Addressing clients' sexual health in occupational therapy practice.

BACKGROUND.: Sexuality is an important dimension of one's health and well-being. Studies show that occupational therapists regard clients' sexual health as a legitimate domain of practice but do not adequately address it in their clinical work. PURPOSE.: This study aims to describe occupational therapists' perspectives regarding clients' sexual health. METHOD.: This exploratory study surveyed Canadian occupational therapists using an online questionnaire that collected information on beliefs, knowledge, comfort, barriers, and facilitators with regard to addressing sexuality. Descriptive analysis was conducted on questionnaire data, and content analysis was used to organize respondents' comments. FINDINGS.: While most respondents believed that addressing sexuality was within their scope, few actually did so in practice. Participants reported comfort with sexuality but identified lack of knowledge as a barrier to addressing clients' sexual health. IMPLICATIONS.: This study provided a greater understanding of factors that require consideration for occupational therapists to effectively meet clients' sexual health needs.

Factors related to participation in paid work after organ transplantation: perceptions of kidney transplant recipients.

PURPOSE: Following kidney transplantation, recipients often have difficulty returning to meaningful occupations, including paid employment. The purpose of the current study was to describe the sociodemographic profile of kidney transplant recipients at a major Canadian Transplant Centre and to identify factors perceived to affect participation in paid work post-transplant. METHODS: Of the 530 kidney recipients who had received a kidney transplant at our facility between 2003 and 2008, 144 recipients were randomly selected, and mailed a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 60 returned questionnaires (41.7 % response rate). The average age of responders was 49.4 years and the majority were male (68.3 %). While the rate of employment decreased significantly (p = 0.00) from 68.3 % pre- to 38.3 % post-transplant, retirement rates increased significantly (p = 0.00) from 8.3 % pre- to 18.3 % post-transplant. The responders, who were not working post-transplant, more likely lived alone (p = 0.05), had a lower level of education (p = 0.02), and had lower perceived emotional (p = 0.00) and physical (p = 0.00) health status compared to those who returned to work post-transplant. Gender, donor type, age, and post-transplant complications did not differ (p > 0.05) between the working and not working groups. Both person- and work-related factors impacted on return to paid work post-transplant. Most responders (working and not working) reported feeling emotionally and physically ready to work after their transplant. Work-related enablers included positive employer attitude towards medical history and employer agreement that recipients could take time off for medical appointments. Of those returning to work, the nature of their jobs changed from heavy physical demands to sedentary work. There was a 20.0 % increase in reliance on government disability insurance post-transplant. Responders recommended the development of a rehabilitation program focused on working and consulting with transplant recipients' employers to further enable successful reintegration into the workplace after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to return to paid work after kidney transplant is a complex phenomenon, likely impacted by a combination of person- and work-related factors, which contributed to how individuals perceived their abilities to attain or return to paid work. It is important that in facilitating renal transplant recipients to resume valued life occupations such as paid work, the dynamic interactions between personals values, perception of one's abilities, skills, job requirements and employer characteristics be considered.

Physiotherapists' perceptions of and experiences with the discharge planning process in acute-care general internal medicine units in ontario.

PURPOSE: To examine discharge planning of patients in general internal medicine units in Ontario acute-care hospitals from the perspective of physiotherapists. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire was sent to participants in November 2011. Respondents' demographic characteristics and ranking of factors were analyzed using descriptive statistics; t-tests were performed to determine between-group differences (based on demographic characteristics). Responses to open-ended questions were coded to identify themes. RESULTS: Mobility status was identified as the key factor in determining discharge readiness; other factors included the availability of social support and community resources. While inter-professional communication was identified as important, processes were often informal. Discharge policies, timely availability of other discharge options, and pressure for early discharge were identified as affecting discharge planning. Respondents also noted a lack of training in discharge planning; accounts of ethical dilemmas experienced by respondents supported these themes. CONCLUSIONS: Physiotherapists consider many factors beyond the patient's physical function during the discharge planning process. The improvement of team communication and resource allocation should be considered to deal with the realities of discharge planning.

Objectif : Étudier la préparation du départ des patients dans les unités de médecine interne générale des hôpitaux de soins actifs de l'Ontario du point de vue des physiothérapeutes. Méthodes : Une étude transversale portant sur l'utilisation d'un questionnaire en ligne a été envoyée aux participants en novembre 2011. Les caractéristiques démographiques des répondants et le classement des facteurs ont été analysés par statistique descriptive et l'on a procédé à des tests-t pour déterminer les différences entre groupes (compte tenu des caractéristiques démographiques). On a codé les réponses aux questions ouvertes de façon à dégager des thèmes. Résultats : La mobilité était considérée comme le principal facteur de la détermination de la préparation au départ. Les autres facteurs ont inclus la disponibilité des moyens de soutien social et des ressources communautaires. La communication entre les professions a été jugée importante, mais les processus étaient souvent informels. Les politiques sur le départ, la disponibilité au moment opportun d'autres options sur le plan du départ et les pressions exercées en faveur du départ hâtif ont une incidence sur la planification du départ. Les répondants ont aussi signalé un manque de formation en planification des départs et des anecdotes portant sur les dilemmes éthiques vécus par les répondants ont appuyé ces thèmes. Conclusions : Les physiothérapeutes tiennent compte de nombreux facteurs en plus de la fonction physique du patient au cours du processus de planification du départ. Il faudrait envisager d'améliorer la communication et la répartition des ressources au sein de l'équipe pour faire face aux réalités de la planification des départs.

Work-related injuries in Canadian occupational therapy practice.

BACKGROUND: No studies investigate work-related injuries experienced by Canadian occupational therapists. PURPOSE: To identify the nature and prevalence of work-related injuries, impact of practice context, cultural and structural factors that influence response to these injuries, and strategies used to manage return-to-work after injury. METHODS: Members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists were sent an electronic survey in June 2009. FINDINGS: Over half of the 600 respondents reported at least one injury episode. Patient-handling and equipment-related incidents accounted for the largest proportion of injuries. Almost one-third of respondents reported being threatened at work or experiencing workplace violence. IMPLICATIONS: Injured occupational therapists tended to minimize the extent and impact of their injuries by underreporting incidents and continuing to work after injury. These behaviours may contribute to a failure to recognize the reality of work-related injuries in occupational therapy practice and thereby limit the development of profession-specific, risk-minimization strategies.