The Feasibility and Efficacy of an Israeli Lifestyle Redesign®-Based Program for Well Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

The Israeli Lifestyle Program (ILP) was adapted from the original Lifestyle Redesign® intervention, aiming to enhance health, functioning, and quality of life (QoL) of older adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of the ILP. The design of the study entailed a non-randomized trial with a 3-month follow-up including 18 women aged 65 to 81 recruited from a community center. The research group (n = 9) participated in 15 weekly group meetings and three individual sessions. The control group (n = 9) received an information booklet based on the ILP content. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in change scores in favor of the research group for occupational performance (U = 19.0, p = .03), environmental (U = 21.5, p = .04), and social (U = 20.5, p = .03) QoL factors. Findings also revealed reduction in depressive symptoms (U = 24.0, p = .07). These findings suggest community group programs for improving occupational performance and QoL.

Adaptação transcultural do instrumento de avaliação de desempenho em tarefas rotineiras Routine Task Inventory - Extended (RTI-E) para uso com idosos com demência no Brasil / Cross-cultural adaptation of functioning evaluation Routine Task Inventory - Extended (RTI-E) for use in elderly people with dementia in Brazil

Resumo Objetivo Realizar a adaptação transcultural do Routine Task Inventory-Expanded para uso com idosos com demência no Brasil. Método Estudo de adaptação transcultural de instrumento de avaliação, seguindo diretrizes reconhecidas para tradução, retrotradução e comitê de especialistas. Pré-teste realizado com 10 sujeitos idosos sem prejuízos cognitivos. Estudo de confiabilidade (concordância entre avaliadores e análise de consistência interna) realizado com sujeitos idosos com e sem demência (n=26). Resultados A tradução inicial foi revista para não alterar o construto do instrumento. A partir da revisão por especialistas e do pré-teste identificou-se necessidade de ajustes nos itens C.Banho, G.Uso de telefone e H.Uso de equipamentos adaptativos para conferir maior clareza à compreensão dos itens. O instrumento apresentou consistência interna α= 0,813 ABVD/autorrelato a α=0,966, AVD/cuidador e confiabilidade entre avaliadores ICC (IC95%) de 0,987 em AIVD a 1,000 em comunicação. Conclusão Alcançou-se a adaptação transcultural do Routine Task Inventory- Expanded mantendo sua equivalência em relação ao instrumento original.

Abstract Objective Cross-cultural adaptation of the Routine Task Inventory-Expanded assessment for use in Brazil. Method This cross-cultural adaptation study of the Routine Task Inventory-Expanded followed translation, back-translation, and expert committee review guidelines. The pre-test was performed with 10 elderly subjects with no cognitive impairment. The reliability study (agreement between evaluators and internal consistency) was executed with elderly subjects with and without dementia (n=26). Results The initial translation was revised to preserve the instrument's construct. Adjustments were made to task C. Bathing, task G. Use of the telephone, and task H. Use adaptive equipment to clarify the meaning of items. The instrument showed internal consistency α= 0.813 ADL/self-report to α=0.966, ADL/caregiver, and reliability between ICC evaluators (95%IC) from 0.987 in IADL to 1.000 in communication. Conclusion The cross-cultural adaptation of the Routine Task Inventory-Expanded was achieved, maintaining equivalency to the original instrument and providing a new instrument to assess cognitive functional abilities of elderly individuals living with dementia in routine daily living activities for use in Brazil.

Emotional Functioning and Sense of Hope as Contributors to Healthy Aging.

Cognitive and physical factors affect participation in later life. It is imperative to explore the contribution of emotional factors on older adults' participation and wellbeing. Seventy-eight older adults were recruited for this cross-sectional study and grouped based on their level of independence. Emotional functioning, hope, cognition, participation, and wellbeing were measured. Analyses of variance, correlational analysis, and prediction models were employed. Significant differences were found between independent and dependent older adults' participation and wellbeing, F(2, 72) = 12.71, p < .00, η2 = .26. Independent older adults' participation was predicted by cognition, ß = 0.40, and hope, ß = 0.58. Wellbeing was predicted by cognition, ß = 0.39, emotional status, ß = -0.46, and hope, ß = 0.36. Dependent older adults' wellbeing was predicted by emotional status, ß = -0.68, and hope, ß = 0.32. Occupational therapists play a key role in promoting healthy aging by incorporating psychosocial factors at the individual, community, and societal levels.

Independent Older Adult's IADL and Executive Function According to Cognitive Performance.

Participation in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) is essential in occupational therapy aiming to improve the life situation of elderly. Effective executive function (EF) is important to successful functioning in IADL. The purpose of this study was to examine EF and IADL performance differences according to cognitive levels as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), age, and gender. In all, 80 elderly (49% female; age M = 73.4) were assessed at home, with Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA-10), IADL scale, and MoCA as a cognitive screening tool for dividing into normal cognitive (NC) level and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The comparison between the MoCA groups on the WCPA-10 and IADL shows significant differences between the groups; gender and age differed only in IADL. IADL and WCPA-10 performance among independent elderly relates to their cognitive level. We suggest that intervention that will focus on EF may assist in improving performance and maintaining participation in occupation.

Análise da consistência interna da versão em português da Avaliação Cognitiva Dinâmica de Terapia Ocupacional para Crianças (DOTCA-Ch) em estudantes de 06 a 12 anos / Analysis of the internal consistency of the portuguese version of the Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch) in students aged 06 to 12 years old

Resumo Introdução A Avaliação Cognitiva Dinâmica de Terapia Ocupacional para Crianças (DOTCA-Ch) foi construída em 2004 em Israel no hospital de Loewenstein com a proposta de avaliar o desempenho cognitivo de crianças com idade de 6 a 12 anos em 22 subtestes distribuídos em cinco áreas cognitivas: Orientação, Percepção Espacial, Práxis, Construção Visuomotora e Operações de Pensamento. Para cada subteste existe uma opção estruturada de até cinco níveis de mediação. Objetivo Analisar a consistência interna da versão em português da bateria DOTCA-Ch em estudantes da rede municipal de ensino de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil. Método O estudo foi realizado em parceria com a Secretaria de Educação, da Prefeitura Municipal de Santos, em uma escola da rede municipal de ensino, com 90 estudantes, de ambos os gêneros, distribuídos entre 1º e 7º anos, as avaliações foram realizadas no período de agosto de 2015 a novembro de 2016. Os dados foram analisados por domínios, avaliando a consistência interna do instrumento. Resultados O valor do alpha de Cronbach aponta para uma confiabilidade muito alta (α = 0,92) da bateria na avaliação de estudantes do ensino regular. Podemos identificar que eles se beneficiam das mediações, especialmente em áreas cognitivas mais complexas como Práxis e Operações de Pensamento. Conclusão A versão em português da bateria DOTCA-Ch apresentou ótima consistência interna para ser utilizado com estudantes de 6 a 12 anos. Desta forma, estando disponível aos profissionais da área de terapia ocupacional um instrumento dinâmico de avaliação cognitiva confiável para ser utilizado em avaliações e intervenções que considerem a integralidade da criança, seu modo singular de pensar e fazer.

Abstract Introduction The Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch) was constructed in 2004 in Israel at Loewenstein Hospital with the proposal to evaluate the cognitive performance of children aged 6 to 12 years old in 22 subtests distributed in five cognitive areas: Orientation, Space Perception, Praxis, Visual-motor Construction, and Thought Operations. For each subtest, there is a structured choice of up to five levels of mediation. Objective To analyze the internal consistency of the Portuguese version of the DOTCA-Ch battery in students of the municipal teaching system of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. Method The study was carried out in partnership with the Secretary of Education of the municipal of Santos, in a school municipal, with 90 students of both genders, distributed between the 1st and 7th grades, evaluations were carried out in the period from August 2015 to November 2016. Data were analyzed by domains, evaluating the internal consistency of the instrument. Results The Cronbach's alpha value points to very high reliability (α = 0.92) of the battery in the evaluation of students in regular education. We can identify that they benefit from mediations, especially in more complex cognitive areas such as Praxis and Thinking Operations. Conclusion The Portuguese version of the DOTCA-Ch battery presented excellent internal consistency for the use of students aged 6 to 12 years old. In this way, a dynamic instrument of reliable cognitive evaluation is available to professionals in the field of Occupational Therapy to be used in evaluations and interventions that consider an integrality of the child, his unique way of thinking and doing.

CCR5 Is a Therapeutic Target for Recovery after Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury.

We tested a newly described molecular memory system, CCR5 signaling, for its role in recovery after stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). CCR5 is uniquely expressed in cortical neurons after stroke. Post-stroke neuronal knockdown of CCR5 in pre-motor cortex leads to early recovery of motor control. Recovery is associated with preservation of dendritic spines, new patterns of cortical projections to contralateral pre-motor cortex, and upregulation of CREB and DLK signaling. Administration of a clinically utilized FDA-approved CCR5 antagonist, devised for HIV treatment, produces similar effects on motor recovery post stroke and cognitive decline post TBI. Finally, in a large clinical cohort of stroke patients, carriers for a naturally occurring loss-of-function mutation in CCR5 (CCR5-Δ32) exhibited greater recovery of neurological impairments and cognitive function. In summary, CCR5 is a translational target for neural repair in stroke and TBI and the first reported gene associated with enhanced recovery in human stroke.

Weekly Calendar Planning Activity for University Students: Comparison of Individuals With and Without ADHD by Gender.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a revised version of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) adapted for university students (Weekly Calendar Performance Activity for students [WCPA-S]) and compare the performance of this activity between students with and without ADHD and across gender groups. METHOD: Participants included a total of 157 students, ages 20 to 30, enrolled in universities/colleges and divided into two groups: students with ADHD (male = 23, female = 38) and without ADHD (male = 33, female = 63). A two-way ANOVA was used for data analyses. The WCPA-S was administered to each student individually. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between students with and without ADHD and across genders in performance, duration of performance, and in the number of strategies used. CONCLUSION: The WCPA-S proved to be an effective performance-based diagnostic tool for the utilization of executive functions in the daily life of university students. This instrument can be used to predict success in higher education and to support learning among university students with ADHD.

Adaptação transcultural para a língua portuguesa da Avaliação Cognitiva Dinâmica de Terapia Ocupacional para Crianças (DOTCA-Ch) / Cross-cultural adaptation into portuguese of the Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children (DOTCA-Ch)

[{"text": "Introdução: A Avaliação Cognitiva Dinâmica de Terapia Ocupacional para crianças (DOTCA-Ch) é um\r\ninstrumento de avaliação específico para terapeutas ocupacionais (TO), que avalia o desempenho cognitivo de crianças com idade de 6 a 12 anos, em 22 subtestes dinâmicos distribuídos em cinco áreas cognitivas: Orientação, Percepção Espacial, Práxis, Construção Visuomotora e Operações de Pensamento. Objetivo: Apresentar o processo de adaptação transcultural da Bateria DOTCA-Ch para a língua portuguesa. Método: A Bateria DOTCA-Ch foi traduzida e adaptada segundo uma metodologia rigorosa, a partir da tradução, retrotradução, avaliação das equivalências Conceitual, Cultural, Idiomática e Semântica feita por um Comitê de Especialistas e aplicação do pré-teste. Resultados: A Bateria DOTCA-Ch foi traduzida, adaptada para o português brasileiro, retrotraduzida e a versão final foi encaminhada para um Comitê de Especialistas, a fim de avaliar as equivalências (375 itens), considerando a população-alvo e o contexto cultural do Brasil. Nos itens referentes à avaliação das equivalências Conceitual e Cultural, a concordância entre os examinadores foi de 100%, e na avaliação das equivalências Idiomática e Semântica, a média foi de 95,2%. Na fase do pré-teste, esta versão foi aplicada em 9 crianças saudáveis da cidade de Santos. Conclusão: A Bateria DOTCA-Ch mostrou-se aplicável às crianças saudáveis, entretanto, tendo em vista as especificidades desse grupo populacional, tornaram-se necessárias adaptações em relação ao tempo de aplicação da bateria. Observou-se que as crianças se beneficiam do uso das mediações, visto que isto contribuiu para uma considerável melhora de seu desempenho durante a execução das tarefas.", "_i": "pt"}, {"text": "Introduction: The DOTCA-Ch Battery (Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for\r\nChildren) is a specific assessment tool for occupational therapists (O.T.). The battery evaluates the cognitive performance of 6- to 12-year-old children, from 22 dynamic subtests distributed in five cognitive areas: Orientation, Spatial Perception, Praxis, Visuomotor Construction and Thinking Operations. Objective: To demonstrate how the cross-cultural adaptation process of the DOTCA-Ch Battery into Portuguese took place. Method: The DOTCA-Ch Battery was translated and adapted according to a rigorous methodology that proposes the translation, back-translation, and Conceptual, Cultural, Idiomatic and Semantic equivalence evaluation by a committee of experts and through a following pre-test. Results: The DOTCA-Ch Battery was translated and adapted for Brazilian Portuguese and back-translated to the original language. After that, a committee of five experts evaluated 375 items in order to assess the equivalences, taking into consideration the target population and the cultural context of Brazil. In the pre-test phase, this version was applied to 09 healthy children of the city of Santos. Conclusion: The DOTCA-Ch battery is feasible to be used with healthy children. However, some adjustments related to the time of application are necessary in the case of this specific population group. It was observed that children benefit from the use of mediation, as this considerably improved their performance during the execution of tasks.", "_i": "en"}]

Academic and social concerns of students in higher education.

BACKGROUND: Engaging in higher education poses challenges for students facing the multiple demands of work, learning and personal life. Evidence for occupational therapy (OT) practice within learning support centers (LSC) in higher education is lacking. OBJECTIVES: 1) to examine areas of difficulties that students experience based upon age, gender, work and faculty; 2) to validate the Trinity Student Profile (TSP) in Israel. METHODS: The TSP contains 75 items that result in three factors: person, occupation and environment. It is reliable and valid in the Irish sample. It was translated into Hebrew with permission. Participants in the current study included 150 second-year college students. RESULTS: A significant difference within the person factor for age was found (p < 0.009). Significant interactions were found for person and occupation factors ranging from (p < 0.045 to 0.009) within different groups, and none for the environmental factor. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the importance of the person and occupation components of student concerns in the students' experience. Further studies with the TSP and other measures in the field of OT should be conducted in different countries. OT within LSC would benefit from further use of the TSP such an instrument.

Validity of the Functional Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (FLOTCA).

The Functional Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (FLOTCA) was developed to assess integrative higher cognitive abilities in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The FLOTCA measures performance on three tasks: navigating on a map, organizing a toolbox, and planning a daily schedule. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the FLOTCA with a sample of 25 participants with TBI ages 18-49 and 25 matched healthy participants. The FLOTCA showed high interrater reliability (intraclass correlation = .996) and internal consistency reliability for the total score (α = .82). Construct validity was supported for the total score, t (48) = -5.48, d = 1.52, and the separate tasks. Moderate ecological validity was obtained with the combined FIM™ and Functional Assessment Measure, r (19) = .44, p < .05. The results indicate that the FLOTCA can be used to assess higher cognitive abilities in functioning and can serve as the basis for intervention planning.

Playfulness and Interaction: An Exploratory Study of Past and Current Exposure to Domestic Violence.

Violence against women affects mother-child interactions, which may in turn affect their children's playfulness. We examined the effect of a history of violence against mothers on mother-child interactions and children's playfulness. This cross-sectional pilot study consisted of 36 mother-child dyads residing in family crisis shelters due to serious violence from an intimate partner. One subgroup had experienced violence during childhood, another had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Instruments included Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Test of Playfulness, and Coding Interactive Behavior System. Mann-Whitney test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients were calculated. Results indicated that children of mothers without PTSD were more playful than children of mothers with PTSD. Mothers who had not reported of childhood exposure to violence and who did not have PTSD had better interactions with more playful children.

Integration in the Vocational World: How Does It Affect Quality of Life and Subjective Well-Being of Young Adults with ASD.

This study aimed to assess whether the perception of quality of life (QOL) and subjective well-being (SWB) of young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is affected by participation in a comprehensive program. Participants included 25 young adults with ASD who participated in the "Roim Rachok Program" (RRP), where they were trained to become aerial photography interpreters. Following the training period, they served in a designated army unit where they practiced their newly acquired profession. The participants filled out two questionnaires, (a) Quality of Life (QOL-Q) and (b) Personal Well-being Index (PWI), at three points of the intervention: (a) before the course, (b) at the end of the course, and (c) six months after integrating in the designated army unit. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests were used to assess the differences between the reported QOL and SWB at the three points of time. The results suggest that there were no significant differences at the end of the course, compared to its beginning. However, there were significantly improved perception of QOL and SWB during the period between the end of the course and six months after starting work. The results of this study highlight the importance of tailored vocational programs that are adapted to the unique needs and strengths of individuals with ASD.

Adaptação transcultural da bateria DLOTCA-G (Dynamic Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment ­ for Geriatric Population) para a língua portuguesa

:Introdução: A bateria DLOTCA-G (Dynamic Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment ­ for Geriatric Population) é uma avaliação dinâmica dos componentes cognitivos de idosos em oito áreas: orientação, percepção visual e espacial, práxis, construção visomotora, operações de pensamento, memória e consciência. Objetivo: Adaptar transculturalmente a bateria DLOTCA-G para o português do Brasil. Métodos: O processo de adaptação transcultural seguiu a metodologia de tradução, retrotradução, avaliação das equivalências semânticas, idiomáticas, conceituais e culturais, seguidas por pré-teste. Resultados: Na etapa de tradução foram feitas inclusões e exclusões de palavras visando ao entendimento do conteúdo em português. Na avaliação das equivalências semânticas e idiomáticas dos 355 itens avaliados, 23 itens apresentaram discordância. Nas equivalências conceituais, dos 37 itens analisados nenhum apresentou discordância e, nas equivalências culturais, dos 37 itens avaliados dois itens apresentaram discordância. Os itens discordantes foram modificados a partir das sugestões dos juízes, o que produziu a terceira versão traduzida e adaptada da bateria que foi aplicada (pré-teste) em uma amostra de 10 idosos de uma comunidade. Nessa fase não foram identificadas dificuldades na sua aplicação, tanto em relação aos profissionais quanto aos idosos. O tempo médio de aplicação da bateria foi de 48,7 min. Conclusões: A bateria DLOTCA-G é a primeira avaliação dinâmica dos componentes cognitivos de idosos disponível em português e mostrou ter boa aplicabilidade, não sendo identificadas dificuldades de aplicação por parte dos examinadores e nem dificuldades de compreensão por parte dos idosos.

Work performance evaluation and QoL of adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD).

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD) are reliant on others for support in functioning in everyday life and employment. OBJECTIVES: This study followed a work placement program for people with HFASD over a nine months period. It aimed to measure the trajectory of their work performance and Quality of life on jobs in the open market. METHODS: Twenty-six participants with HFASD ages 18-40 underwent extensive evaluation and based on it were placed in various jobs on the open market. Participants were followed for nine months at their work place at four different time points. QoL was self-assessed in addition to work performance (WPE) which was assessed both by first-hand and team member's accounts. Team members are health professional who accompany and support the participants in the transition to their jobs. RESULTS: All 26 participants were able to maintain their jobs during the nine months of follow-up. WPE was perceived as high to start with, and its scores slightly improved by both people with HFASD and team members. Self-report suggests a significant change in the quality of life of the participants, specifically in their evaluations of self-competency. CONCLUSIONS: This study enhances the importance of providing people with HFASD with work placing programs and following up during actual work performance.

Impact of first-ever mild stroke on participation at 3 and 6 month post-event: the TABASCO study.

PURPOSE: This study focused on the relationships between cognition, participation and quality of life (QoL) among first-ever mild ischemic stroke patients 3 months post-event. We hypothesized that significant correlations exist between cognition, executive functions (EF), QoL and participation; and that EF and QoL will significantly contribute to participation beyond demographics and stroke severity at 3 and from 3 to 6 months post-stroke. METHODS: A prospective cohort study, recruiting consecutive first-ever stroke patients from a large tertiary hospital. The inclusion criteria were first event, mild stroke (NIHSS ≤ 5), and no previous significant neurological or cognitive impairment. In addition to assessment every 6 month at the hospital, an assessment battery was administered at home 3 months post-stroke. RESULTS: Participants showed mild to moderate difficulties in cognition and participation (n = 249). Low to moderate correlations were found between cognition and EF with participation (-0.380, p < 0.05; r = 0.460, p < 0.001, respectively); and cognition with QoL (r = 0.421, p < 0.001). EF and QoL contributed significantly to participation at 3 months (R(2) = 0.961) and in addition education at 6 months (R(2) = 0.701). CONCLUSIONS: Participants after mild ischemic stroke experienced cognitive and EF difficulties that affect their participation and QoL. Further studies are needed of mild stroke survivors to enhance our understanding of the variables that affect participation. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The findings of the current study have significant implications for the participation of people after mild stroke in the community. Health care systems in general and rehabilitation programs, in particular, do not consider that these clients need rehabilitation as most of them perform basic daily functions independently. Thus, although cognitive and EF deficits are found in people following even mild stroke, but are not externally apparent, these impairments are mostly neglected by the health care system. Mild stroke has long-term effects in most cases and effect family members as well. The implications of the study's results, as well as those of other studies, emphasize the necessity of follow-up and rehabilitation efforts at home and in the community. These efforts should focus on re-enabling the individual to participate in previous activities as much as possible and on providing support for family members. The strength of this study lies in the large number of participants who were evaluated at home in their natural environments. Studies of this kind are rarely performed in the participants' real-life settings, thus the current study provides an important perspective on the participation of this population in the community.

Effectiveness of executive functions training within a virtual supermarket for adults with traumatic brain injury: a pilot study.

Impairments of executive functions (EF) significantly affect the ability to lead an independent lifestyle. Virtual environments offer a way to rehabilitate EF due to their ecological validity. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a virtual reality (VR) supermarket (VMall) for treatment of EF in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), compared to conventional occupational therapy (OT), in order to provide initial data regarding the effect sizes for calculation of sample size as well as to establish an intervention protocol for future Randomized Control Trials (RCTs). Twelve men and women, aged 19-55 years, who had TBI resulting in EF impairments participated in this study. Outcome measures were the Multiple Errands Test-Simplified Version (MET-SV) and the Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT). Cognitive treatment provided to both groups was based on the same principles; the participants in the experimental group received 10 45-min VR-based treatment sessions and the control group participants received 10 sessions of occupational therapy cognitive retraining without VR. Baseline performance prior to intervention showed no statistically significant differences between groups. Most participants improved their performance after therapy. Following a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, no significant between or within group differences were found, Nevertheless, large effect sizes (0.51) for the percent (%) relative change of the MET-SV total score and EFPT total score after intervention were high in favor of the experimental group indicating a larger improvement in EF. Based on this pilot study, results show a trend towards an advantage to VR therapy compared to cognitive retraining OT without VR, as it leads to greater improvement in complex everyday activities.

"Coffee Stands": a vocational rehabilitation project in the community for people coping with mental disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The "Coffee Stands" project was developed to provide a work place where individuals with long term mental illness can receive job training within the community. It is similar to a supported employment program, except that it does not provide individual job placement services. The objective of the study was to describe the participants who worked at the "coffee stands", with respect to their participation in occupations, functional cognition, executive functions and awareness, perception of their quality of life (QoL), satisfaction and self esteem. Moreover, the study aimed at examining whether changes occurred in these variables during the 6-month period in which participants worked at the coffee stands. METHODS: Participants included 44 people with chronic mental illness; 27 men and 17 women, mean age 43.43 (SD = 9.02); mean years of education 11.81 (SD = 1.83); mean age of illness onset 27.72 (SD = 11.12) and mean number of hospitalizations 3.27 (SD = 2.64). All signed an informed consent to participate in the study. A battery of eight instruments measuring the various variables was administered at two points in time; at the beginning of the work at the coffee stands and 6 months later. RESULTS: Indicated that the training was successful and that participants were able to maintain an average 3 hours of work daily, demonstrating an improvement in their perception of their ability to work. In the area of planning, they needed structure, suggesting some difficulties in executive functions, but they seemed to be aware of their difficulties. After 6 months, participants showed improvements in health related measures of QoL and satisfaction, but not in self esteem. CONCLUSIONS: The findings strengthen the premise that people coping with an emotional disorder place great importance on working, are able to work and derive satisfaction from their work.

Reasons for choosing a career and workplace among occupational therapists and speech language pathologists.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was first to determine internal consistency reliability of the Ono Decision Making Career and Workplace (ODMCW) questionnaire. Next, a comparison of the reasons for a professional career and workplace choices of occupational therapists (OTs) and speech and language pathologists (SLPs) was evaluated. PARTICIPANTS: Participants consisted of 174 women (89 [51%] OTs and 85 [49%] SLPs). INSTRUMENT: The ODMCW questionnaire contains 17 items each scored on a 5 point scale in 2 parts (Career Choice and Workplace). The ODMCW was distributed to participants of both professions. RESULTS: Analysis of the questionnaire revealed 4 factors that together explained 56.87% of the variance of Career Choice with moderate to good Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.524-0.789. The findings for both career and workplace choice show differences between the two professional groups, where SLPs give more weight to the factor of employment terms and benefits (p< 0.01) as well as work conveniences (p< 0.001), while OTs give more weight to professional and academic stature (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These initial findings should lead to more studies within these professions and others, as well as in different cultural groups to further understand the reasons and motives for Career Choices.

Development and reliability of the Autism Work Skills Questionnaire (AWSQ).

OBJECTIVE: The Autism Work Skills Questionnaire (AWSQ), a new, comprehensive self-report assessment of a person's vocational profile, was developed to help produce a good person-job match. This preliminary study was aimed at developing the questionnaire and determining its content validity and internal consistency. METHOD: Forty-six adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD), ages 18-39, were interviewed with the questionnaire. A two-phase study was conducted: (1) constructing the questionnaire and determining its content validity and (2) ascertaining internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: We found that the AWSQ had initial content validity and moderate to high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α = .64-.90). CONCLUSION: The AWSQ can be a useful clinical and research tool in occupational therapy for evaluating work skills of adults with HFASD. Further studies with larger samples and including both typically developing individuals and individuals with HFASD are required to further support the questionnaire's reliability and validity.

Dynamic Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Geriatric Version (DLOTCA-G): assessing change in cognitive performance.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the new Dynamic Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Geriatric Version (DLOTCA-G), a dynamic version of the Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Geriatric Version (LOTCA-G), and examined the properties of the mediation system. METHOD: Participants included 61 clients hospitalized after stroke in three rehabilitation centers (mean age = 77.6 yr, standard deviation [SD] = 6.2) and 52 healthy control participants (mean age = 77.8 yr, SD = 6.4). All participants were assessed with the DLOTCA-G. RESULTS: Internal consistency reliability showed moderate to high α coefficient levels in all domains (αs = .68-.85) except the Memory domain (α = .26). Both groups benefitted from mediation, but the stroke clients needed more concrete levels of mediation (Levels 3-5). CONCLUSION: The addition of mediation to the LOTCA-G is effective in providing insights into clients' cognitive status and learning potential. Our findings are similar to the results of the validation study for the DLOTCA for adults and support the use and benefits of the dynamic version.