British Journal of Occupational Therapy

The management of everyday technologies could present too difficult a challenge for older adults with cognitive impairments, leading to their exclusion from participation. The present study aims to identify and describe features that make everyday technologies more or less difficult for older adults, whether with or without cognitive difficulties.

A pre-existent, empirically generated hierarchy of more to less difficult everyday technologies was analysed. A mixed methods design was used to investigate predefined assumptions.

Correlation analysis indicated that the more difficult everyday technologies required a higher frequency of skill actions; a positive correlation between the difficulty of an everyday technology and the need to perform actions in a logical sequence when using it was identified. The analysis indicated that feedback provided to users by less difficult everyday technologies consisted of different modes of stimuli (visual, auditory and tactile), while that from more difficult everyday technologies provided a high frequency of complex visual feedback. The less difficult everyday technologies were designed in a manner that was more intuitive; the design guided the user and fewer errors could be made.

This study presents several features in the design of everyday technologies, and the skills required in using them, that could make their management more difficult for older adults.

Driving is a job, a hobby and a form of transport that enables occupation. This research investigated the impact of the inability to drive due to epilepsy on community mobility and occupational participation, and compared both men and women's perceptions of the impact of driving cessation on romantic relationships and family involvement.

By means of an internet-based survey, data were collected concerning community mobility, personal impact of driving cessation, previous driving practices, epilepsy and demographics. Statistical analysis was performed on quantitative data and content analysis was used with responses to open questions. The survey received 95 eligible participants.

Participants used public transport more than the general population; however, when unable to drive, being driving by friends or relatives was the main mode of transport. As a result, people experienced restricted access to the community, had to give up activities, had a reduced quality of life and a lowered self-esteem. Significantly more men than women felt that driving cessation had a negative impact on romantic relationships (p = 0.024) yet men and women did not differ significantly in their feelings about the impact of driving cessation on family involvement (p = 0.58).

Independent access to the community is often dependent on the ability to drive.

In the United Kingdom, one strand of New Labour's welfare reform agenda was the introduction of the Condition Management Programme. In many areas of the United Kingdom, occupational therapists took a leading role in service delivery. This research article examines occupational therapists' use of discretion within the programme and its effect on their professional identity.

In-depth face-to-face interviews were undertaken with 13 staff members employed by the Condition Management Programme, including six occupational therapists. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti 6 software as a data management tool.

Within Condition Management Programmes, managers had a large amount of freedom in service design and created a service staffed in the majority by occupational therapists. While some decisions were made as part of a multidisciplinary team, occupational therapists were allowed considerable clinical autonomy in delivering the service. The impact of this autonomy on their professional identity is discussed.

As a central part of the Condition Management Programme service, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals were allowed considerable autonomy. Concurrently, occupational therapists reported a strong professional identity. There is a need for further research within mainstream National Health Service departments to examine how discretion affects professional identity.

The purpose of this research was to deepen understanding of what is helpful to those who have experienced psychosis, in order to facilitate best practice within mental health services. Psychosis presents challenges for people on an everyday basis, yet strategies can be developed to facilitate living with psychosis. Investigating the service user's perspective is crucial for informing recovery oriented occupational therapy practice.

Initiated and designed by a service user research group, this research was exploratory and, primarily, participatory. Data were gathered from two focus groups, involving 13 people with experience of psychosis, facilitated by service user researchers and an MSc student. Data analysis was systematic and based on grounded theory principles

Participants shared experiences and thoughts about their everyday lives. Data analysis revealed six elements of the self: the social self; the occupational self; the integrated self; the unsupported self; the stigmatised self and the isolated self. The importance of balancing these six facets of the self is theorised as being essential to successfully managing the experience of living with psychosis.

This emergent theory could underpin occupation-focused approaches to living with psychosis, with interventions aimed at enabling service users to balance the experience of psychosis with satisfying and contributing lives or recovery.