British Journal of Occupational Therapy

This study examined the relationship between interest responses and health-related quality of life in 324 healthy older Japanese people.

Instruments used in this study included the Japanese Interest Checklist for the Elderly (JICE) containing six factors with 25 activities, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to test correlations between the three interest parameter scores (interest, current participation and future participation) of the JICE and SF-36v2 scores. Data were analysed for men and women separately to clarify gender-specific differences.

Among women, the physical component score in the SF-36v2 correlated significantly and positively with all three interest parameter scores for all factors other than Entertainment Activities in the JICE. Among men, the mental component score in the SF-36v2 correlated significantly and positively with the scores of the three interest parameters for Activities of Daily Living, Pleasurable Outings and Cultural/Educational Activities factors in the JICE.

This study identified different correlations between interest responses in activities listed on the JICE and component scores on the SF-36v2 between men and women and demonstrated a new application of interest checklists in the physical domain of the occupational therapy.

Pressure ulcers are a major concern for those who spend a prolonged period of time sitting. Weight shifts are one prevention strategy used to reduce the risk of tissue damage. Currently, the prevalence of pressure ulcers is high, suggesting that concordance with preventative methods is poor. Occupational therapy focuses on the use of functional activity to promote health and wellbeing. The aim of this literature review was to evaluate the role of functional activity in reducing seated interface pressure.

A comprehensive search of nine electronic databases (AMED, CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, SportDiscus, EMBASE, British Nursing Index, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and OTDBASE) was conducted between January 2000 and October 2011.

From the 24 articles included in the review, there is limited evidence evaluating the role of functional activity and weight shifts in reducing seated interface pressure. Limited evidence suggests poor concordance with weight shifts, with wheelchair users repositioning on average once every 1–2 hours. The cost of pressure ulcer care is considerable, with an average annual cost of £1.7 billion in the United Kingdom. Occupational therapists have a key preventative role.

Further research is needed to explore the role of functional activity and to determine the effectiveness of weight shift activity in reducing seated interface pressure.

Ann Wilcock's published work identifies the fundamental importance of occupation in promoting health, wellbeing and even survival. Despite the implications for occupational therapy, the impact of her work has not been comprehensively explored. This research investigated how her ideas were used in published research from 1993 to 2007.

Mixed methods obtained two sets of data. First, qualitative data from a textual analysis of Wilcock's published work were analysed and used to create a glossary and a conceptual framework of her ideas. Secondly, content analysis of 48 research papers yielded 121 citations, which were coded into categories. The findings indicated that her ideas did not appear to be embraced fully by other authors and were sometimes applied superficially.

The conceptual framework was refined and finalised, to demonstrate how Wilcock's ideas are interrelated. It is presented as a means of developing an accessible occupational perspective for research and practice.

The study concentrates on two models of writing used in community facilities and inpatient settings in mental health: a six-session course of Using Writing as Therapy (UWaT) with a therapist, and Creative Writing (CW) with a non-therapist facilitator. UWaT is a structured, new, brief writing therapy; CW is unstructured use of writing as a creative arts activity.

This qualitative study utilised a post-positivist, subtle-realist paradigm, using qualitative methodologies (action research and participant observation) by an occupational therapist to understand and clarify how writing, as a form of emotional disclosure, worked with clients with depression, with flawed identity and low self-esteem.

The findings indicated that UWaT clients reported cognitive changes, an increase in self-knowledge through gaining distance from their stories through writing and benefit from using the page to reorganise or play with memories and experiences. CW clients distanced themselves from painful emotions by writing and expressing their feelings but not discussing emotive content. They experienced a less safe environment, deprivation of positive feedback and problems with ‘writer’ identity.

Both writing models have potential benefit for clients with depression and more research is needed to establish fidelity of delivery and results.

Occupational therapists may have difficulty using evidence from systematic reviews.

The use of Summary of Findings (SoFs) tables of systematic reviews, sent via email, was explored in two focus groups with six occupational therapists at a school-based practice. Descriptive content analysis was used.

Participants voiced typical barriers to the use of evidence and said that SoFs were helpful. They felt that SoFs were easy to use, understandable, and increased awareness of research and gaps. Some reported difficulty understanding statistics. Participants believed that they would think about applying the evidence in future.

SoFs via email to school-based occupational therapists may be a useful format to disseminate evidence.