was similar, -26% (-48% to -3%). Between-group changes in Rivermead Mobility Index scores were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Residents who received an occupational therapy intervention were less likely to deteriorate in their ability to perform activities of daily living. (+info)
Reducing hazard related falls in people 75 years and older with significant visual impairment: how did a successful program work?
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BACKGROUND: In a randomized controlled trial testing a home safety program designed to prevent falls in older people with severe visual impairment, it was shown that the program, delivered by an experienced occupational therapist, significantly reduced the numbers of falls both at home and away from home. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the success of the home safety assessment and modification intervention in reducing falls resulted directly from modification of home hazards or from behavioral modifications, or both. METHODS: Participants were 391 community living women and men aged 75 years and older with visual acuity 6/24 meters or worse; 92% (361 of 391) completed one year of follow up. Main outcome measures were type and number of hazards and risky behavior identified in the home and garden of those receiving the home safety program, compliance with home safety recommendations reported at six months, location of all falls for all study participants during the trial, and environmental hazards associated with each fall. RESULTS: The numbers of falls at home related to an environmental hazard and those with no hazard involved were both reduced by the home safety program (n = 100 participants) compared with the group receiving social visits (n = 96) (incidence rate ratios = 0.40 (95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.74) and 0.43 (0.21 to 0.90), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The overall reduction in falls by the home safety program must result from some mechanism in addition to the removal or modification of hazards or provision of new equipment. (+info)