Occupational Therapy Interventions to Improve the Quality of Life of Older Adults with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review.

The increase in older adults with dementia presents challenges in promoting research to improve the quality of life of this population. The objective of this study was to assess the scientific evidence on the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions in improving the quality of life of older adults over 65 years old with dementia living in nursing homes. The databases used were PubMed, Web of Science, OTSeeker, clinicaltrials.gov, Dialnet, Scopus, Cochrane, and SciELO between 2013 and 2023. The studies were selected and evaluated according to the Cochrane guidelines. The review was carried out following the PRISMA 2020 Statement. Sixteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were categorized into four groups according to the focus of the intervention: "meaningful activities/occupations", "physical, cognitive and sensory functioning", "performance areas", and "physical and social environment and staff training". The strength of evidence was moderate, and the risk of bias was low. The findings revealed that occupational therapy interventions based on participation in recreational activities, reminiscence, performance-based activities and the physical and social environment, and specialized staff training, could improve the perceived quality of life of older adults with dementia living in nursing homes.

Life Domains and Lifestyle of Older Adults Living in a Nursing Home: A Pilot Study.

Although the preventive occupational therapy intervention program Lifestyle Redesign® has proven to be effective in maintaining and improving the health and quality of life of older adults, a similar program has not yet been culturally adapted to the Spanish population. As a preliminary step in developing a lifestyle intervention tailored to healthy Spanish older adults living in a nursing home (Lifestyle Choice; originally in Spanish "Elección de Estilo de Vida"), we aimed to identify and describe the life domains of this population and determine overlap with content areas addressed in the Lifestyle Redesign® program. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out using quantitative methods, including 30 healthy older adult residents in the "Virgen del Prado" nursing home in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo), based on the development of a questionnaire and a survey. Six life domains were identified: self-care, sleep and rest, mobility, personal safety, health maintenance, spirituality, and free time usage. The results of this study reveal important overlaps with content areas of Lifestyle Redesign®, suggesting that it may be feasible to develop a lifestyle intervention ("Elección de Estilo de Vida") tailored to the sociocultural features of the healthy Spanish population over 65 years old living in nursing homes.

Psychosocial Interventions for the Treatment of Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Umbrella Review.

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of cancer and one of those referred by patients as the most disabling. However, we still do not have enough evidence to allow us to recommend effective and personalized approaches. GOAL: To provide evidence on the efficacy of ASCO-recommended psychosocial interventions for reducing cancer-related fatigue. METHODOLOGY: A general quantitative systematic review for nonprimary clinical interventions that allows the collection, synthesis and analysis of already published reviews. Systematic reviews of RTCs were selected as these make up the body of knowledge that provides the most evidence in an umbrella format. The results do not provide clear or comparable evidence regarding the different interventions, with moderate evidence standing out for cognitive interventions and mindfulness. CONCLUSIONS: Research gaps, study biases and the need for further research to ask more precise questions and to make reliable recommendations to mitigate the impact of cancer-related fatigue are evident.

A Q-method approach to perceptions of professional reasoning in occupational therapy undergraduates.

BACKGROUND: Professional reasoning provides a firm basis for the development of teaching and assessment strategies to support the acquisition of skills by healthcare students. Nevertheless, occupational therapy educators should use diverse methods of learning assessment to examine student learning outcomes more fully with an evaluation that supports the overall complexity of the process, particularly learners' subjective experience. The aim of this article is to identify the range of perspectives among occupational therapy undergraduates regarding terms or concepts that are key for improving their professional reasoning. METHODS: Q-methodology was used to address the aim of the study. A concourse relating to a series of ideas, phrases, terminology, and concepts associated with various studies on professional reasoning in occupational therapy, specifically on students in this field, was generated. The terms that had the clearest evidence, the most relevance or the greatest number of citations in the literature were collected (n = 37). The P-set was assembled by non-probabilistic sampling for convenience. It comprised undergraduate university students in occupational therapy. Factor analysis was conducted using Ken-Q Analysis v.1.0.6, reducing the number of Q-sets to smaller groups of factors representing a common perspective. RESULTS: Through statistical analysis of the Q-sorts of 37 occupational therapy students, 8 default factors were identified. The four factors in accordance with the selection criteria were rotated by varimax rotation to identify variables that could be grouped together. Each viewpoint was interpreted, discussed and liked to different aspects of professional reasoning in occupational therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The observed perceptions were linked to the various aspects of professional reasoning that have been widely discussed in the occupational therapy literature. For most of the students, there was a strong correspondence between the narrative, interactive and conditional aspects of the various components.

The Effectiveness of Community Occupational Therapy Interventions: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: This review aims to evaluate the level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of Community Occupational Therapy interventions. METHODS: A systematic review was used to analyze and synthesize the studies collected. The databases of Cochrane, OTseeker, OTCATS, Web of Science, Scielo and Scopus were used in order to collect articles published between 2007 and 2020. PRISMA recommendations were followed. RESULTS: A total of 12 articles comprised part of the study (7 randomized controlled studies, 4 systematic reviews and 1 meta-analysis). The main areas of practice were geriatric gerontology (22.1%) and mental health (19.7%), which were statistically significant (χ2; p < 0.005) compared to the rest. Regarding the studies analyzed, all of them had scores of >7 on the PEDro and AMSTAR scales. CONCLUSIONS: Research on Community Occupational Therapy constitutes a consolidated line of research but the objectives and areas of research were limited. Descriptive qualitative methodology predominated and studies on the effectiveness of Community Occupational Therapy interventions showed a medium-low level of evidence.

Learning and Development of Diagnostic Reasoning in Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Students.

BACKGROUND/AIM: One way to facilitate occupational therapy undergraduate students transferring their academic skills of data gathering and analysis to professional settings is to ensure they can competently use diagnostic reasoning. Nevertheless, there are several obvious gaps in empirical evidence related to the learning and development of this style of reasoning in occupational therapy undergraduates. The most important are related to promoting higher-order thinking and the use of information to solve problems in the context of professional practice. This study analyses undergraduates' diagnostic reasoning and its changes during their education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multicentre study was conducted with a descriptive observational design. The study took place at the University of Coruña (Spain), University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), and University of el Valle (Colombia). The sample was n = 247. For data collection, a clinical case was specifically designed. IBM SPSS Statistics (v19) and EPIDAT 3.1 were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: Participants identified and categorized occupational performance problems. However, they had difficulties when identifying and categorizing the occupational performance components (specifically, the symptoms and signs of the disease presented in the study case). They presented limitations to analyse and synthesize the information collected to develop an explanation of the occupational problems and their causes. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduate students' ability to analyse and synthesize information during data collection is poorly organized, so it makes the problem formulation difficult. This study contributes to the knowledge of undergraduates' diagnostic reasoning features, specifically the undergraduate students' capacities and limits to process information during the occupational assessment.

Mothers Who Take Care of Children with Disabilities in Rural Areas of a Spanish Region.

The purpose of this research is to describe how the mothers of children with disabilities in rural areas of Extremadura perceive care tasks and the subjective impact that these tasks have on their daily life and health, as well as the subjective assessment that these mothers make of the benefits and services of the Spanish welfare policy. An interpretative paradigm was selected, using a qualitative approach and a phenomenological design. Twelve mothers were included. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. A discourse analysis of the narrative information was performed using open, axial, and selective coding processes and the constant comparative method. Three topics have been extracted from the findings of the analysis: (1) extensive care responsibilities, (2) impacts upon well-being and daily life, and (3) resources that "barely" help. The care tasks performed by mothers of children with disabilities in rural areas have an enormous impact on their daily life and health. This involvement in caregiving generates a significant occupational imbalance which has an impact on their mental health, and which causes economic and social problems.

Dependency and Care: Perspectives from the Point of View of Professionals Assessing Situations of Dependency in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To describe how the assessors of dependency have perceived the process of implementation of the Dependency Act in Spain. METHODS: A qualitative method was used to analyse interview data (discourse analysis). Purposive sampling was applied. Sixteen occupational therapists were included, who served as dependency assessors in Extremadura, a region of southern Spain. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews between February and March 2019, focused on the characteristic of the Dependency Act. A discourse analysis of the narrative information was performed using processes of open, axial, and selective coding, as well as the constant comparative method. RESULTS: Three topics were identified: (1) Benefits of implementation, connected with the consideration as subjects of rights and the increase in resources. (2) Difficulties linked to the bureaucratization of the process, the lack of sensitivity of the scale of assessment, and the unequal access to benefits and services. (3) The impact of the 2012 budget cuts on financing and on dependent people and their families. CONCLUSIONS: The Dependency Act has established itself as a political tool that has generated important social and economic benefits. However, significant difficulties have emerged, which should be addressed to ensure better care for dependent persons.

Identidad profesional en Terapia Ocupacional: una revisión bibliográfica desde España / Professional identity in Occupational Therapy: a bibliographical review from Spain / Identidade profissional na Terapia Profissional: uma revisão bibliográfica desde Espanha

Contexto: La identidad profesional en Terapia Ocupacional (TO) ha atravesado por diversos procesos de construcción y reconstrucción a lo largo de su historia. En el camino, se han registrado una serie de discusiones al respecto y aún el debate se encuentra abierto. Objetivo: Identificar el estado actual de las discusiones sobre la identidad profesional en la TO, a nivel internacional y en España. Metodología: se realiza una revisión bibliográfica narrativa en diferentes bases de datos y otras fuentes de publicación de la profesión. Resultados y análisis: Tras la obtención del material bibliográfico (24 artículos), se agruparon los documentos por temas, identificándose las siguientes categorías: (a) contribuciones de la identidad profesional a la disciplina (10 artículos); (b) conceptualizaciones de la identidad profesional en TO (11 artículos); (c) identidad profesional en España (4 artículos). Conclusiones: se pone de manifiesto la importancia de fomentar la adquisición y construcción de una identidad profesional durante el periodo de formación universitaria. Se hace necesaria la realización de investigaciones que permitan comprender mejor cómo se construye la identidad profesional en diferentes contextos y la influencia de la formación universitaria en este proceso.

Context: Professional identity in Occupational Therapy (OT) has undergone various construction and reconstruction processes throughout its history. Along the way, there have been a number of discussions on the subject and the debate is still open. Objective: To identify the current state of discussions on professional identity in OT, at an international and Spanish level. Methodology: a narrative revision is done in different databases and other publication sources of the profession. Results and analysis: After obtaining the bibliographic material, the documents were grouped by topic, identifying the following categories: (a) contributions of the professional identity to the discipline; (b) conceptualizations of professional identity in OT; (c) professional identity in Spain. Conclusions: the importance of promoting the acquisition and construction of a professional identity during the period of university education is highlighted. It is necessary to carry out research to better understand how professional identity is constructed in different contexts and the influence of university education in this process.

Contexto: A identidade profissional em Terapia Ocupacional (TO) passou por vários processos de construção e reconstrução ao longo de sua história. Ao longo do caminho, houve várias discussões sobre o assunto e o debate ainda está aberto. Objetivo: Identificar o estado atual das discussões sobre identidade profissional em OT, no nível internacional e espanhol. Metodologia: uma revisão narrativa é feita em diferentes bancos de dados e outras fontes de publicação da profissão. Resultados e análise: após a obtenção do material bibliográfico, os documentos foram agrupados por tópico, identificando as seguintes categorias: (a) contribuições da identidade profissional para a disciplina; (b) conceituais de identidade profissional em TO; (c) identidade profissional na Espanha. Conclusões: a importância de promover a aquisição e construção de uma identidade profissional durante o período de ensino universitário é destacada. É necessário realizar pesquisas para entender melhor como a identidade profissional é construída em diferentes contextos e a influência da educação universitária neste processo.

Revisión de la literatura sobre desempeño ocupacional de trabajadores en pesca comercial / Review about occupational performance in commercial fishing workers

Esta revisión tiene como propósito revelar los resultados de la búsqueda bibliográfica sobre desempeño ocupacional de trabajadores en pesca comercial. Su objetivo es realizar una aproximación sobre conceptos relacionados con el desempeño ocupacional de personas que dedican su actividad productiva a la pesca comercial de altura. Esta revisión bibliográfica se centra en personas que pertenecen a la comunidad autónoma de Galicia, situada al noroeste de España, la cual se caracteriza por guardar una fuerte vinculación con el sector de la pesca. En cuanto a la metodología, se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en bases de datos Medline, CSIC, Biblioteca Virtual de Salud, World of Science (WOS), IBECS, Cochrane Plus, Econbiz, repositorios institucionales, monografías y literatura gris de alcance. La estrategia de búsqueda se ha basado en la utilización de descriptores controlados DECS y MESH. Los resultados reportados hacen referencia a las consecuencias derivadas del entorno en el desempeño ocupacional de los protagonistas. Cabe destacar la influencia de los aspectos tanto intrínsecos como extrínsecos del propio trabajo que desarrollan los trabajadores de la pesca, el cual repercute en su desempeño ocupacional. Como conclusiones, se han identificado modificaciones en la gestión de la ocupación produciendo una repercusión tanto en la persona como la estructura familiar; todo ello motivado por la actividad productiva desarrollada.

The purpose of this review is to show de results of the literature search about occupational performance of commercial fishing workers. The aim is to approach on concepts related to occupational performance of people who devote their productive activity to commercial fishing. This literature review focuses on Galician people, a community situated in the northwest of Spain, which is characterized by a strong link with fishing sector. In terms of methodology , the database used were: Medline , CSIC, Biblioteca Virtual de Salud, World of Science (WOS), IBECS, Cochrane Plus, Econbiz, institutional repositories, monographs and gray literature available. The search strategy was based on the use of controlled DECS and MESH descriptors. The results reported refer to the consequences of environment in occupational performance. It has to be emphasized that the influence of both intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of work developed by fishing workers, which affects their occupational performance. In conclusion, we have identified modifications in the management of the occupation producing an impact on both the individual and the family structure ; all driven by the productive activity carried on by the protagonist.