The European Cooperation in Occupational Therapy Research and Occupational Science (ECOTROS) aims to bring together occupational therapists interested in research in order to promote and facilitate international cooperation. In 2005/06, a survey was undertaken to identify the occupational therapists and institutions that were undertaking research in each country in Europe and to discover the topic, range and type of research. Responses to questionnaires were obtained from 113 individuals and information was given about 143 studies being undertaken within 7 countries. The results of the survey state the academic qualifications, work areas and research topics of the participants; the professions of the supervisors; and the sources of the funding.
Abstract for World Physiotherapy Congress 2021Title Ethical Considerations of Using Machine Learning for Decision Support in Occupational Physical Therapy: a narrative literature study and ethical deliberation. Authors Marianne W. M. C. Six Dijkstra1,4,7 · Egbert Siebrand2 · Steven Dorrestijn2 · Etto L. Salomons3 ·Michiel F. Reneman4 · Frits G. J. Oosterveld1 · Remko Soer1,5 · Douglas P. Gross6 · Hendrik J. Bieleman1 Presenter and contactName: Marianne W. M. C. Six DijkstraEmail: w.m.c.sixdijkstra@saxion.nlAdres: School of Health, Saxion University of Applied Sciences/AGZ, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7500 KB, Enschede, The NetherlandsTel: +31(0)612379329 1 School of Health, Saxion University of AppliedSciences, Enschede, The Netherlands2 Research Group Ethics & Technology, Saxion Universityof Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands3 School of Ambient Intelligence, Saxion Universityof Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands4 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University MedicalCenter Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen,The Netherlands5 University Medical Center Groningen, Pain Centre,University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands6 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta,Edmonton, Canada7 University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Funding This study was funded by Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (023.011.076) and Saxion University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. The funding source had no involvementin study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation, in the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.Ethical approvalThis study is part of a PhD project entitled “Development of a Decision Support System – Artificial Intelligence advices for Sustainable Employability”. The Ethics Board at the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands decided that formal approval of the study was not necessary because all workers were subjected to care as usual only.AbstractBackground Computer algorithms and Machine Learning (ML) will be integrated into clinical decision support within physical therapy. This will change the interaction between therapists and their clients, with unknown consequences.Purpose The aim of this study was to explore ethical considerations and potential consequences of using ML based decision support tools (DSTs). We used an example in the context of occupational physical therapy.Methods We conducted an ethical deliberation. This was supported by a narrative literature review of publications about ML and DSTs in occupational health and by an assessment of the potential impact of ML-DSTs according to frameworks from medical ethics and philosophy of technology. We introduce a hypothetical clinical scenario in occupational physical therapy to reflect on biomedical ethical principles: respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. The reflection was guided by the Product Impact Tool.
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is effective for trauma-related nightmares and is also a challenge to patients in finding access to their traumatic memories, because these are saved in non-verbal, visual, or audiovisual language. Art therapy (AT) is an experiential treatment that addresses images rather than words. This study investigates the possibility of an IRT-AT combination. Systematic literature review and field research was conducted, and the integration of theoretical and practice-based knowledge resulted in a framework for Imagery Rehearsal-based Art Therapy (IR-AT). The added value of AT in IRT appears to be more readily gaining access to traumatic experiences, living through feelings, and breaking through avoidance. Exposure and re-scripting take place more indirectly, experientially and sometimes in a playlike manner using art assignments and materials. In the artwork, imagination, play and fantasy offer creative space to stop the vicious circle of nightmares by changing theme, story line, ending, or any part of the dream into a more positive and acceptable one. IR-AT emerges as a promising method for treatment, and could be especially useful for patients who benefit least from verbal exposure techniques. This description of IR-AT offers a base for further research.
Dutch society faces major future challenges putting populations’ health and wellbeing at risk. An ageing population, increase of chronic diseases, multimorbidity and loneliness lead to more complex healthcare demands and needs and costs are increasing rapidly. Urban areas like Amsterdam have to meet specific challenges of a growing and super divers population often with a migration background. The bachelor programs and the relating research groups of social work and occupational therapy at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences innovate their curricula and practice-oriented research by multidisciplinary and cross-domain approaches. Their Centres of Expertise foster interprofessional research and educational innovation on the topics of healthy ageing, participation, daily occupations, positive health, proximity, community connectedness and urban innovation in a social context. By focusing on senior citizens’ lives and by organizing care in peoples own living environment. Together with their networks, this project aims to develop an innovative health promotion program and contribute to the government missions to promote a healthy and inclusive society. Collaboration with stakeholders in practice based on their urgent needs has priority in the context of increasing responsibilities of local governments and communities. Moreover, the government has recently defined social base as being the combination of citizen initiatives, volunteer organizations , caregivers support, professional organizations and support of vulnerable groups. Kraktie Foundations is a community based ethno-cultural organization in south east Amsterdam that seeks to research and expand their informal services to connect with and build with professional care organizations. Their aim coincides with this project proposal: promoting health and wellbeing of senior citizens by combining intervention, participatory research and educational perspectives from social work, occupational therapy and hidden voluntary social work. With a boundary crossing innovation of participatory health research, education and Kraktie’s work in the community we co-create, change and innovate towards sustainable interventions with impact.
