Introduction to the Special Issue on Substance Use and Occupational Therapy.

Readers of this journal are undoubtedly already aware that substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant public health problem. More than 2% of the world population is living with a substance abuse disorder, and 1.4% of the global burden of disease is attributable to alcohol and illicit drug use. What readers may have had less opportunity to consider is that occupational therapists are an underutilized resource in our response to the substance use disorder crisis, and that occupational therapy researchers can provide key insights into the nature of substance use in individuals' lives and in our communities. That is the focus of this special issue.

Vision Therapy Interventions to Support Occupational Performance for People With Traumatic Brain Injury With Visual Symptoms (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of interventions that address visual impairments and visual perception to improve occupational performance for adults with traumatic brain injury.

Binasal Occlusion Intervention to Support Occupational Performance for People With Traumatic Brain Injury With Visual Symptoms (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of binasal occlusion interventions that address visual impairments and visual perception to improve occupational performance for adults with traumatic brain injury.

Vestibulo-Ocular Interventions to Support Occupational Performance for People With Traumatic Brain Injury With Visual Symptoms (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of vestibulo-ocular interventions that address visual impairments and visual perception to improve occupational performance for adults with traumatic brain injury.

Filter Interventions to Support Occupational Performance for People With Traumatic Brain Injury With Visual Symptoms (June 2013-October 2020).

Systematic Review Briefs provide a summary of the findings from systematic reviews developed in conjunction with the American Occupational Therapy Association's Evidence-Based Practice Program. Each Systematic Review Brief summarizes the evidence on a theme related to a systematic review topic. This Systematic Review Brief presents findings from the systematic review on the effectiveness of filter interventions that address visual impairments and visual perception to improve occupational performance for adults with traumatic brain injury.

Validation of a new bedside echoscopic heart examination resulting in an improvement in echo-lab workflow.

BACKGROUND: In daily cardiology practice, porters are usually required to transfer inpatients who need an echocardiogram to the echocardiographic department (echo-lab). AIMS: To assess echo-lab personnel workflow and patient transfer delay by comparing the use of a new, ultraportable, echoscopic, pocket-sized device at the bedside with patient transfer to the echo-lab for conventional transthoracic echocardiography, in patients needing pericardial control after cardiac invasive procedures. METHODS: After validation of echoscopic capabilities for pericardial effusion, left ventricular function and mitral regurgitation grade compared with conventional echocardiography, we evaluated echo-lab personnel workflow and time to perform bedside echoscopy for pericardial control evaluation after invasive cardiac procedures. This strategy was compared with conventional evaluation at the echo-lab, in terms of personnel workflow, and patients' transfer, waiting and examination times. RESULTS: Concordance between echoscopy and conventional echocardiography for evaluation of pericardial effusion was good (0.97; kappa value 0.86). For left ventricular systolic function and mitral regurgitation evaluations, concordances were 0.96 (kappa value 0.90) and 0.96 (kappa value 0.86), respectively. In the second part of the study, the mean total time required in the bedside echoscopy group was 20.3±5.4 mins vs. 66.0±16.4 mins in the conventional echo-lab group (p<0.001). The echo-lab strategy needed porters in 100% of cases; 69% of patients needed a wheelchair. CONCLUSION: The use of miniaturized echoscopic tools for pericardial control after invasive cardiac procedures was feasible and accurate, allowing improvement in echo-lab workflow and avoiding patient waiting time and transfer.