The change in occupational participation and quality of life following occupational therapy for people supervised by probation.

INTRODUCTION: The probation system is a penal and enforcement system in which the completion of sentences of individuals who are incarcerated and rehabilitation processes are carried out together. This study considered the change in occupational participation and quality of life following occupational therapy for people supervised by probation. METHODS: The research was planned as a pre-test and post-test study. Fifteen individuals participated in the study voluntarily. The participants completed the Socio-Demographic Information Form, COPM for occupational participation, and the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) for quality of life. We implemented an intervention program consisting of, on average, 1 h once a week for 12 weeks. Post-intervention evaluations were completed, and the results were compared. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of the total quality of life scores (p = 0.003) and the COPM scores for performance (p = 0.001) and satisfaction (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Implementing a client-centred occupational therapy intervention involving personal behaviour, organisational environment, and activity change resulted in an increase in clients' activity performance, satisfaction with their performance, and quality of life.

Effects of vocational rehabilitation group intervention on motivation and occupational self-awareness in individuals with intellectual disabilities: A single blind, randomised control study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a vocational rehabilitation group intervention on motivation and occupational self-competence in individuals with intellectual disability. METHODS: A single-blind, randomised controlled study design was used. The intervention group (IG) received the group-based intervention alongside the individualised vocational rehabilitation (IVR) and the control group (CG) continued receiving only the IVR for 8 weeks. In order to assess motivation and occupational self-competence, Objective Achievement Motivation Test (OLMT) and Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) were used. RESULTS: Forty-nine individuals were enrolled to the study and randomised into IG (n = 24) and CG (n = 25). Two groups were similar at baseline in terms of demographic qualities, OLMT and OSA scores (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the IG showed significant improvements in all assessments (p < 0.05), however the CG showed improvements only in OLMT sub-tests (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The group-based intervention program was effective in increasing occupational self-competence and motivation.

Investigation of the factors affecting the e-learning process in occupational therapy education during the pandemic with principal component analysis.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to examine the factors affecting the e-learning process in occupational therapy education in the COVID-19 period. Method: In the study, a form containing personal information and questions about the e-learning process, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were applied to 253 occupational therapy students via the Google form. Principal component analysis was used to evaluate the data. Results: A large number of questionnaires were applied in the study, and principal component analysis, an advanced statistical method that enables the interpretation of this type of big data more effectively, was used. 13 components were determined, and a variance of 88% was explained. The main components were listed as students' self-perception about the education system, learning methods, home and university environment, information technologies, physical activity level, and academic performance/participation. Conclusion: We hope that the results of our study will provide a perspective on what innovations can be made for quality improvement in occupational therapy education. It would be beneficial to increase student feedback by applying similar studies in other education programs.

Burnout and its relationship with work-related factors among occupational therapists working in public sector in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is an important and challenging issue in occupational therapists as in other health care professions. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify burnout and its relationship with job satisfaction, work engagement and working conditions among occupational therapists in Turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 50 occupational therapists working in public sector. The Burnout Measure, the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were used as measurement tools. Working conditions were measured by a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. RESULTS: The findings indicated that 26% of the participants had burnout symptoms and 38% were at risk. Negative relationships were found between burnout and working conditions, extrinsic and overall job satisfaction, vigour and dedication. Working conditions and dedication were the most influential factors of burnout among these variables and together accounted for 43.1% of the variance. A moderate negative relationship was found between burnout and two items of working conditions (facilitative management structure and opportunities to improve skills) and those together predicted 39% of the variance for burnout. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Identifying work-related factors that may affect burnout, including working conditions, job satisfaction, and work engagement, and developing intervention strategies are important for occupational therapists.

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.

Sensory profile, ferritin and zinc levels in preschool-aged children with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders and has a big impact on the well-being of children. The disorder can lead to noticeable functional limitations for children and bio-ecological factors also contribute to symptoms of ADHD. We aimed to investigate the associations between ADHD symptoms and some related bio-ecological factors including serum ferritin, zinc levels and sensory processing in preschool-aged children. METHODS: Twenty-two children who had been referred to the division of Developmental Pediatrics because of ADHD symptoms and 22 participants from the general pediatric outpatient clinics were included in the study. The symptoms of ADHD were evaluated with Conners` Parent Rating Scale-Revised Short form. Complete blood count, serum ferritin and zinc levels were also evaluated. A blind occupational therapist implemented sensory processing measurements. The characteristics of each participant such as prematurity, perinatal complications, developmental practices and sociodemographic data were also considered. RESULTS: Sensory processing measurement analysis revealed that all Sensory Profile scores were significantly lower in the children with ADHD symptoms compared to the control group indicating that the child shows the behavior more than desired. The low level of zinc (p=0.026, OR=6.153, 95% CI= 1.247-30.362) and the presence of perinatal complications (p=0.045, OR=10.864, 95% CI=1.059-111.499) increased the risk of ADHD symptoms. We could not find an association for ferritin levels in our study. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of zinc level and sensory profile parallel to other strategies can be recommended during the management of ADHD symptoms in preschool children.

The Effects of Virtual Reality on Motor Functions and Daily Life Activities in Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of virtual reality (VR) through Kinect on both gross and fine motor functions and independence in daily living activities in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Sixty children with USCP were randomized and split equally between the VR intervention group (10 females and 20 males with a mean age of 10.5 ± 3.62 years) and the traditional occupational therapy (TOT) intervention group (13 females and 17 males with a mean age of 10.06 ± 3.24 years). Both groups were evaluated in terms of motor functioning via the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (BOTMP-SF) and were assessed in accordance with independence in daily activities via the WeeFunctional Independence Measure (WeeFIM). Interventions were conducted for 8 weeks with the main objective of improving motor functions and independence in daily activities. Results: Total motor functions and total independence in daily lives in both groups improved after 8 weeks of intervention. A comparison between groups revealed significantly greater improvements in both gross and fine motor functions and daily activities in the VR group than in the TOT group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The Kinect-based VR intervention approach is important to improving motor functions and independence in daily activities of children with USCP.

Effectiveness of the virtual reality on cognitive function of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Cerebral palsy is a term covering non-progressive motor and cognitive impairments caused by lesions of the brain. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality-based rehabilitation program for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy on cognitive functions. Ninety children (47 boys, 43 girls) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomized to either study (n = 45; 11.18 ± 3.37 years) or control (n = 45; 11.06 ± 3.24 years) groups. The study group received virtual reality intervention in addition to Traditional Occupational Therapy intervention, and the control group received Traditional Occupational Therapy for 20 sessions. Both groups were evaluated by blinded assessors with Dynamic Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment for Children to collect information on cognitive functioning. Both groups' cognitive functions were improved after 10 weeks of interventions. The between-group comparison revealed significantly greater improvements in all subtest of cognitive functions in the virtual reality group than in the Traditional Occupational Therapy group (P < 0.001). Our results showed that 10 weeks of virtual reality-based rehabilitation enhanced cognitive functions in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Using virtual reality applications in cognitive rehabilitation was recommended to improve spatial perception, praxis, visuomotor construction and thinking operations in children with cerebral palsy.

Stigma and Discrimination Towards Mental Illness: Translation and Validation of the Turkish Version of the Attribution Questionnaire-27 (AQ-27-T).

The stigmatization towards mental illness has significant effects on the quality of life both for the people with a psychiatric disorder and their families. The aim of this study was to translate the Attribution Questionnaire-27(AQ-27) to the Turkish language, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of new Turkish version on a multi-centered selected adult sample. Cultural adaptation was implemented according to the internationally suggested method. The Turkish version of AQ-27 (AQ-27-T) was applied to a total of 424 participants (221 females) included to study. As a result; a good internal consistency was obtained with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88 for the total scale and ranging between 0.86 and 0.89 for the items, and a statistically significant test-retest reliability was detected (r = 0.79; p < 0.05). Fit indices of the model supported the factor structure and paths. AQ-27-T was determined as a reliable and valid questionnaire assessing stigmatization toward mental illness in Turkish population.

Sensorimotor integration training in Parkinson`s disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of sensorimotor integration training on postural control in Parkinson`s disease. METHODS: This prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted at Hacettepe University (Ankara, Turkey). The study was carried out from August 2012 until March 2015 and included 24 Parkinson`s patients with stage 2-3 according to the Modified Hoehn&Yahr Rating Scale. The patients were divided into 2 groups (control and study). The control group received conventional physiotherapy; the study group received sensorimotor integration training combined with conventional physiotherapy, 2 times per week for 6 weeks. We assessed the patients with clinical balance tests and computerized dynamic posturography. Assessments were performed at baseline, 7- and 12-weeks follow-up. RESULTS: Computerized dynamic posturography posturography values (5th and 6th positions, composite balance, and vestibular system scores) were higher in the study group than in the control group. The improvements were maintained at the 12-week follow up except 6th positions scores (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sensorimotor integration training combined with conventional physiotherapy approach ameliorated postural control by improving vestibular system in patients with Parkinson`s disease by improving sensory processes.

Validity of the Turkish Occupational Self Assessment for Elderly Individuals.

Occupational therapy practices in Turkey are increasing each year, but rehabilitation practitioners working in the occupational therapy field have limited instruments. The aim of this study was to analyze the validity of the Turkish version of the Occupational Self Assessment (OSA), which is based on the Model of Human Occupation. The data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to determine construct validity. The Turkish OSA was administered with the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old (WHOQOL-OLD) and the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) to 117 elderly individuals to determine convergent validity. The Turkish OSA has acceptable construct validity scores (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses). SMAF and WHOQOL-OLD Scales showed a moderately significant relationship with OSA competence total scores ( p < .01). The results indicate that the OSA is a valid instrument for determining occupational competence and values in elderly Turkish individuals.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Sensory Processing and Motor Development in Preterm Infants.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between sensory processing and motor development in preterm infants. METHOD: We included 30 preterm and 30 term infants with corrected and chronological ages between 10 and 12 mo. We used the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants to evaluate sensory processing and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale to evaluate motor development. RESULTS: The Spearman correlation test indicated a strong positive relationship between sensory processing and motor development in preterm infants (r = .63, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Given the relationship between sensory processing and motor development in the preterm group, the evaluation of sensory processing and motor development in preterm infants was considered necessary for the effective implementation of physiotherapy assessment and interventions.

The Effect of Sensory Integration Therapy on Occupational Performance in Children With Autism.

Sensory processing problems and related dysfunctions are among the most common conditions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study examined the effect of sensory integration therapy (SIT) on different aspects of occupational performance in children with ASD. The study was conducted on an intervention group ( n = 16) receiving SIT and a control group ( n = 15) with 3- to 8-year-old children with ASD. The Short Child Occupational Profile (SCOPE) was used to compare the two groups in terms of the changes in their occupational performance and the Sensory Profile (SP) was used to assess sensory problems. The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in all the SCOPE domains, as well as in all the SP domains, except for the "emotional reactions" and "emotional/social responses" domains, ( p < .05). The effectiveness of SIT in improving occupational performance in children with ASD as a health-related factor is supported by our findings.

The Efficiency of Sensory Integration Interventions in Preterm Infants.

This study aimed to explore the effects of individualized sensory integration interventions on the sensory processing functions of preterm infants. Thirty-four preterm infants (intervention group) at a corrected age of seven months and 34 term infants (control group) were included. The preterm infants underwent an eight-week sensory integration intervention. Before and after the intervention, the preterm infants' sensory processing functions were evaluated using the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants and compared with those of term infants. Preterm infants had significantly poorer sensory processing function preintervention when compared with term infants. There was a significant improvement in preterm infants' sensory processing functions after the sensory integration intervention. In conclusion, preterm infants should be evaluated for sensory processing disorders and individualized sensory integration interventions should be implemented.

Investigation of hand function among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder with upper extremity trauma history.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to compare hand function in autistic children with history of upper extremity trauma with that of autistic children those who do not have history of trauma. METHODS: The study group included total of 65 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and was divided into 2 groups: children with trauma history (Group I) and control group (Group II) (Group I: n=28; Group II: n=37). Hand function was evaluated with 9-Hole Peg Test and Jebsen Hand Function Test. Somatosensory function was evaluated using somatosensory subtests of Sensory Integration and Praxis Test. Results were analyzed with Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test using SPSS version 20 software. RESULTS: Hand function and somatosensory perception test scores were statistically significantly better in children without upper extremity trauma history (p<0.05). When association between hand function tests and upper extremity somatosensory perception tests was taken into account, statistically significant correlations were found between all parameters of hand function tests and Manual Form Perception and Localization of Tactile Stimuli Test results (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Autistic children with upper extremity trauma history had poor somatosensory perception and hand function. It is important to raise awareness among emergency service staff and inform them about strong relationship between somatosensory perception, hand function, and upper extremity trauma in children with ASD in order to develop appropriate rehabilitation process and prevent further trauma.

Effects of occupational therapy on quality of life of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficiency of occupational therapy relative to a home program in improving quality of life (QoL) among men who were treated for metastatic prostate cancer (MPC). METHODS: Fifty-five men were assigned randomly to either the 12-week cognitive behavioral therapy based occupational therapy (OT-CBSM) intervention (treatment group) or a home program (control group) between March 2012 and August 2014 in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was used to measure the occupational performance and identify difficulties in daily living activities. The QoL and symptom status were measured by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and its Prostate Cancer Module. A 12-week OT-CBSM intervention including client-centered training of daily living activities, recreational group activities, and cognitive behavioral stress management intervention were applied. RESULTS: The COPM performance and satisfaction scores, which indicate occupational participation and QoL increased statistically in the treatment group in relation to men who were included in the home-program (p less than or equal to 0.05). CONCLUSION: A 12-week OT-CBSM intervention was effective in improving QoL in men treated for MPC, and these changes were associated significantly with occupational performance.

DEVELOPMENT OF A TURKISH VERSION OF THE SENSORY PROFILE: TRANSLATION, CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION, AND PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION.

The purpose of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the Sensory Profile (SP), which is used to measure sensory processing abilities of children ages of 3-10 years, and test its reliability and validity for use with Turkish children with autism. A cross-cultural adaptation process was carried out by bilingual experts, following typical guidelines. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct validity studies of the Turkish SP were done for 144 children with autism. A comparison was also made between results of children with autism and 101 healthy children to test the validity of the Turkish SP. There were significant differences between results of autistic and healthy children on all subsections of the test. The Cronbach's as ranged from .63 to .97 for all subsections except I, J, and N, which had poor internal consistency reliability. Test-retest reliability over a one-week period was excellent (ICC > .90).

Which hand outcome measurement is best for Turkish speaking patients?

OBJECTIVE: In determining treatment outcomes of the hand, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and Milliken Activities of Daily Living Scale (MAS) questionnaires are the most commonly used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relations, strengths and weaknesses of these questionnaires and determine the most appropriate outcome measure for the Turkish population. METHODS: The study included 74 patients with various types of hand injuries. Patients filled out the DASH-Turkish, MHQ and MAS questionnaires. Grip strength and pain intensity were also assessed. RESULTS: MAS parameters were well-correlated with DASH-Turkish and grip strength (p<0.05). MHQ was correlated with all other outcomes except the left hand part. CONCLUSION: The DASH, MHQ and MAS questionnaires are culturally compatible with the Turkish population and have revealed a good correlation. These results suggest that these outcome instruments can be used in the assessment of hand and wrist surgery outcomes in the Turkish population.

Reliability and validity of Milliken Activities of Daily Living Scale (MAS) in measuring activity limitations of a Turkish population.

AIM: The Milliken Activities of Daily Living Scale (MAS) is a self-report scale to address limitation of ability to perform daily tasks in upper extremity injuries. It can address the necessity of each task, which makes MAS useful while planning individual treatment. The objective of this study was to perform cross-cultural adaptation of the MAS TURKISH and to evaluate its reliability and validity for Turkish-speaking patients with upper extremity conditions. METHOD: A total of 99 patients were asked to complete the adapted MAS and DASH at baseline and one week after the initial assessment. Also grip strength was evaluated with an interval of one week. RESULTS: The reliability of the adapted version was good, with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.964) and test-retest reliability (interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.772) for the total score. A statistically significant correlation between MAS and DASH scores and grip strength scores of the injured side was obtained. CONCLUSION: The results of the study have shown that the Turkish version of MAS has excellent test-retest reliability and validity. It is a suitable assessment for evaluating function and giving an overview of activity limitations in many performance areas in a Turkish population.

Pain, physical performance and balance in the elderly at hospital.

This study was aimed to determine the pain, physical performance and balance conditions of the elderly hospitalized in university hospital geriatric wards. The reasons for hospitalization and co-morbid diseases were recorded. Severity of pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale. Activity independence ability was tested by physical performance test (PPT). Tinetti balance and gait evaluation scale (GES) were used to assess balance. Fifty patients (54%) had reported any kind of pain. Mean score for PPT was 13.32 ± 6.56 and for Tinetti test was 9.76 ± 3.8. The correlation between pain, physical performance and balance for 93 patients, 65 years and above was analyzed and not found statistically significant. We believe that pain can affect physical performance and balance. Therefore, it should be carefully evaluated in every elderly patient. Further studies are necessary to investigate the relationship between pain, physical performance and balance of elderly hospitalized patients.