British Journal of Occupational Therapy

In acute care hospitals, risk assessments are integral to therapy practice. However, to date, this area has not been explored in any specific depth within occupational therapy or physiotherapy, although there is evidence that the management of risk causes uncertainty and anxiety among professionals. Different perspectives of risks may have an influence on the discharge end point.

This study explored the self-reported risk-taking behaviours of occupational therapists and physiotherapists. A qualitative approach was taken, with reflective diaries used to record the self-reported risk-taking behaviours of therapists in a teaching hospital. Eight therapists recorded 16 reflections in total, which were analysed using template analysis.

The findings suggest that support from members of the team, collegiality and clinical confidence were important to manage risks. Therapists were willing to take risks in order to meet patient goals, to facilitate the rehabilitation process or to enhance the patient's quality of life. However, there may be instances of interprofessional differences that need to be managed.

This research has highlighted the need for therapists to reflect continually upon risk situations in professional practice. There is a need for support and guidance to be put in place to enable positive risk taking.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of retirement in a context where it is not compulsory, and to understand consequent changes in roles, identity and occupational adaptation from the perspective of Australian retirees.

Five people aged between 61 and 68 years, who had retired during the previous 18 months, were interviewed. Data analysis included transcription and coding of data, data aggregation and identification of themes.

The themes that emerged from the data analysis were related to time structure and meaningful occupations, ageing and performance capacity, role changes, emotional adjustment to retirement and preparation for retirement.

The findings suggest that engagement in meaningful occupations and valued roles, along with the emergence of grandparenting as a significant role, the development of new interests and engagement in retirement planning activities, and support in restructuring the use of time are essential to maintain a positive identity and to adapt successfully to retirement.

Practice education is essential in the development of the clinical competencies required for entry into the workforce. Practitioners take on the role of educator of students on placement, often at a distance from the university. While the importance of practitioners to the university curriculum is acknowledged, how best to engage both practitioners and academics in a dialogue that is meaningful and valued by both groups is an ongoing challenge. Applying a threshold concept framework has been suggested as a way to enhance dialogue between key stakeholders to facilitate student learning.

This exploratory qualitative study aimed to identify areas of transformative knowledge (threshold concepts) from the perspective of practitioners who engage with students undertaking practice education. Data were collected from two focus groups of practitioners involved in practice education. A threshold concept framework was used for analysis.

The use of a threshold concept framework facilitated the identification of three key knowledge areas, which resulted in transformed understanding once they were grasped by students engaged in practice education.

The identification of threshold concepts for practice education has the potential to inform university curriculum content and practice educator training. Further research is indicated to develop these concepts further.

Sexuality is a holistic concept that involves more than the sexual act. Despite being a quality of life domain that promotes meaningful existence, it is an aspect of life that is often avoided by health care practitioners.

In this Heideggerian phenomenological study, conversational interviews were conducted with 13 people with motor neurone disease, and 10 of their partners, in order to understand their experiences of sexuality and intimacy.

The findings provide evidence for the value of touch in people's lives and shed light upon the impact that assistive equipment has on intimacy, sexual expression and maintaining emotional and physical connection between couples. None of the people interviewed had previously been given the opportunity to discuss these issues with their occupational therapist.

There is a place in occupational therapy practice for discussing the value of emotional and physical connection for individuals in the context of any equipment provided.

Studies have shown that executive dysfunction is common in adults after stroke. Occupational therapists working in acute care assess the performance of activities of daily living; most instruments focus on personal care. However, the assessment of instrumental activities of daily living has been shown to discriminate executive dysfunction more effectively. An instrument for assessing executive dysfunction in more complex activities that is easy to handle in acute care is consequently required for clinical use. The Executive Function Performance Test (EFPT) was recently introduced into Sweden. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the EFPT in acute care for patients with mild stroke.

Twenty-three patients from an acute stroke unit were assessed with both the EFPT and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS).

The correlation between the EFPT and the AMPS assessments was highly significant (p = 0.003) and the concurrent validity was rho = 0.61.

Since there is a risk that adult patients with mild stroke are discharged without rehabilitation, and there is a lack of a relevant instrument for occupational therapists that discriminates executive dysfunction in acute stroke care, the EFPT may be a suitable instrument to use with these patients.