Perceived barriers to implementing occupation-based intervention / Percepção de barreiras para implementar intervenções baseadas em ocupação

Abstract Introduction Occupation-based intervention (OBI) is defined as an intervention using a clients' occupation and purposeful activities as a treatment medium to achieve the client's goals. Several barriers to practising OBI have been reported in previous studies. However, limited research has been done to identify these perceived barriers to applying OBI in Malaysia's various occupational therapy practice areas. Objective This study aimed to identify perceived barriers to applying OBI in Malaysia's three main occupational therapy practice areas including physical, psychiatry and paediatric. Method A cross-sectional study design was employed, and participants were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy. Data was collected using an online survey from a Delphi study. Results Two hundred ninety-eight Malaysian occupational therapists aged between 22 and 56 years old participated in this study. The study identified several perceived barriers from the client factors, the contextual factors, occupation as treatment modalities and logistical issues. A statistically significant difference was found in the perceived barriers of applying OBI between different areas of occupational therapy practice (p=.013), working experience (p=.003), and position of occupational therapists (p=.001). Conclusion This study suggests that perceived barriers to applying OBI were influenced by the area of practice, working experience and position of the occupational therapists. The results highlight the need to identify potential solutions to applying OBI through research and education.

Resumo Introdução Intervenção baseada na ocupação (OBI) é definida como uma intervenção usando a ocupação dos sujeitos e as atividades propostas como meio de tratamento, para atingir os objetivos dos sujeitos. Várias barreiras com relação à prática de OBI foram relatadas em estudos anteriores. No entanto, pesquisas limitadas foram feitas para identificar essas barreiras percebidas para a aplicação do OBI nas várias áreas de prática de terapia ocupacional na Malásia. Objetivo Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as barreiras percebidas para a aplicação do OBI nas três principais áreas de prática de terapia ocupacional na Malásia, incluindo áreas físicas, psiquiátricas e pediátricas. Método Um desenho de estudo transversal foi empregado e os participantes foram recrutados usando uma estratégia de amostragem intencional. Os dados foram coletados por meio de uma pesquisa online de um estudo Delphi. Resultados Duzentos e noventa e oito terapeutas ocupacionais malaios com idades entre 22 e 56 anos participaram deste estudo. O estudo identificou várias barreiras percebidas nos fatores contextuais das pessoas, na ocupação como modalidades de tratamento e nas questões logística. Uma diferença estatisticamente significativa foi encontrada nas barreiras percebidas da aplicação do OBI entre diferentes áreas da prática da terapia ocupacional (p = 0,013), experiência de trabalho (p = 0,003) e posição dos terapeutas ocupacionais (p = 0,001). Conclusão Este estudo sugere que as barreiras percebidas para a aplicação do OBI foram influenciadas pela área de prática, experiência de trabalho e posição dos terapeutas ocupacionais. Os resultados destacam a necessidade de identificar soluções potenciais para a aplicação do OBI por meio de pesquisa e educação.

Effects of touch-screen technology usage on the hand skills dataset.

This data article describes the hand skills of pre-school children between five and six years old from five schools under the Ministry of Education Malaysia. These data may be used in a journal article later to show the effects of touch-screen technology usage on hand skills of pre-school children. Demographic characteristics, hand skills ability and frequency of touch-screen technology usage data that was collected from August to September 2019. These data may be used in a future systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis to conclude the effects of touch-screen technology usage on children's hand skills. Parents, teachers and health practitioners may refer to these data to note the effects of touch-screen technology usage on hand skills of pre-school children.

The effects of touch-screen technology usage on hand skills among preschool children: a case-control study.

Background: Little is known on how time spent on touch-screen technology affects the hand skills development of preschool children. This study aimed to investigate the effects of touch-screen technology usage on hand skills among preschool children. Methods: Case-control design was employed to compare the hand skills of children who were engaged in touch-screen technology. A total of 128 participants aged between five and six years old who attended preschool were recruited and divided into two groups: high usage touch-screen technology (HUTSTG) and, low usage touch-screen technology (LUTSTG). Children's Hand Skills ability Questionnaire (CHSQ) and Assessment of Children's Hand Skills (ACHS) were used to evaluate the children's hand skills. Results: There were significant differences in the hand skills of preschool children between HUTSTG and LUTSTG. Results showed that preschool children in LUTSTG had better hand skills in all domains of CHSQ (p≤0.001) and ACHS (p<0.001) as compared to HUTSTG. Conclusion: Frequent use of touch-screen technology might cause disadvantages to the development of hand skills among preschool children.