March 2011. "Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Occupational Therapy Department, College of Allied Health and Nursing, Nova Southeastern University." This phenomenological study was designed to understand the lived experience of adolescents being treating for cancer and the impact of their lived experience on engagement in occupations and social participation. Participants in this study included four young adolescents 17-19 years of ages attending school on a part-time basis. They were on active treatment protocols for cancer and enjoyed participating in sports or other activities with friends. In-depth structured interviews with questions to illuminate the impact of cancer treatment on social participation were completed and audio recorded. Data analysis was completed utilizing a phenomenological reduction method to determine emerging themes and significant statements. A description of the experience and its meaning were then developed from themes emerging from the perspective of the participants. The four major themes and sub themes resulting from this study were: 1. Change of Lifestyle a) Physical & Emotional Pain of Living b) School Re-entry--A Saving Grace; 2. Exploring New Occupations a) Adapting Occupations b) Awakening or Confirming Beliefs; 3. Reconnecting with Family a) Importance of Support b) A Kid Again. 4. Living with Cancer Isn't Easy a) Isolation b) Hidden Disability. The findings revealed lifestyle changes, which these adolescents needed to deal with in order to maintain a sense of routine and engagement in occupation. Changes in appearance, physical strength, and overall endurance impacted the participants' ability to engage in occupation(s) which often led to isolation among their peers. In spite of this, participants discovered new occupations that were less physically demanding but still fostered social participation with peers. The study of social participation for adolescents with cancer has implications for and can assist in developing client-centered interventions and simultaneously increase occupational therapy's understanding of these individuals during a transitional period of their lives.

Syftet med litteraturöversikten var att sammanställa och beskriva äldre personers erfarenheter av social delaktighet vid ensamhet och social isolering. Litteraturöversikten genomfördes med resultat från 13 st kvalitativa artiklar inhämtade från databaserna PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO och AMED. Författarna identifierade likheter och skillnader och dataanalysen resulterade i två teman; När det sociala livet förändras samt Att upprätthålla social delaktighet. Resultatet visar på att förluster i det sociala nätverket och sviktande hälsa påverkar äldre personers sociala delaktighet. Det framkommer även att aktiviteter som utförs i enskildhet eller tillsammans med andra var ett sätt att hantera förluster i det sociala nätverket. Vidare framkommer det att nära relationer samt att engagera sig i andra och göra aktiviteter tillsammans är viktiga för välmående och kan även fungera som stöd vid förändringar i livet. Slutsatsen i litteraturöversikten är att klientcentrering är av vikt för att främja till social delaktighet då äldre personer har olika behov och hanterar förändring på olika sätt. Vidare är det av vikt att utveckla interventioner med fokus på aktiviteter i sällskap med andra för att stödja social delaktighet för äldre personer. / The purpose of this literature review was to compile and describe older people's experiences of social participation in loneliness and social isolation. The literature review was performed with results from 13 qualitative articles obtained from the databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED. The authors identified similarities and differences and the data analysis resulted in two themes; When social life changes and To maintain social participation. The results show that losses in the social network and failing health influences older people’s social participation. It also appears that activities performed alone or together with others were a way of dealing with losses in the social network. Furthermore, it emerges that close relationships and doing activities for and with others are important for well-being and can also serve as support for changes in life. The conclusion of this literature review is that client centeredness is important for promoting social participation as older people have different needs and handle a changed life situation in different ways. Further, it is important to develop interventions with focus on activities in the company of others to support possibilities for social participation among older people.

No description available.

Taking a social design approach to aging, we relate earlier work in age-friendly communities, aging in place and social isolation to landscape design. Identifying the critical principles of social participation and how these needs can be met through landscape intervention, we formulate a set of criteria, through which the landscape architect can design healthy and sustainable communities for active, rural, older adults. We begin by breaking down some common social issues of modern-day older adults and conclude that to begin improving the lives of this sector of the population we must seek to reduce social isolation. Social participation chosen as the antithesis of isolation is then broken down into three main principles: autonomy, social opportunity and health. These main principles are developed into a set of physical design criteria to be implemented through the redevelopment of a historical school within the rural community of Pulaski, Virginia. Further discussing elements related to site-scale design, this project wraps up with the creation of a standard evaluation form, designed to give feedback for not only the current project, but those wishing to develop communities that encourage social participation among older adults. / Master of Landscape Architecture / Taking a social design approach to aging, we relate earlier work in age-friendly communities, aging in place and social isolation to landscape design. Identifying the critical principles of social participation and how these needs can be met through landscape intervention, we formulate a set of criteria, through which the landscape architect can design healthy and sustainable communities for active, rural, older adults. We begin by breaking down some common social issues of modern-day older adults and conclude that to begin improving the lives of this sector of the population we must seek to reduce social isolation. Social participation chosen as the antithesis of isolation is then broken down into three main principles: autonomy, social opportunity and health. These main principles are developed into a set of physical design criteria to be implemented through the redevelopment of a historical school within the rural community of Pulaski, Virginia. Further discussing elements related to site-scale design, this project wraps up with the creation of a standard evaluation form, designed to give feedback for not only the current project, but those wishing to develop communities that encourage social participation among older adults.

No description available.

No description available.

While there is wealth of quantitative research exploring interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), these studies insufficiently address how the Quality of Life (QOL) of children with ASD is impacted by interventions. Studies that explore social participation tend to address easily measurable aspects of socialization, but do not adequately address the quality of interactions. The challenges of raising a child with ASD are numerous. Alongside difficulties, parents report positive aspects of raising a child with ASD, which are underexplored in the literature. This study sought to better understand these issues by using a grounded theory method. Five parents of children with ASD were interviewed. Four major themes emerged. The theme of "Flow of life," described the interconnected experience of parents together with their children as they planned for the near and distant future and considered the QOL of their children. The second theme, "Circumstances," included challenges and positive experiences of families. "Helping the flow, joys" was the third theme, capturing situations that helped parents navigate around challenges. Finally, "Social participation" captured the experiences of everyday social activities and provided a sense of supports for families. The themes were integrated, using the framework of the Kawa model, which represents life experiences through the illustration of a river. The model was modified and additional components were added to accurately represent the experiences of families that emerged from this research and may be a useful tool for parents to explore the most meaningful and relevant interventions for their children with ASD. / Occupational Therapy

The primary purpose of this study was to identify and validate the components of a community recreation needs assessment framework that will accurately facilitate the leisure need data of community recreation clientele. The content of such a framework was generated by an investigation of those variables which: (1) restrain or prevent the use, or accurate use, of community recreation needs assessment, defined as restraining forces, and (2) enable or facilitate the use, or accurate use, of community recreation needs assessment, defined as enabling forces. Data collection consisted of a review of literature, in depth interviews, a postcard questionnaire, and a mailed survey. Following the analysis of respondent demographics and agency attitudes on community recreation needs assessment (CRNA), two analyses were performed to investigate the components of CRNA. The first analysis investigated the significance level of the enabling and restraining forces of the CRNA process. A t-test was run on all items for the total population, comparing the mean of each item to 2.5 which is a response of neutral. Following the t-test, a one-way analysis of variance was used to determine if any differences existed among the means of the three levels of community size for each of the variables. In the second analysis, a conceptual framework was developed to support further investigation into the mechanisms which result in meeting community needs. Based on an overall review of the literature, the enabling and restraining variables were organized into concepts, constructs, and items. Each concept and construct set was analyzed for internal consistency using Cronback's Alpha, item deleted, to produce a measure of reliability that denoted the strength of the relationships among the items of each set and allowed an assessment of the homogeneity of each set of items and constructs. An item to total score correlation of the Pearson Product Moment correlation, item deleted, was used to examine the relationship of each item to its own construct, each construct to its own concept, and each concept to the whole, and was also used to examine the relationship of each item to other constructs within its own concept, and the relationships of each construct to other concepts. Twenty-eight of 30 individuals responded to the survey questionnaire. Of the 92 restraining and enabling variables, 59 were found to be significantly greater than neutral, while none of the items were found to be significantly less than neutral. Significant differences were found to exist for seven variables at the .05 level for the three levels of community size. The analyses of the conceptual framework provided information detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the items, constructs, and concepts in relation to the reliability, validity, and relative appropriateness that each has to the CRNA process. / Ed. D. / incomplete_metadata

No / This case outlines the rationale and methods used when carrying out ethnographic fieldwork in a care home environment with research participants who were living with a dementia diagnosis. Although concerns had been raised at ethics approval about the use of such methods – visual ethnography in particular – we found that there were ethical benefits for the participants whose capacity for research participation, and for social participation generally, was, in every case, higher than anticipated at the outset. By comparison we found that formal methods for assessing ability to give informed consent often appeared to create excess disability, and to exacerbate ill-being for people with dementia. The case draws on specific examples to show how issues related to methods and to ethical conduct of research are frequently intertwined, and should be considered together rather than in isolation.

Yes / A community-based occupational therapy intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia and their family carers (Community Occupational Therapy in Dementia (COTiD)) was found clinically and cost effective in the Netherlands but not in Germany. This highlights the need to adapt and implement complex interventions to specific national contexts. The current trial aims to evaluate the United Kingdom-adapted occupational therapy intervention for people with mild to moderate dementia and their family carers living in the community (COTiD-UK) compared with treatment as usual. Methods/Design This study is a multi-centre, parallel-group, pragmatic randomised trial with internal pilot. We aim to allocate 480 pairs, with each pair comprising a person with mild to moderate dementia and a family carer, who provides at least 4 hours of practical support per week, at random between COTiD-UK and treatment as usual. We shall assess participants at baseline, 12 and 26 weeks, and by telephone at 52 and 78 weeks (first 40 % of recruits only) after randomisation. The primary outcome measure is the Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale (BADLS) at 26 weeks. Secondary outcome measures will include quality of life, mood, and resource use. To assess intervention delivery, and client experience, we shall collect qualitative data via audio recordings of COTiD-UK sessions and conduct semi-structured interviews with pairs and occupational therapists. Discussion COTiD-UK is an evidence-based person-centred intervention that reflects the current priority to enable people with dementia to remain in their own homes by improving their capabilities whilst reducing carer burden. If COTiD-UK is clinically and cost effective, this has major implications for the future delivery of dementia services across the UK. / This is independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research scheme (RP-PG-0610-10108). The VALID research team acknowledges the support of the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network. This research is sponsored by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT).