The diversity of ethnic and cultural groups and the effects of language in the therapeutic relationship are timely professional issues of concern to occupational therapy practitioners. The tri-ethnic, tri-cultural South Florida area offers a natural environment where one can study how patient-therapist interactions are influenced by language barriers in a diverse society. This study examines the effects of language on the adequacy of occupational therapy services, specifically how language affects the length of the treatment program. The nature of diagnosis therapists' ethnicity, and how they impact treatment outcomes are also addressed. A sample was drawn from the occupational therapy outpatient department of a large county hospital. Data taken from patients' charts examined race, sex, age, diagnosis, and language. Number of treatment sessions and length of treatment were viewed as proxy measures for adequacy. Findings indicate that the effect of language cannot be understood aside from ethnicity. Implications for occupational therapy practice are discussed.

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No description available.

No description available.

Fieldwork education is a critical component in occupational therapy education, aiding in the transition from classroom learning to practical application. It has been cited recently that therapists have expressed concern regarding student preparedness for fieldwork in a hand therapy setting. Hand therapy is a specialty practice area where historically students with a strong foundation in anatomy and prior exposure to hand therapy practice may seek this type of fieldwork. However, hand therapists have reported a lack of student preparedness as a potential barrier for supervising in that setting (Short et al., 2018). To account for these concerns, HandsIn is a program created to assist students in increasing their knowledge, confidence, and level of preparedness prior to a hand therapy fieldwork placement. HandsIn is a free, digital, asynchronous supplemental educational program to allow students of any geographic or financial situation to participate. The program itself will consist of five learning modules: 1. Anatomy, 2. Diagnosis, 3. Treatments, 4. Orthotics and 5. Case Studies. The planning and selection of information is assessed via needs assessment to therapists and educators to identify what students are being taught and what is expected of them. HandsIn has been developed with the consideration of educators, fieldwork supervisors, and ACOTE standards. Ongoing program evaluation will continue to enhance content and usability to meet entry-level expectations and best clinical practice.

<p> This dissertation focused on the impact of aphasia on social inclusion in LTC facilities. Data were gathered and examined using a qualitative research methodology. This research design used several data collection procedures including participant observation, ethnographic interviews, videotaped conversations, and artifact analysis. These procedures preserved the authenticity of the data and allowed for thick description of social interaction as it unfolded in real-time. The results of these data were examined using categorization of the context and culture of each environment, community-based strategies used during social interactions, and the linguistic and interactive devices used during conversational interactions. The views, reactions, and affective reactions of IWA were also explored and discussed. Patterns emerged from the data that revealed the types of strategies that IWA employed to overcome contextual barriers within the nursing home environment. This study uncovered the importance of considering the contextual makeup of nursing homes when examining IWA and the value in exploring the on-line behaviors and strategies that are implemented by IWA as they negotiate social action within these contexts. This study has important implications regarding the value of qualitative research paradigms in investigating social access and inclusion in IWA in LTC settings and exploring the complex interdependent and synergistic relationship of language and its situated context.</p>

Shame in the Therapy Hour: Recognizing, Managing, and Transforming Our Darkest Emotion / June Tangney, Ph.D. / George Mason University / Saturday, March 26, 2016, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / Location: Kiva Theater, University of Arizona Student Union / Although clinicians often use the terms “shame” and “guilt” interchangeably, ample research indicates that these are distinct emotions with very different implications for motivation and behavior (Tangney, et al., 2007). This workshop summarizes research on the phenomenology of shame and guilt (Wicker, et al., 1983; Tangney, et al., 1996), as well as clinically relevant empirical work demonstrating a link between shame and denial, defensiveness, and aggression (e.g., Stuewig, et al., 2010). Although ubiquitous in clinical settings, shame is a silent emotion. Clients rarely announce that they feel shame. Participants will become familiar with empirically validated verbal and non-verbal markers of shame (Keltner, 1995). Strategies for responding to, managing, and transforming or resolving client shame will be discussed, drawing on a handful of explicitly shame-focused therapies with empirical support (Gilbert, 2014; Rizvi & Linehan, 2005), augmented by observations of “master clinicians” presented in a recent edited volume on Shame in the Therapy Hour (Dearing & Tangney, 2011). The workshop will close with a consideration of therapists’ shame, as well as shame in supervisor-supervisee relationships.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Therapy.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy [Physical Therapy].

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy [Physical Therapy].