The purpose of this study compared the emotional closeness of 56 mothers of sons with autism to 57 mothers of typically-developing sons.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display deficits in communication and social interaction that can impact their ability to function in daily environments. To remediate these deficits, it is critical for professionals to use effective interventions. While there are many evidence-based practices (EBPs) identified for ASD (e.g., video modeling), the adoption of these EBPs may not occur automatically. Existing research suggests professionals have a generally favorable impression of video modeling. However, little research has examined opinions and applied use of video modeling, which was the purpose of the present study. Using survey methodology, data were collected from 510 professionals in various disciplines (e.g., special educators, speech-language pathologists [SLPs], and behavior analysts [BCBAs]). Data were analyzed primarily via factor analysis and multiple regression. Factor analysis was used to examine the underlying structure of the instrument, revealing two predominant factors: (1) interest in and (2) perceived accessibility of video modeling. Multiple regression was used to examine which demographic characteristics (e.g., age and years of experience) were associated with each factor. Results indicated that BCBAs and SLPs perceived video modeling as more accessible. In terms of interest, professionals who worked with preschool-aged students, who worked in a suburban location, and who had an extended family member with ASD showed higher interest in video modeling. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Health Sciences)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Rehabilitation programmes for PLWSCI aim to give them as much independence as possible and perfect integration at a later stage. Proper rehabilitation involves effective community integration of a person with the SCI. Rehabilitation and community integration are key to return the person with an SCI to play his/her role in the community as an effective, independent, and important person. Globally, PLWSCI are facing numerous barriers and limitations, especially in rural areas, where rehabilitation resources are limited. There is a dearth of rehabilitation centres in the Limpopo Province, which might impact negatively on the rehabilitation and community integration outcomes for PLWSCI in this region. The absence of rehabilitation centres in this province point to the need for the development of extra skills for the professionals who work in the rehabilitation team in this Province. Aim and Objectives The overall aim of this study was to develop a rehabilitation programme to enhance community reintegration for PLWSCI in rural areas of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methodology This study used a convergent parallel mixed method design in phase 1. A mixed methodology approach consists of a set of designs and procedures in which both quantitative and qualitative data are collected, analysed, and mixed in a single study. Quantitative data were generated and collected regarding the rehabilitation and community integration challenges of PLWSCI using the Spinal Cord Injury Community Reintegration Measure (SCICRM) tool. Qualitative data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs). In phase 2 of the study, the Delphi study design was utilised and conducted as a forecasting method based on the results of phase 1. vi Results Quantitative results show that 37% of the respondents were fully reintegrated. Moderate reintegration was above average (54.4%), while 5.7% were minimally integrated, and 3.9% failed to reintegrate into their communities. The rehabilitation teams’ home visits were further rated as “never happened” (51%) and “rarely happened” (14.3%). Patients who received a home visit from their rehabilitation team were more likely to fully reintegrate into their community, in this case, 75%. Of those who did not receive any home visits, only 39% managed to fully reintegrate into their communities. The qualitative findings, which is based on information-rich interviews with participants, indicated an urgent need for the implementation of a rehabilitation programme to enhance a successful and better community reintegration for PLWSCI. The qualitative results also highlighted the importance of home visits and following up on the patients after they have returned to their communities. The qualitative findings were presented according to six themes that were also divided into several sub-themes. In phase 2 of this study, experts agreed that the rehabilitation programme to enhance community integration for people with SCIs in the Limpopo Province should include the identification of the rehabilitation team, distribution of powers between the team members, documentation and referral letters, mobility, assistive devices, sub-acute rehabilitation tasks, home programmes, and the outcome of the successful rehabilitation. Conclusion Rehabilitation is the bridge between the SCI and successful community integration. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme implemented by a multidisciplinary team should enhance the successful reintegration of PLWSCI.

張時飛. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2001. / 參考文獻 (p. 338-366) / 中英文摘要. / Available also through the Internet via Dissertations & theses @ Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Zhang Shifei. / Lun wen (Zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2001. / Can kao wen xian (p. 338-366) / Zhong Ying wen zhai yao.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Stroke is the main cause of disability in the United States. Individuals with stroke commonly report sensory impairment affects their recovery. Motor recovery and sensory impairment are related and impact individuals’ ability to perform valued occupations. Despite the prevalence of sensation impairment after stroke, many occupational therapists fail to include sensation assessment and intervention in treatment planning. The exclusion of sensation in occupational therapy interventions during stroke rehabilitation may be due to the lack of literature supporting the association between sensation and occupational performance. The current study aimed to determine the relationship between touch sensation of the affected hand and occupational performance and satisfaction in individuals with chronic stroke. Using a cross-sectional study design, this study associated factors related to hand sensation and function in individuals with chronic stroke. Fifty individuals with chronic stroke participated in a one-time testing session in which assessments related to sensation, movement of the hand and engagement in daily activities were administered. Correlation analyses were utilized to determine relationships between touch sensation of the affected hand with individuals’ abilities to engage in valued daily activities, arm and hand disability, and manual abilities. The main finding of the study was that individuals with intact sensation reported greater ability to perform valued occupations and satisfaction with their performance, as compared with individuals with touch sensation impairment. For individuals with impaired touch sensation of the affected hand, impairment of touch sensation of the hand did not correlate with individuals’ performance or satisfaction with valued occupations, arm or hand movement, or manual abilities. Collectively, the results of this study reflect the complex interaction between touch sensation, occupational performance, motor functioning, and manual abilities of the affected hand for individuals’ who have experienced a stroke. This study informs therapists, rehabilitation scientists, and other healthcare professionals that client-centered, individualized approaches, including a wide array of clinical assessments and intervention, including assessment of occupational performance and sensation, remain important components in stroke rehabilitation.

A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research study was conducted to establish the effect of reinforcement of information in phase II cardiac rehabilitation of myocardial infarction patients. Its aim was to determine the sufficiency of patient education during hospitalisation and the necessity for reinforcing information during follow-up sessions after the patient's discharge from hospital. Patients from two private hospitals in Gauteng were involved in the study. A quasi-experimental research design, namely the comparison group posttest-only design, was implemented with no random assignment of subjects to the experimental and control groups. A convenient non-probability sampling method was used and data was collected by means of questionnaires. The data analysis revealed that patients received sufficient education during hospitalisation, but that discharged patients still believed follow-up sessions to be a necessity. No significant difference was found in the knowledge levels of the experimental and control groups. / 'n Kwantitatiewe, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele studie is uitgevoer om ondersoek in te stel na die effek van inligtingversterking in Fase II kardialerehabilitasie van miokardiale-infarksie-pasiente. Hiermee wou die navorser bepaal of pasientonderrig in die hospitaal voldoende was, en of die opvolging van pasiente na ontslag uit twee privaat hospitale in Gauteng noodsaaklik was om inligting te versterk. Vir die implementering van die studie is van 'n kwasi-eksperimentele navorsingsontwerp, naamlik die tweegroep-posttoets-ontwerp, gebruik gemaak. Respondente is nie ewekansig aan 'n eksperimentele en 'n kontrolegroep toegewys nie. 'n Nie-waarskynlike gerieflikheidsteekproeftrekking is gedoen, en data is ingesamel deur middel van die voltooiing van 'n vraelys. Die data-analise het getoon dat die pasientonderrig in die hospitaal voldoende was, maar dat pasiente steeds van mening was dat opvolging na ontslag noodsaaklik is. Geen beduidende verskil is gevind in die kennisvlakke van die eksperimentele en die kontrolegroep nie. / Health Sciences / M.A. (Nursing)

This research study consisted of an examination of the role played by the educational psychologist in the emotional and social rehabilitation of the TBI adolescent. A survey of the literature reveals that traumatic brain injury during adolescence negatively impacts on their adaptation, development and functioning after the acute phase of the rehabilitation process. In order to study this phenomenon, a psycho-educational perspective was utilised. An in-depth qualitative study was undertaken by means of a case study design. The two cases being presented offers the reader insight into the cases pre-morbid functioning, the accident and its aftermath, the specific traumatic brain injuries, the emotional and social problems encountered by these adolescents as well as the psychotherapeutic interventions applied by the educational psychologist in the rehabilitation process of the cases under investigation. The conclusions reached from this investigation were that traumatic brain injury during the developmental phase of adolescence, negatively impacts on the emotional and social well being of these adolescents, and that the educational psychologist plays a valuable role in the emotional and social rehabilitation of these adolescents. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The purpose of this study was to describe the factors contributing to high default of DOTS implementation in the Kwaebibrim district of Ghana. A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted to determine personal, health service, community and treatment factors contributing to high default of DOTS implementation in the district. Data collection was done using a structured questionnaire. Purposive sampling was done. The sample comprised of one hundred and thirty TB patients who were on DOTS implementation at the district chest clinic. The study highlighted TB patients’ knowledge about TB, socio-economic characteristics, organisation of care as well as community perceptions about the disease. The findings revealed that default to treatment is a complex behavioural issue involving multiple factors, an interaction of personal, social and health care factors as well as side effects of medication and duration of treatment. It is therefore recommended that interventions to prevent default of DOTS implementation should be designed with these factors in mind.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been rapidly on the ascendency in the recent years globally due to its co-infection with HIV/AIDS. TB case finding is one of the technical pillars of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) TB strategy and there has been advocacy for early TB case detection to be the new focus of TB control efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to assess the determinants of TB case finding among pulmonary TB patients registered for treatment in Makana Municipality METHOD: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study among PTB patients registered for treatment at the primary health care clinics in Makana Municipality was done. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires while sampling was by systematic sampling of PTB patients at five systematically selected clinics. RESULTS: Patient–related delay contributed more to total delay, in this study sample, than health system-related delay. Health system delay was found to be significantly associated with poorer finances, passive smoking history, seeking care from multiple health providers, initially visiting a non- NTCP health provider, TB stigma , overcrowding in the household and having difficulty with breathing as an initial symptom (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay in TB case finding among PTB patients in this local municipality and patient related determinants contributed more than health system related determinants to this delay. There is need for the municipal TB programme to embark on an aggressive health education programme to furnish the populace with accurate information about TB, improve their health seeking behaviour and help address the issue of stigma associated with TB. / Health Studies

The purpose of this study was to develop a medico-judicial framework for the rehabilitation of forensic psychiatric patients in Zimbabwe. The study used the grounded theory approach utilising a mixed sequential dominant status design. Purposive sampling of key stakeholders was the primary method and theoretical sampling became necessary as the study evolved in the qualitative phase. A confirmatory retrospective document review of 119 files of patients was done in the quantitative phase. Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptual canon of field, habitus and capital was utilised as the theoretical point of departure for the study. Findings and results showed dislocation and dissonance between and within the habitus of social fields the judiciary, health (medical) and the prison systems with an ensuing hysteretic effect that negatively affected the outcome of forensic psychiatric rehabilitation in special institutions in Zimbabwe. Forensic psychiatric patients were caught up in a double bind situation of aligning to both of the contradictory functions of the medical and the prison systems. The result of this hysteretic scenario seemed to breed some kind of rehabilitative schizophrenia. The developed medico-judicial framework is projected to transform the libido dominandi of the present into a widened scope of therapeutic jurisprudence. The medico-judicial framework is forwarding the forensic psychiatric practitioner to a new address since it has changed its residence from the special institution to the forensic psychiatric hospital. It is inviting the person involved with forensic psychiatric rehabilitation to begin again, inciting him or her to be open to the possibilities of mapping a path through the tangled growth of current realities into an increased width and depth of comprehensive forensic psychiatric practice that follows an empowering legislative prescript / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)