Motor-Based Application Process for Cerebral Visual Impairment-Related Questionnaires for School-Age Children with Cerebral Palsy.

This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of questionnaires related to cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in school-age children with cerebral palsy (CP). Additionally, it proposes an application process based on motor functionality for occupational therapists. A total of 288 children with CP were recruited for the study and administered the CVI Motor Questionnaire (CVI-MQ). The children's daily visual performance was assessed using the CVI Inventory and the Functional Vision Questionnaire (FVQ) considering the children's ambulatory status. The FVQ and the two factors extracted from the CVI Inventory significantly predicted visual functioning. Specific questionnaires related to CVI, applied with gross motor function in mind, can be valuable tools for occupational therapists to assess daily visual performance.

The cognitive aspect of formal thought disorder and its relationship with global social functioning and the quality of life in schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: It was expected that using a comprehensive scale like the Thought and Language Disorder Scale (TALD) for measurement of FTD would enable assessing its heterogeneity and its associations with cognitive impairment and functionality. This study has aimed to analyze the relationship between formal thought disorder (FTD) and cognitive functions, functionality, and quality of life in schizophrenia. METHODS: This cross-sectional exploratory study included 46 clinical participants meeting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia and 35 healthy individuals as the control groups. Data were acquired by means of the Turkish language version of the TALD, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Scale, the Functioning Assessment Short Test, the Social Functioning Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form, and a neuropsychological test battery on executive functions, working memory, verbal fluency, abstract thinking, and response inhibition. Correlation analyses were conducted to detect significant relationships. RESULTS: The clinical group scored failures in all cognitive tests. The objective positive FTD was associated with deficits in executive functions and social functioning. The objective negative FTD was associated with poor performance in all cognitive domains, physical quality of life, and social and global functioning. The subjective negative FTD was negatively correlated with psychological quality of life. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that objective FTD factors reflect different underlying cognitive deficits and correlate with different functioning domains. Significant correlation was determined between subjective negative FTD and psychological quality of life. Given the close relationship of FTD with functioning and quality of life, the FTD-related cognitive deficits should be the key treatment goal in schizophrenia.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Validity of a Turkish Version of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ-Turkish).

Purpose The Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) is an instrument based on the International Classification of Functioning Vocational rehabilitation core set. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity, reliability and cross-cultural adaptation of the WORQ to Turkish and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods The cross-cultural adaptation and translation procedures were conducted following Beaton's guidelines. The test-re-test reliability was examined by Spearman Brown Coefficient (split half analysis), internal consistency was examined by Cronbach's alpha. Criterion related validity of the WORQ was determined by Beck Depression Inventory using Pearson correlation coefficient and known group differences regarding age, gender, work and educational levels using one-way ANOVA and t test. Construct validity was examined by confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS. Results Two hundred and fifty-seven participants with disabilities were included to the study from seven different provinces of Turkey. The WORQ-Turkish showed excellent internal consistency (0.906), good test-retest reliability (0.811), and good construct validity (good model fit indices). Criterion related validity analysis showed medium correlations between WORQ and Beck Depression Inventory (p < 0.001), however there were no statistical significant differences regarding known group parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusions In this study, the cross-cultural adaptation, and validity and reliability of WORQ-Turkish self-reported version were examined and the results indicated that WORQ-Turkish was a valid and reliable scale for analyzing vocational rehabilitation process of people with disabilities.

How the occupational balance of healthcare professionals changed in the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed design study.

BACKGROUND: Although it has been possible for many people to make a gradual transition to normal life or routine activities, the same seems far off for healthcare professionals. The current study examines in depth how the occupational balance of healthcare professionals has changed in the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The current study has a mixed design, which involves collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. In the first stage of the study, which is the quantitative one, Turkish Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-T) was used to collect data, whereas the second stage of the study, which is the qualitative one, was designed to explore occupational balance and the related issues via using semi-structured interviews. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare parameters between the groups (working in active-passive contact with COVID patients). On the other hand, qualitative data were evaluated via consensual qualitative data analysis. RESULTS: The level of occupational balance of healthcare professionals included in the study group was found to be significantly lower than the level of occupational balance of healthcare professionals included in the control group (P = .005). Although there was no clear problem in self-care activities of healthcare professionals, the balance between productivity and leisure time activities was disrupted. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational balance and leisure time use of healthcare professionals, especially those who have active contact with COVID patients, have been affected. A further investigation can be carried out according to gender, age, and other demographic qualities.

Development and psychometric testing of the Family Functioning Questionnaire in Rehabilitation (FFQR)

Background/aim: The present study aimed to develop a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring family functioning in rehabilitation. Materials and methods: Semistructured interviews were performed with 100 rehabilitation professionals working in pediatrics to identify the feature to be measured. The items determined with the qualitative analysis of the data were presented to 14 experts and content validity was provided. The questionnaire created based on the judgments of the experts was administered to 440 parents of children with special needs. Results: After validity and reliability analysis, the final version of the questionnaire comprised 48 items with four factors identified as awareness, attitude and behavior, social participation, and engagement in rehabilitation. These factors explained 49.94% of the total variance and the factor loadings ranged from 0.492 to 0.773. Internal consistency reliability calculated with the Cronbach alpha coefficient was found to be 0.943. The test-retest reliability coefficient between the two administrations with a two-week interval was found as 0.772. Conclusion: The findings of the study showed that the newly developed Family Functioning Questionnaire in Rehabilitation met the criteria for examining the role of families of children with special needs in rehabilitation programs and had adequate psychometric properties.

A STUDY OF CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND VISUAL PERCEPTION IN SIX-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN.

Visual perception comprises established responses to visual stimuli. Conceptual development accompanies the development of visual perception skills. Both visual perception and sufficient conceptual development is vital to a child's academic skills and social participation. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between conceptual development and visual perceptual skills of six-year-old children. 140 children were administered Bracken's (1998) Basic Concept Scale (BBCS-R) and the Frostig Developmental Visual Perception Test. BBCS-R scores were weakly correlated with FDVPT Discrimination of figure-ground, and had moderate and significant correlations with Constancy of the figures, Perception of position in space, Perception of spatial relation, and the Total score on visual perception. Also, a moderate correlation was found between the total scores of the FDVPT and the total score of the BBCS-R.

The Impact of Cerebral Visual Impairment on Social Skills and Sensory Processing.

Limited evidence exists on the impact of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) on developmental domains in toddlers. This study investigated whether CVI influences social skills and sensory processing in toddlers with cerebral palsy (CP). The study included toddlers with CP, with or without CVI, and typically developing (TD) toddlers. All parents completed the demographic information form. Social skills were assessed by the Brief Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA). Sensory processing was evaluated by the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Analysis of covariance was employed to assess the disparity in BITSEA and ITSP scores. Toddlers with CP and CVI group demonstrated lower social competence than the other groups (p < .05). Having CVI did not cause a statistically significant difference in sensory processing among toddlers with CP (p > .05). CVI significantly affects social competence in toddlers with CP but does not affect sensory processing.

Understanding How Vision Impacts Social Skills and Sensory Processing in Toddlers with Cerebral PalsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a lifelong condition that affects a child's ability to control their muscles and movements. It occurs due to damage or abnormalities in the brain that happen before, during, or shortly after birth. This condition can affect various aspects of daily life, including walking, feeding, and dressing. It often leads to challenges in physical skills and may be accompanied by difficulties in sensory, cognitive, and social functions. One of the accompanying difficulties is cerebral visual impairment (CVI), a common challenge for these children that affects their vision without apparent eye problems. As vision is crucial for social development, children with CVI may experience socio-visual deprivation, leading to cognitive deficits and behavioral difficulties. This study explores how vision influences the social and sensory abilities of toddlers with CP. We compared 66 toddlers: 22 with CP and CVI, 22 with CP without CVI, and 22 typically developing toddlers. The findings reveal that toddlers with CP and CVI group demonstrated lower social competence than the other groups. However, the presence of CVI did not cause difference in sensory processing among toddlers with CP. Understanding the impact of CVI on social and sensory skills is crucial for developing tailored therapy interventions for toddlers with CP. This research sheds light on the intricate relationship between vision and social competence, emphasizing the need for targeted support for these children. By recognizing and addressing these challenges early on, we can enhance the overall well-being and development of toddlers with CP.

"It Is as if I Gave a Gift to Myself": A Qualitative Phenomenological Study on Working Adults' Leisure Meaning, Experiences, and Participation.

Leisure participation is a fundamental human and occupational right throughout life for working people, particularly in adulthood. A total of 28 working adults representing diverse regions of Turkey, from middle-class backgrounds, aged between 25 and 50, and without any known health conditions, were interviewed to gain insights into their leisure participation during the period September 2021-May 2022. The acquired data were analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach. The analysis identified six main themes and twenty-two subthemes: the meaning of leisure, recovery from work, facilitators and barriers, well-being, occupational injustice, and flow of life. Participants distinguished between "free time" and "leisure time", defining the latter as purposeful engagement in enjoyable, meaningful activities. This study emphasises the dynamic interplay of factors influencing leisure participation among Turkish working adults, including working conditions, financial resources, social support systems, and opportunities for participation, with some effects of COVID-19 pandemic. One can shift from well-being to a lack of well-being, and this can result in occupational injustices that may arise in the flow of life, as unsupportive consequences of participation limitations among working adults. By acknowledging and enhancing leisure as a crucial aspect of well-being, this research underscores the importance of promoting resilience and holistic health among working individuals.

Relationship between play skills and sensory processing in children with autism.

Play skills in children with autism are limited due to autism symptoms. It is important to determine the effect of sensory processing skill, which is one of these symptoms, on play skills. Therefore, we aimed to investigate of the relationship between play skills and sensory processing of children with autism. A total of 58 children with autism (n = 29) and typically developing children (n = 29) participated. We used the Sensory Profile and the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used. Children with autism demonstrated a significantly lower developmental play age and were rated lower on all dimensions of the RKPPS than typically developing children. Moreover, the results of this study showed that there are complex correlations between play skills and sensory processing in children with autism. Sensory processing and play skills have complex relationships in children with autism.

A new tool to measure occupational balance: Adolescent Occupational Balance Scale (A-OBS).

BACKGROUND: The concept of occupational balance in adolescents is not clear enough. AIM: The current study aims at developing a valid and reliable scale to measure occupational balance in adolescents. METHOD: We conducted online interviews with the participant adolescents via semi-structured interview forms. We applied the Davis technique twice to 10 expert panellists and the test form to 600 individuals. Two weeks later, we re-tested 153 of the participants. We then carried out item analysis to evaluate the internal consistency of the scale. We also conducted explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the construct validity of the scale. FINDINGS: The content validity index of the scale was found to be 0.986. EFA showed that the scale consisting of 27 items had a six-factor structure explaining 56.7% of the total variance. Model fit indices about the structure created by factor combination technique in CFA were CMIN/df = 2.135; RMSEA = 0.06; GFI = 0.866; NFI = 0.81, CFI = 0.887, TLI = 0.868; IFI = 0.89. The analysis to test the reliability of the scale resulted in ICC: 0.993 and Cronbach's alpha: 0.997. Pre-test and post-test analyses showed very strong correlational coefficients (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: A-OBS is a valid and reliable scale consisting of 27 items and 4 sub-dimensions. It can be used in studies that will focus on occupational balance in healthy adolescents. It is the first occupational balance scale developed for adolescents in the occupational therapy literature. We recommend further studies to validate the scale and adapt it to different languages and cultures.

Occupational self-perception level effects on the development of kinesiophobia in individuals with total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The development of kinesiophobia after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has been one of the important issues. However, the early results and the presence of kinesiophobia before surgery have not been adequately investigated. In addition, the effects of factors such as pain perception, postoperative pain level, and demographic characteristics were mentioned. However, occupational factors such as occupational expectations and occupational self-perception level have not been adequately investigated. Methods: Each assessment tool was administered three times: once on the first day of the preoperative period and then again at the third and sixth weeks after the surgery. The assessment tools employed were the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Occupational Self Assessment, and Timed Up and Go test. To analyze the differences in Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia scores, a one-way ANOVA was conducted. Subsequently, the patients were categorized into two groups based on their level of kinesiophobia: high and low. Independent sample t-tests were employed to compare continuous and normally distributed data between the two groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for non-normally distributed data. The Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to assess the relationship between continuous data, whereas the Spearman rank-order correlation was employed for non-normally distributed data. Results: High levels of kinesiophobia were identified in individuals both prior to and following surgery. Significant differences were observed between the high and low kinesiophobia groups in terms of the mean OSA Competency (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in relation to the other evaluation scores during the follow-up periods. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between TSK score and OSA Competence results (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Occupational self-perception levels effect the level of kinesiophobia in individuals with TKA and high rates of kinesiophobia observed before the surgery intensified after the surgery, especially in the early period. It may be necessary to focus more on factors such as individual factors, individuals' values, habits, and beliefs.

Relationship between writing skills and visual-motor control in low-vision students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between handwriting skills and visual motor control among students with low vision and to compare this with the performance of their normal sighted peers. 42 students with low vision and 26 normal sighted peers participated. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test-Short Form (BOTMP-SF), Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test's writing subtest, and a legibility assessment were administered. Significant differences were found between groups for students' writing speed, legibility, and visual motor control. Visual motor control was correlated both writing speed and legibility. Students with low vision had poorer handwriting performance, with lower legibility and slower writing speed. Writing performance time was related to visual motor control in students with low vision.

The Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Interventions on Motor and Sensory Functions in Infants with Cortical Vision Impairment and Cerebral Palsy: A Single Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cortical vision impairment (CVI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) lead to decrement in sensory and motor functions of infants. The current study examined the effectiveness of sensory integration interventions on sensory, motor, and oculomotor skills in infants with cortical vision impairment. Thirty-four infants with and CP aged 12−18 months were enrolled to the study. The infants were randomly divided into two groups as the control and intervention groups. The intervention group took sensory integration intervention 2 days a week for 8 weeks in addition to conventional physiotherapy 2 days a week for 8 weeks. The control group only received the conventional physiotherapy program 2 days a week for 8 weeks. The duration of the treatment sessions were 45 min for both interventions. Before and after the intervention, sensory processing functions were evaluated with the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI), and motor functions were evaluated with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). There was a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-test mean TSFI total and AIMS scores in the intervention group and control group (p < 0.001). The intervention group mean TSFI scores were more statistically significant than the those of the control group. Mean post-intervention AIMS scores did not differ between groups. Sensory integration intervention delivered with the conventional physiotherapy program was more effective than the conventional physiotherapy program in increasing sensory processing skills in one measure in infants with CVI and CP.

Investigating the interchangeability and clinical utility of MVPT-3 and MVPT-4 for 7-10 year children with and without specific learning disabilities.

The aim of our study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity levels of MVPT-3 and MVPT-4 in 7-10 year children with specific learning disabilities (SLD) and to compare the clinical usability of these assessment tools. This study was designed as a case-controlled study. 96 ( study group = 48, control group = 48) 7-10 year children were included. The study occurred three stages. In the first place, MVPT-3 and MVPT-4 tests were examined with reference to the Core Outcome Set(COS) evaluation criteria. In the second step, the similarities and differences of MVPT-3 and MVPT-4 tests observed in clinical practices were examined by taking the feedback of experts. In the last step, in order to examine the sensitivity and specificity levels of the tests, assessments were performed in two groups with 1-week intervals. According to the COS results; MVPT-3 test was examined better than MVPT-4 test under cross-cultural validity title. The sensitivity and specificity of the MVPT-3 test were 0.68 and 0.77, and the sensitivity and specificity of MVPT-4 test were 0.50 and 0.87 respectively. This study will help clinicians working on children aged 7-10 to decide the type of test they will use to evaluate visual perception processes.

Assessment of Participation within the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF): The Turkish Validity and Reliability of the Participation Scale.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Participation Scale (P-Scale). METHODS: A total of 152 students, with a mean age of 20.27 ± 2.19, participated in the study. Sociodemographic information (age, gender, and family income) was recorded; all participants completed the P-Scale twice with a 15-day interval. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation were performed to analyze the validity and reliability of the P-Scale. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's alpha were used for scale reliability statistics and explanatory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis; Mardia's multivariate normality and assumption tests were used for the validity of the scale. The factor extraction methods were minimum rank factor analysis in EFA and weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted estimator polychoric correlation matrix in CFA. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the scale was found good with Cronbach's alpha (0.852) and excellent with McDonald's alpha (0.924). The EFA and CFA resulted in two-factored structure, with the explained variance found to be higher than 30%. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis demonstrated that the P-Scale had a satisfactory level of reliability and validity in Turkish university students.

The Effect of Life Skills Training on Functioning in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. / Sizofrenide Yasam Becerileri Egitiminin Islevsellige Olan Etkisi: Seçkisiz Kontrollü Bir Çalisma.

OBJECTIVE: Psychosocial approaches including occupational therapeutic interventions constitute an important part of mental health treatments. This research was planned to investigate the effects of individualized life skills training on the functionality of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHOD: A total of 32 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia were assigned randomly to the study (n=15) and the control groups (n=17). The participants were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for symptom severity, the Clinical Global Impression Scale for illness severity and improvement and response to treatment, the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and the Lawton - Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale for adequacy of performance of basic activities and tasks of daily living, the Functioning Assessment Short Test and Social Functioning Scale for assessing the level of functionality before and after the scheduled interventions for both groups. The control group received a singlesession awareness training to increase independence in daily living activities and the study group received individualized life skills training in 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks (=16 sessions). RESULTS: At the end of the research program, improvements were observed in the negative symptoms, general psychopathology, severity of illness and independence in basic and instrumental activities of daily living and functioning in the study group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the obtained results, we believe that the individualized life skills training may be an effective therapeutic method for the rehabilitation of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. The results of our study should be supported by long-term follow-up studies.

Physical fitness of visually impaired adolescent goalball players.

This study compared the physical fitness of 28 visually impaired goalball players (M=13 yr.) and a group of 27 less active age-matched adolescents. Physical characteristics (age, height, weight, sex) and visual acuity of the children were recorded. Body composition (Body Mass Index, skinfold thickness of triceps plus calf), musculoskeletal function (trunk-lift, curl-up, isometric push-up, shoulder-stretch tests) and aerobic function (1-mile run/walk test) were evaluated according to the Brockport Physical Fitness Test Battery. Also, anaerobic power was assessed by a vertical jump test. Physical fitness of visually impaired goalball players was higher than that of the more sedentary group (p<.05), except shoulder-stretch test values (p>.05). It was considered that directing visually impaired children to participation sports or recreational activities such as goalball has importance in improving their physical fitness.

Relationship between upper extremity kinesthetic sense and writing performance by students with low vision.

Kinesthetic sense plays an important role in writing. Children with low vision lack sensory input from the environment given their loss of vision. This study assessed the effect of upper extremity kinesthetic sense on writing function in two groups, one of students with low vision (9 girls and 11 boys, 9.4 +/- 1.9 yr. of age) and one of sighted students (10 girls and 10 boys, 10.1 +/- 1.3 yr. of age). All participants were given the Kinesthesia Test and Jebsen Hand Function Test-Writing subtest. Students with low vision scored lower on kinesthetic perception and writing performance than sighted peers. The correlation between scores for writing performance and upper extremity kinesthetic sense in the two groups was significant (r = -.34). The probability of deficiencies in kinesthetic information in students with low vision must be remembered.

Correlations of conceptual development with motor skills for a Turkish sample of kindergarten children.

The purpose was to research the conceptual development and motor skills of 36 healthy children of kindergarten age (M age = 67.6 mo., SD = 3.6). 19 girls and 17 boys completed the Bracken Basic Concept Scale-Revised and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form.

Training motor skills of children with low vision.

The aim of this study was to study the effectiveness of a motor training program for visually impaired children. 40 children with low vision took part in the study. 20 children (10 boys, 10 girls), mean age 8:9 yr.:mo. (SD= 1:6), were in a Training group and 20 children (10 boys, 10 girls), mean age 8:10 yr.:mo. (SD= 1:65), were in a Home Training group. The Snellen Chart and Bruininks Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test were used for assessment. Training program included training balance, coordination, strength, visuomotor control, and finger dexterity. Significant differences were found on all skills after training in the Training group, but no significant differences were observed, other than visual motor control, in the Home Training group. Children with low vision have some useable vision and learning to use the available vision depends on proper rehabilitation.