ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Critical perspectives which focus on socio-political influences on occupation have gained increased attention within the occupational therapy profession. Critical disability studies (CDS) question prevailing assumptions about disability and how disabling ideologies and practices are perpetuated in society. Universal Design (UD) is a design approach that aims to operationalise issues of inclusion and justice. AIM: To identify and discuss how the tenets of CDS and UD can contribute to occupational therapy practice and research. METHODS AND RESULTS: Drawing on the writings of leading scholars within CDS, UD and occupational therapy, we demonstrate the intertwined barriers faced by disabled children, youth, and adults who have participated in our studies and provide ideas on how practice can be guided by the tenets of CDS and UD to promote social equity. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating CDS and UD perspectives in occupational therapy practice and research requires a change in mindset and ways of working. Occupational therapy knowledge needs to be expanded to scrutinise disabling hindrances hidden within social and structural spaces, and implemented in services. We recommend working with disability communities to raise awareness and combat disabling barriers at various level of society, as mandated by policy.
Subject(s)
Disabled Children , Disabled Persons , Occupational Therapy , Adult , Child , Humans , Adolescent , Universal Design , Social Justice , OccupationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Telehealth, or healthcare offered through the internet, computers, and other devices for communication, is rapidly increasing with changing times and technological advancement. For quality and security of such services, it is crucial that professionals are competent in offering such service. Still, lack of professionals' training has been identified as one of the barriers to implementation of telehealth. Thus, to improve such training, it is crucial to identify professionals' knowledge, experience, and perspectives towards challenges and opportunities of using telehealth. OBJECTIVE: The review's objective was to answer the research question: what is known in the literature about challenges and opportunities of telehealth service provision from the perspective of health professionals? METHODS: Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage approach for scoping studies was used for the review. Studies were collected across four databases: Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest and EBSCOhost. The data from the 22 included studies were reported by using frequency counts and categorization of health professionals' experiences. RESULTS: The findings of the review led to three categories: (1) study demographics, (2) challenges for telehealth, and (3) opportunities for telehealth. The most frequently reported challenges were issues related to communications, inadequate technology, or support, and need for training and knowledge to use the technology. The most frequent categories of opportunities related to improved access to services, benefits related to sharing of information sharing and experience and training of using technology. DISCUSSION: Further research is needed to explore health professionals' experience of training, and to understand the type of support, resources, and training content they need to enhance their competency in telehealth provision.
Subject(s)
Health Personnel , Telemedicine , Communication , Delivery of Health Care , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Opportunities to travel from one place to another in the community, or community mobility, are especially important for mobility device users' ability to participate fully in society. However, contextual challenges to such mobility exist. PURPOSE: This study summarizes the literature on existing community mobility barriers and facilitators of mobility device users created by services, systems, and policies as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). METHOD: Arksey and O'Malley's approach for scoping studies was used for the review. The extraction chart was organized following the ICF, and frequency counts were used to report the data. FINDINGS: The findings suggest that certain factors, such as transportation, open-space planning, and architecture and construction, influence community mobility opportunities. However, little attention has been paid to services, systems, and policies in the research literature, limiting the knowledge on the subject. IMPLICATIONS: Further research is needed to examine the relationship between specific services, systems, and policies and mobility device users' mobility within their communities.