Survey of driving evaluation and rehabilitation curricula in occupational therapy programs.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose in this study was to examine the preclinical curricular content pertaining to driving evaluation and rehabilitation (DE/R) included in professional entry-level occupational therapy programs. METHOD: An e-mail survey containing questions about the program's structure and extent of course material related to DE/R in the curriculum was sent to directors of all 144 U.S. accredited professional entry-level occupational therapy programs. RESULTS: Ninety programs responded (62.5% response rate), of which 80 included content related to DE/R in some required courses, and 9 programs offered a required course specifically in DE/R. Approximately 18% of the respondent programs offered electives with DE/R content. CONCLUSION: Of the respondent professional entry-level occupational therapy programs, few offer a required course specifically devoted to DE/R, butalmost all programs integrate DE/R content into required coursework, thus satisfying the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education standards related to driver rehabilitation.

Impact of participating in volunteer activities for residents living in long-term-care facilities.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a volunteer activity on the perceived well-being of long-term-care (LTC) residents. Residents from five LTC facilities were randomly assigned into either a mentoring or a usual-care control group. Residents in the mentoring group tutored conversational skills to English-as-a-second-language students on a one-on-one basis for 1 hour twice per week for 12 weeks. Well-being, as a global outcome construct, was measured at baseline, after intervention, and at 3-month follow-up using the Geriatric Depression Scale, Life Satisfaction Index-A, and a self-rated health question. After intervention, residents who participated in the mentoring group rated their level of well-being higher (p = .047) than those in the usual-care group on the basis of a multivariate nonparametric global statistical test. The positive effect of mentoring on well-being relative to the control was sustained at 3-month follow-up assessment (p = .029). Findings provide preliminary support for engaging LTC residents in volunteer mentoring activities to improve their well-being.

Discharge planning simulation: training the interprofessional team for the future workplace.

PURPOSE: The integration of interprofessional education (IPE) into health professions curricula offers a possible way to increase collaboration among health professionals. In this paper we introduce an innovative IPE model of a team-based discharge planning case scenario. METHODS: Occupational therapy, physician assistant, and physical therapy students (n=173) participated in a discharge planning simulation (DPS) focused on a patient with a stroke and subsequent hip fracture. A discharge-planning meeting DVD was developed and disseminated to the students. Pre and post surveys were sent to the students. OUTCOMES: Eighty-nine percent (n=153) of the students responded to the pre-DPS survey and 77% (n=132) responded to the post-DPS survey. There was no significant difference when comparing pre-DPS or post-DPS by program of study, but significant differences were found in three of the four questions when comparing individual answers. CONCLUSION: Participation in the DPS model resulted in significant changes in perception of a student's individual role as well as the role of their interprofessional team members in discharge planning for the complex patient. Preliminary results indicate that this model can be a useful tool to effectively teach the interprofessional team.

Certified driver rehabilitation specialists' preferred situations for driving simulator scenarios.

The use of driving simulators is increasing in clinical settings that provide driving evaluation and rehabilitation. To identify the driving simulator scenarios desired by certified driving rehabilitation specialists (CDRSs), we developed a questionnaire consisting of 22 driving scenario situations. A total of 164 CDRSs rated each situation in terms of its importance for inclusion in simulator-based driving. The four situations they identified as most critical were turning left across oncoming traffic, navigating four-way intersections with traffic lights or signs, driving in multiple lanes with traffic on both sides, and reacting to unexpected events that require emergency braking or aggressive maneuvers to prevent an accident. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to group the 22 driving scenario situations. The model with the best fit included 11 situations forming three factors: (1) Intersections, (2) Roadway and Traffic Conditions, and (3) Environmental Conditions. Future studies should include these factors in driving simulator scenarios and evaluate their clinical efficacy in driving evaluation and rehabilitation.

Driving behaviors in patients with head and neck cancer during and after cancer treatment: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore the driving behaviors of head and neck cancer patients during and after cancer therapy. METHODS: Eighty-three patients completed a questionnaire related to driving behaviors. RESULTS: The survey revealed that 67.5% of respondents reported that they drove less or stopped driving during cancer therapy, and 26.5% continued to drive less or stopped driving after the completion of cancer therapy. Respondents typically reported greater concern about driving and relied more on other people for transportation during and after cancer therapy than before their diagnosis. Results indicated that the odds for self-restricted driving after cancer therapy were higher for those who were more concerned about driving under challenging driving situations and perceived impaired cognitive function that affected their driving ability. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that perceived impairment resulting from cancer therapy has a significant impact on head and neck cancer patients' driving behaviors.