Browsing by Person "Kantartzis, Sarah"

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A teachable moment for the teachable moment? A prospective study to evaluate delivery of a workshop designed to increase knowledge and skills in relation to alcohol brief interventions (ABIs) amongst final year nursing and occupational therapy undergraduates
(2016-09) O'May, Fiona; Gill, Jan; McWhirter, Eleanor; Kantartzis, Sarah; Rees, C.; Murray, K.
The perceived value of Alcohol Brief Interventions as a tool to address alcohol misuse in Scotland has supported the establishment of a Health Improvement, Efficiency, Access and Treatment, HEAT: H4 Standard to deliver ABIs within certain health care settings. This requires that nursing, medical and allied health professionals are appropriately skilled to deliver these interventions. This study explores the knowledge and attitudes regarding alcohol misuse and related interventions among two cohorts of final year nursing and occupational therapy undergraduate students before, during and following participation in a workshop devoted to ABI delivery. While relatively good knowledge around recommended limits for daily consumption was evident, this did not translate into competence relating to drink unit content. Although there was overwhelming agreement for the role of each profession in ABI delivery, less than half of students in each cohort at the outset of the workshop agreed that they had the appropriate knowledge to advise patients about responsible drinking. In both cohorts, at the three month follow-up stage, this percentage had almost doubled. Newly qualified practitioners perceived a wider role for motivational interviewing, and endorsed interactive delivery of alcohol education throughout all levels of the curriculum.
A Vision for Occupational Therapy in the 21st Century: Outcomes from a Scottish Think Tank
(2014) Renton, Linda; Kantartzis, Sarah; McMillan, Ian R.; Hunter, Heather; Ballantyne, Elaine
Building Age-Inclusive Communities
(Elsevier, 2024-01-01) Rudman, Debbie Laliberte; Perkinson, Margaret A.; Kantartzis, Sarah; McGrath, Colleen; Womack, Jenny; Barney, Karen Frank; Perkinson, Margaret A.; Rudman, Debbie Laliberte
Age-inclusive communities are broadly defined as communities that enable the participation of all members across the age spectrum. Given the centrality of occupation within age-inclusive communities, it is vital that occupational therapists are part of ongoing intersectoral and interdisciplinary efforts to build such communities and do so in partnership with older adults. Two broad models that address key contextual elements central in building age-inclusive communities are presented in this chapter, including the widely used World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Framework (WHO, 2007) and a more recent critically informed Model of Social Exclusion proposed by Walsh et al. (2017). In addition, the chapter draws on contributions from various occupational therapy scholars who provide examples of concepts and processes that can inform occupational therapy practice aimed at contributing to age-inclusive communities, pointing to diverse possibilities and the centrality of collaboration with older adults and community stakeholders. © 2025 Elsevier Inc., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Can we talk about it? A qualitative study exploring occupational therapists’ decision making in judging when to ask an older person about drinking alcohol
(Cambridge University Press, 2020-08-03) Maclean, Fiona; Dewing, Jan; Kantartzis, Sarah; Breckenridge, Jenna; McCormack, Brendan
Older people now currently drink alcohol more frequently than previous generations, indicating a need to understand how this influences health and wellbeing in older adults. However, knowledge and awareness of the changing role alcohol plays in the lives of older people is not necessarily widely understood by allied health professionals in acute hospital contexts. In turn, conversations about drinking alcohol in later life may not be routinely addressed as part of practice, limiting an older person's choice to make informed decisions about their drinking. This paper qualitatively examines when occupational therapists (N = 17) in an acute hospital setting will initiate a conversation with older people (65+ years) about their drinking, guided by a theoretical lens that encompasses both person-centredness and collective occupation. Adopting a qualitative methodology, this study illustrates a typology of reasoning describing how, and in what circumstances, therapists ask older people about their alcohol use. Three themes were generated that provide further insight into the typology, these being ‘hesitancy in practice’, ‘failure to link life transitions to alcohol use’ and ‘challenges of focusing on healthfulness’. These findings provide a potentially useful tool for therapists, services and organisations to self-assess their approach to asking older people about alcohol use; a necessary element of professional health-care practice as social trends in alcohol use continue to increase.
Case studies for Social Transformation through Occupation
(European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education, 2020-04-30) Van Bruggen, Hanneke; Craig, Claire; Kantartzis, Sarah; Laliberte Rudman, Debbie; Piskur, Barbara; Pollard, Nick; Schiller, Sandra; Simó, Salvador
Collective Occupation in Public Spaces and the Construction of the Social Fabric
(Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, 2017-06-01) Kantartzis, Sarah; Molineux, Matthew
Background. Contemporary research is expanding understandings occupation beyond that of the individual's doing, including the shared and social nature of occupation and the concept of collective occupation has been introduced. Purpose. A study aimed to explicate the concept of occupation in a Greek town Method. Ethnographic methodology was used and primary data included observation, participation and informal interviews. Analysis involved a hermeneutic process to develop a narrative of occupation in the town, including action, setting and plots. Findings. Occupation, a dynamic and multidimensional process, served to maintain the self, family and social fabric, and balance between and within them. Collective occupation maintained the social fabric through three forms: informal daily encounters in public spaces; organisation and associations; celebration and commemoration. Implications. Occupational therapists may consider engaging with the potential power of such collective occupation when working towards social change to enable just and inclusive societies.
Competences for Poverty Reduction
(Education, Audiovisual & Culture Executive Agency., 2010) Van Bruggen, H.; Kantartzis, Sarah; Rowan, S.
The Public Part of this report is aimed at lecturers, students, practitioners as well as policy makers in the health, social and educational sector, who are working with disadvantaged groups and is intended for widespread dissemination. Following the decision on dedication 2010 to the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, the Commissioner Vladim_r pidla said: Europe is one of the richest regions in the world and yet 78 million people live at risk of poverty. This is completely unacceptable.- This COPORE (Competences for Poverty Reduction) consortium of 14 Health, Education and Social Sciences networks, of which most have already collaborated over three years in the Human Archipelago (http://www.archhumannets.net ) wanted to draw the attention on health inequalities, related to disadvantaged groups and aimed to develop new competences and approaches in higher education focusing on affordable health care, health literacy and empowerment of the client and their community to reduce poverty. The study included as well good practice of tailored prevention and health promotion for people at risk of social exclusion as integrated care models.
CONCEPTUALISING OCCUPATION: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF DAILY LIFE IN A GREEK TOWN
(Leeds Metropolitan University, 2013-08) Kantartzis, Sarah
Occupation is understood within the discipline of occupational science and the profession of occupational therapy to be a particular kind of activity with links to health. However, there has been little theoretical work exploring the construction of the concept and understandings are largely dependent on the writings of Western academics writing in the English language. Situated in contemporary understandings of cultural relativity, local narratives and issues of power, and my own 30 year experience of living and working in Greece, this ethnographic study was developed to explore the construction of the concept of occupation in Greece. Over a 30 month period I observed and participated in both celebratory and mundane occupation within the context of a small town. I explored the nature of occupation through the shared and largely tacit understandings of what was usual everyday life. The understanding of occupation that was developed was of an ongoing multi-dimensional process. Supported by the transactional theory of John Dewey (1949), occupation as process was an integral part of all elements of the situation (incorporating transacting individual, social, temporal, spatial and climatic elements), and worked to maintain the ongoing balance of the situation. Three plots of occupation in the town were configured - maintaining the self-in-the-world, maintaining the family, and maintaining the social fabric - that tell of what people were working towards, wanting to maintain, considered desirable and valued, as shared narratives underpinning on-going everyday life. The findings support the need for situated research that can explore local understandings of occupation. They challenge the ongoing position evident in much of the literature that views the individual as an active, knowledgeable agent, and support the importance of the developing scholarship incorporating transactional theories in understanding of occupation (Cutchin & Dickie, 2013). They also demonstrate that occupation is the process of people's engagement in the world and that health is not only expressed but also promoted through occupation.
Contextualizing Theory Use and Development in Occupational Therapy
(Routledge, 2025-03-31) Taff, Steven D.; Kantartzis, Sarah; Pollard, Nick; Ikiugu, Moses N.
n 2025, occupational therapy sits at a crossroads, an era of reckoning and reframing that the profession must face to survive and thrive. While we further ponder the future of theory in the profession in Chapter 57, it is clear we must revisit the critical role of theories, models, and frameworks in the possibility of occupational therapy addressing the contemporary occupational needs of people and populations across the globe. New paradigms are needed, informed by common values and human rights but responsive to local needs. The next revolution in occupational therapy is around the corner, and theories will need to provide the roadmap for the disruption and reconstitution of the profession as we know it today. Our hope is that this book offers readers both contemporary perspectives of established theories, but more importantly, introduces them to some of the theories, models, and concepts likely informing the next occupational therapy paradigm.
Contributing to social transformation through occupation: Experiences from a think tank
(Taylor & Francis, 2018-10-30) Laliberte Rudman, Deborah; Pollard, Nick; Craig, Claire; Kantartzis, Sarah; Piškur, Barbara; Algado Simó, Salvador; Van Bruggen, Hanneke; Schiller, Sandra
Occupational therapy is underpinned by the premise that engagement in occupation is fundamental to health and well-being. Through occupations, people are able to orchestrate their lives in ways that enable them not only to survive, but also to experience human flourishing. Through occupation, people can develop and maintain their families, neighbourhoods and communities as sources of belonging, opportunities and common action. Occupation, therefore, is not only important to each individual, but also, through collective occupation, people develop the kind of lives that they live together. Occupation is an essential factor in life quality, the experience of being human and the social transformation of individuals and of the societies of which people are a part. This article describes the formation of an International Think Tank for Occupation based social transformation. It begins with a brief overview of the conditions and context that underpinned the development of the group, and the milestones achieved to date in the establishment of a global network.
Creating a Play-Friendly Community with Children: A Report on a Participatory-Ethnographic Research
(Queen Margaret University, 2023) Veiga-Seijo, Silvia; Children Participants; Kantartzis, Sarah; Jackson, Jeanne; Veiga-Seijo, Silvia
This report is an outcome of the research “Creating a Play-Friendly Community with Children“, carried out by Silvia Veiga-Seijo (PhD student) with 17 children co-researchers aged between 5 and 12. The research project aimed to look into the perspectives of children and community members for developing a play-friendly community in Whitecraig (East Lothian, Scotland). The report was co-created with the children alongside Silvia, and it is founded on children’s voices and perspectives: our voices, stories, and experiences of doing and living the project together. The motivation for writing this collaborative report emerged after celebrating a local community event organised and led by the children participants in their school. During this event, children presented their perspectives of play through a puppet show and two songs to families, community residents, school staff, stakeholders, and policy-makers. After their presentation, the children led a discussion on a question of great importance to them: “how are we going to help” with their call to action to play together in their community and make play better for everyone. Adults and policy-makers highlighted the need of elaborating a written report on the children’s perspectives and share it with both East Lothian Council and the Scottish Government. Likewise, the community suggested “spread the word of this amazing work to other parts of Scotland”. This report attempts to respond to these needs as part of these collective endeavors and actions.
Developing Subject Specific Competences and Cycle Level Descriptors for Occupational Therapy in Europe through the Tuning Process
(World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2007) Kantartzis, Sarah; Ness, N.
Higher education in Europe has been in a process of change and harmonisation since European Ministers of Education signed the Bologna declaration in 1999. This process has been supported by the Tuning Project, initiated in 2000 by European higher education institutions, to tune- higher education with a common understanding of cycle levels (equivalent to bachelor, master and doctoral), credit points (ECTS), competence based learning and quality enhancement. In 2003 the European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education and the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries joined to tune- European occupational therapy education. This article highlights two areas within this project; the development of European competences and cycle level descriptors for occupational therapy. It is expected that this document will supplement World Federation of Occupational Therapists Minimum Standards (Hocking & Ness 2002) within occupational therapy education and assist in the regulation of the occupational therapy profession in Europe.
Doing Social Inclusion
(Uitgeverij Tobi Broegh-Sebastiaan Tijsma, 2010) Ammeraal, M.; Kantartzis, Sarah; Vercruysse,
Doing social inclusion with ELSiTO: Empowering learning for social inclusion through occupation
(IOS Press, 2012-04-10) Kantartzis, Sarah; Ammeraal, M.; Breedveld, S.; Geert; Georgia; Leonardos; Stefanos; Yiannis; Mattijs, L.
Objectives: The European partnership ELSiTO aimed to develop understanding of the nature and processes of social inclusion for persons experiencing mental illness. Participants: Partners were from Belgium, Greece and the Netherlands with over 30 members including mental health service users, occupational therapists and other staff. Approach: A knowledge-creation learning process was used during four international, experiential, visits and local meetings, which included visiting and describing good practice, telling stories of experiences, reflection and discussion. Results: The partnership developed understandings of the nature and process of social inclusion, including both subjective and objective aspects interrelated with the doing of daily activities in the community. Members' work-related experiences, illustrated through their stories, depict the subjective aspects of social inclusion as they are shaped and framed by the objective conditions within a variety of work opportunities. Experiences in paid work, supported employment and voluntary work may both threaten and enhance mental health. Features of successful (voluntary) work experiences are identified. Conclusions: The importance is revealed of looking critically at current understandings of work and to move beyond a narrow focus on paid work in order to provide a range of work opportunities that will empower the individual's potential and promote inclusive
The Dr Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2019: Shifting our focus. Fostering the potential of occupation and occupational therapy in a complex world
(SAGE, 2019-07-26) Kantartzis, Sarah
Challenges to health promoting occupation are experienced by many people in the UK today. It is suggested that the way we currently think about and so organise our practice may make it difficult to address some of these occupational needs. An alternative lens is proposed, drawing on the work of P. Cilliers and his discussions of the implications of thinking in terms of complex systems. Taking on an ‘attitude of complexity’ allows us to reconsider our work within the systems we are part of and encourages us not only to acknowledge but also to embrace the richness and diversity of our complex world. The discussion will focus on how occupational therapists can become part of, or strengthen their existing part, in change within these systems, developing their contribution as experts in occupation. This lecture is about ‘shifting our focus’, about fostering the potential of occupational therapy and contributing to individual and social transformation through occupation that will support the health of the population.
Educational materials on citizenship from an occupational perspective
(Universidade da Coruña, Servizo de Publicacións, 2021) Fransen-Jaïbi, Hetty; Kantartzis, Sarah; Pollard, Nick; Viana-Moldes, Inés; Viana-Moldes, Inés; Pollard, Nick; Kantartzis, Sarah; Fransen-Jaïbi, Hetty
This booklet presents educational materials for teachers or educators and students of occupational therapy in higher education programmes. The materials can also be applied in interprofessional programmes, to enable an occupation-based approach to citizenship to be negotiated in the inter-curricula context. In addition, they will be useful for the continuing professional development of people working in health and social fields and in community development programmes. The general aim is to facilitate and highlight addressing issues of citizenship in the contemporary education of occupational therapists. The purpose is to bring the co-creation of knowledge, skills and values of participatory citizenship together with strategic political, cultural and critical thinking into education, particularly at the Diploma/Bachelor or pre-registration levels. The booklet is written in three sections, which present: Section 1: An introduction to the concept of citizenship and particularly of participatory citizenship (Chapter 2). Section 2: A discussion of competences and learning outcomes, as well as of the theoretical approaches that underpin these educational materials (Chapters 3 and 4). Section 3: A range of educational materials, enabling flexible, contextualised, approaches, for the exploration, understanding and development of knowledge regarding participatory citizenship (Chapter 5).
ELSiTO. A Collaborative European Initiative to Foster Social Inclusion with Persons Experiencing Mental Illness
(John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2013-01) Ammeraal, M.; Kantartzis, Sarah; Burger, M.; Bogeas, T.; van der Molen, C.; Vercruysse, L.
ELSiTO (Empowering Learning for Social Inclusion Through Occupation), an international collaborative partnership, with over 30 members from Belgium, Greece and the Netherlands, aimed to explore the nature and processes of social inclusion for persons experiencing mental illness. Members included persons experiencing mental illness and health professionals. Four international visits and local activities enabled a knowledge creation process that combined the experience of social inclusion as we lived and worked together with exploration of the processes of community projects, narratives of experiences and reflective workshops. Outcomes included identification and description of the following: the nature of social inclusion as lived by the participants; the critical elements that support inclusion; and the competences that are developed by all stakeholders during this process. The complex process of social inclusion is facilitated by doing together in environments that enable equality, trust, risk taking and realignment of power. These conceptual understandings of inclusion are discussed in relation to the ongoing activities of the partners, to their potential contribution to the education of occupational therapists (and other professionals) and to the development of socially inclusive occupation-based projects in the community.
The Future of Theory in Occupational Therapy
(Routledge, 2025-03-31) Pollard, Nick; Kantartzis, Sarah; Taff, Steven D.; Ikiugu, Moses N.
Occupational therapy is about to meet a slow explosion of possibilities. The nature of work and the nature of societies will change through the greater emphasis to be placed on artificial intelligence (AI), and the crisis of climate change and associated global health issues. These changes will not be overnight but will be seen over the coming years as, for example, we see further innovation and development in AI and the effects of climate change take hold. Old systems and technologies, together with patterns of everyday life, will co-exist with the new ones, for example, an increased emphasis on preventative health. Theoretical development will remain a challenge for occupational therapy in these changing contexts. The sociodemographic conditions that create the demand for the profession may make practice a priority over taking time to explore the consequences of social, technological, and environmental changes and expanding theory. However, the time to begin making occupational therapy theory forward-facing to address these anticipated seismic changes in how humans occupy time and remain healthy is now. We implore the profession’s scholars to embrace this challenge, begin updating theories, and creating new ones that will be effective tools to guide occupational therapy practice in this future world.
Learn@Lunch: Developing a continuing professional development programme to raise knowledge and awareness of drinking alcohol as an occupation in later life
(SAGE Publications, 2024-09-20) Maclean, Fiona; Breckenridge, Jenna P; Schrag, Anthony; Gray, Joanna; McCormack, Brendan; Kantartzis, Sarah
Introduction: Occupational therapists in acute practice are increasingly likely to work routinely with people in later life who drink alcohol. Therefore, this knowledge translation study aimed to evaluate the development of a continuing professional development Learn@Lunch programme, designed to enhance awareness and understanding of occupational therapists who work in an acute hospital setting, of drinking alcohol as an occupation in later life. Method: Guided by the Promoting Action of Research Implementation in Health Sciences framework, the continuing professional development programme was developed, and a qualitative evaluation undertaken. This included pre- and post-focus groups with occupational therapists (n = 8) in an acute setting, where the programme was delivered, pre- and post-programme delivery interviews with the research champion recruited from the site, and one interview with the Allied Health Professions Service Lead. Findings: Findings indicate the Learn@Lunch continuing professional development programme enhanced therapist knowledge and understanding of the changing patterns of drinking alcohol in later life. However, practical barriers exist impacting how participants perceived the value and delivery of the programme. Conclusion: Learn@Lunch was an effective continuing professional development programme and supported enhanced knowledge and awareness of drinking alcohol as an occupation in later life, leading to changes in local acute occupational therapy practice.
Lexicon of Occupational Therapy Terms (in Greek)
(Hellenic Association of Ergotherapists, 2005) Kantartzis, Sarah; Kouloumpi, M.; Morozini, M.; Papageorgiou, A.; Politis, I.