Exploring In-Session Engagement in Equine-Assisted Services for Children and Youth Experiencing Disability: A Scoping Review.

Aims: The purpose of this review was to identify and describe the evidence about children and youth engagement during equine-assisted services (EAS). Methods: Five databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and MEDLINE) were systematically searched. Included studies reported research about EAS conducted in children and youth and presented findings about in-session engagement or associated concepts such as motivation, involvement, and participation. Extracted data (study type, equine intervention, population, and the studies' key focus) were summarized descriptively, followed by inductive content analysis of the main mechanisms proposed to influence engagement. Results: In total, 30 studies were identified; however, only three centered on rider engagement as the primary focus of research. Other publications addressed in-session engagement within service descriptions or results and discussion sections. Three mechanisms that influence engagement within EAS were derived: (1) the unique EAS landscape, (2) the horse-child relationship and (3) the provider-child relationship. The literature primarily referred to horses as the most important factor influencing child and youth engagement in EAS sessions. Little attention was given to the influence of service providers', parents', or child preferences on engagement. Conclusions: The child/youth-parent-provider relational triad and specific strategies to improve rider engagement within EAS sessions warrants further investigation.

Occupational Performance Coaching for Children With Neurodisability: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Background. Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) is a goal-oriented approach in which client agency takes precedence in goal selection, analysis, choice of action, and evaluation of success. The intended outcomes of OPC are improved occupational performance and participation in clients' life situations. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the effectiveness of OPC. Purpose. This study protocol outlines a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of OPC compared to usual care with caregivers of children with neurodisability in improving child, caregiver, and family occupational performance. Method. A single-blind, 2-arm parallel-group, cluster RCT of OPC compared to usual care is planned. Therapists delivering the intervention (N = 14) are randomized to "OPC training" or "usual care" groups. The primary outcome is occupational performance improvement in caregiver (N = 84) identified goals. Implications. Findings will provide translational evidence of the effectiveness of OPC and clarify intervention processes. Areas of future OPC research and development will be indicated.

Evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horse riding for children and young people experiencing disability: a single-case experimental design study.

Purpose: Therapeutic horse riding aims to improve the health of children and young people experiencing disability; however, its benefits across a range of health domains, particularly the impact on participation outcomes, are not well known. This research evaluated to what extent there was a change in riders balance, functional performance, social responsiveness, quality of life and participation outcomes as a result of therapeutic horse riding.Methods: A multiple-baseline across participants (n = 12) single-case experimental design, with randomly allocated baseline phase lengths, quantitatively evaluated how riders responded to a 20-week intervention.Results: Social participation outcomes measured using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure demonstrated the most consistent positive between-phase differences (performance ES = 1.20, 95% CI [0.82, 1.63]; satisfaction ES = 1.11, 95% CI [0.73, 1.55]). A causal relationship was seen in three riders, but improvements only reached clinical significance for two riders when accounting for phase data trends. No significant outcome patterns were found comparing riders with principally physical impairments to those with principally psychosocial impairments.Conclusions: Being involved in therapeutic horse riding may improve rider's social participation in home, school and community settings. We postulate that rider self-concept development may be a mechanism of treatment effect leading to participation-level changes.Implications for rehabilitationSocial participation was the health outcome demonstrating the most consistent change following therapeutic horse riding, regardless of rider impairment.Therapeutic horse riding can improve social participation in settings beyond the riding arena.Greater intervention tailoring based on rider responses may enhance therapeutic horse riding intervention effects.

Compared to what? An analysis of the management of control groups in Cochrane reviews in neurorehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Control groups are used in clinical trials to increase confidence that any improvements in patient outcomes are due the therapy under investigation and not to other factors. The reported effect size of any intervention is estimated from differences in outcomes achieved by intervention participants in comparison to control participants. Clinical heterogeneity in control groups across different studies can make the pooling of data from these studies in one meta-analysis questionable or reduce certainty in their results. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate: 1) the variability in the types of control groups used in studies that have been pooled in meta-analyses in Cochrane reviews on neurorehabilitation interventions; and 2) how authors of Cochrane reviews on neurorehabilitation interventions have taken information about control groups into consideration when making decisions to undertake meta-analyses and interpreting their results. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane library for reviews on neurorehabilitation interventions published between 2012 and 2016 that included at least one meta-analysis involving a control group. We extracted data from included reviews on the review characteristics, the characteristics of the included meta-analyses, and any information on how the review authors managed control groups in the conduct and interpretation of meta-analyses. RESULTS: The 43 included reviews pooled data from 358 clinical trials, with an average of 5±5 clinical trials (range: 2-45) contributing to each meta-analysis. The majority of clinical trials involved a control group containing active treatments (61.7%; 221 of 358), often "treatment as usual" controls without any additional placebo or sham intervention. Over half (58.1%; 25 of 43) of the included meta-analyses involved pooling of data from studies with a mix of different types of control groups, with an additional 25.6% pooling data from studies where control participants had received a range of different active treatments. The influence of different control groups on the summary results from meta-analyses was not analyzed in 21 (48.8%) of the included reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Further work is needed to develop: standardized ways to categorize control conditions in rehabilitation trials; more guidance on reporting criteria for control groups in rehabilitation trials; and agreed methods for managing different control types in one meta-analysis.

User perspective on receiving adaptive equipment after stroke: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND.: Adaptive equipment (AE) is frequently provided during stroke rehabilitation by occupational therapists. PURPOSE.: This study aimed to identify the AE that people typically use after a stroke and the outcomes achieved as a result, and to explore people's experiences obtaining and using AE, to inform both practice and policy in this field. METHOD.: A mixed-methods study, involving a postal questionnaire and interviews, used descriptive statistics and grounded theory to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. FINDINGS.: Questionnaire data ( n = 258) revealed mobility AE was issued most frequently, with increased safety as the primary reported outcome. Interview data ( n = 15) indicated relationships with health professionals and the hospital environment shaped early AE selection and use. Once home, making sense of AE and community participation were more influential. IMPLICATIONS.: Therapeutic relationships and reflection time are critical to maximize AE use after stroke. Policy and related funding for AE need to prioritize community participation.

Occupational Performance Coaching for Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the feasibility of study procedures and explored the potential efficacy of Occupational Performance Coaching for stroke survivors (OPC-Stroke), an intervention designed to improve participation after stroke. METHOD: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, 21 participants were randomized to receive the intervention or usual care. Recruitment, retention, and outcome completion rates were calculated. Direction of change and effect sizes were examined for the outcomes of participation, goal performance and satisfaction, goal self-efficacy, emotional well-being, and cognition. RESULTS: Rates of recruitment (66%) and retention (81%) were satisfactory. Participation scores improved for both groups with different trajectories. Results showed a moderate effect of OPC-Stroke for goal performance (η²partial d = .075) and satisfaction (η²partial d = .078) and a large effect for cognition (η²partial d = .167). Other outcome measures did not change as expected. CONCLUSION: Study procedures were generally feasible. Preliminary findings support testing to examine the efficacy of OPC-Stroke.

Transitions in the Embodied Experience After Stroke: Grounded Theory Study.

BACKGROUND: The body is central to the practice of physical therapy, but clinical theory largely neglects the body as a concept. A better understanding of the embodied experience could enhance delivery of physical therapy. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of embodiment for people after stroke while transitioning from the hospital to the home. DESIGN AND METHODS: Seven people with stroke, aged 66 to 89 years, were interviewed 1 month after discharge from a stroke rehabilitation unit. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory methods, and a theoretical model was developed. RESULTS: Two main themes in the embodied experience of stroke were: (1) "a divergent body-self," where participants referred to an objective physical body, separate from their sense of self, and (2) "a cohesive body-self," reflecting a sense that "it's all me." The theme "a divergent body-self" included subthemes of a body that was "strange," "unpredictable," and "effortful." In contrast, the theme "a cohesive body-self" comprised the subthemes "freedom," "control," and "self-identity," reflecting experiences of bodily movement, personal independence, and self-identity. Participants fluxed between these perspectives, within moments and over time, with these perspectives influenced by "anchors," including their environment, knowledge, and attitude. CONCLUSIONS: The bodily experience of stroke is intimately connected with a person's sense of self. A person's social and physical environment, as well as his or her personal attributes, can serve to "anchor" that person more comfortably within his or her embodied experience of stroke. Theory that acknowledges the integral connection between body and self could enhance physical therapist practice. This study supports the need for physical therapists to be adequately informed to integrate the embodied experience in their practice when working with people after stroke.

Occupational performance coaching for stroke survivors: a pilot randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Many stroke survivors report participation challenges. Occupational Performance Coaching for stroke survivors (OPC-Stroke) is designed to assist stroke survivors to develop the ability to plan and manage engagement in occupation. This approach combines emotional support, individualized education, and goal-focused problem solving to promote occupational engagement. PURPOSE: This study will explore the potential efficacy of OPC-Stroke and the feasibility of the research methods for use in a larger trial. METHOD: A pilot randomized controlled trial will be undertaken. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of OPC-Stroke or usual care. Participation, perceived goal performance, satisfaction and self-efficacy, emotional well-being, and cognition will be measured at three time points. IMPLICATIONS: This research will test the potential usefulness of OPC-Stroke as well as the study methods, and thereby inform the continuing development of OPC-Stroke and further studies to measure its effectiveness.

Facilitating student occupational therapists' mastery of occupation-centred approaches for working with children.

BACKGROUND: Student occupational therapists experience particular challenges in the learning and practicing of occupation-centred practice (OCP) techniques with children. PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors that facilitate mastery of OCP from both students' and practice educators' perspectives. METHODS: Nine student occupational therapists and two practice educators participated in three interviews at intervals across the students' fieldwork experiences. Observation and document review assisted data triangulation. FINDINGS: Students experienced distinct turning points in their understanding and use of OCP after encountering challenges and then experiencing success. Factors that assisted students' mastery of OCP included modelling and practice opportunities; individualised, performance-specific debriefing; specific learning and teaching styles; and structured learning tools for observation and reporting. IMPLICATIONS: Key quality teaching and learning practices can be used by practice educators and universities to promote mastery of OCP approaches. Further opportunities for practice and guided reflection on OCP are needed.

Occupational therapy students' experiences in learning occupation-centred approaches to working with children.

BACKGROUND: The increasing emphasis on performance outcomes and the use of occupation-centred approaches has implications for practice education. PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe students' experiences of learning to use occupation-centred approaches when working with children within a university clinic. METHODS: Nine occupational therapy students and two clinical educators completed three indepth interviews at intervals across the students' fieldwork experiences. Therapy observations, review of therapy documentation, and tutorial group e-mails informed data triangulation. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. FINDINGS: Students described needing to make a theoretical shift in thinking to focus on occupational performance and identified a number of challenges relating to learning complex techniques and strategies. IMPLICATIONS: Teaching methods that assist in making occupation-centred assessment and intervention techniques more explicit and learner-friendly for new users are required. These findings provide valuable new insights in guiding this process.