Repository logo
 

Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/25

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 537
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Are we getting better at identifying and diagnosing neurodivergent girls and women? Insights into sex ratios and age of diagnosis from clinical population data in Scotland
    (Sage, 2025) Maciver, Donald; Roy, Anusua Singh; Johnston, Lorna; Boilson, Marie; Curnow, Eleanor; Johnstone-Cooke, Victiora; Rutherford, Marion
    This study examined differences in referral and diagnosis based on sex recorded at birth (hereafter, ‘sex’), using case notes from 408 individuals diagnosed by 30 multidisciplinary teams across Scotland. Analyses focused on male-to-female ratios and median ages at referral and diagnosis across attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism and intellectual disability. The lifespan male-to-female ratio across all diagnoses was 1.31, varying by category and age. In autism, the male-to-female ratio was 2.21 for children under 10 years, but there were more females in adolescence (male-to female ratio=0.79) and adulthood (male-to-female ratio=0.94). Across the lifespan, combining all diagnoses, females were referred later (median ages: 14.4 vs 19.7 years; p<0.001) and diagnosed later (median ages: 15.2 vs 20.2 years; p<0.001), indicating a 5-year delay. Among autistic children and adolescents, females were referred later (median age: 7.5 vs 10.5years; p=0.002) and diagnosed later (median age: 9.3 vs 11.9years; p=0.003). However, no significant differences were found in age of referral or diagnosis for autistic adults. Overall, the results indicate partial equalisation of sex ratios across the lifespan, pronounced asymmetry in younger age groups, andconsistent delays in referral and diagnosis ages for females.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Reset: Designing Community-Based, Resilience-Affirming Support for Older Adults Through Participatory Action Research - An Environmental Perspective
    (Emerald, 2025) Górska, Sylwia; Desogus, S.; Moffat, P.; Gunn, L.; Irvine Fitzpatrick, L.
    Purpose: This paper presents key learning from the Reset programme, an innovative, intersectoral collaboration designed to transform community-based health and social care (HSC) for older adults. The programme aimed to deepen understanding of and enhance post-hospitalisation resilience, improve access to existing resources, and strengthen community connections. Methodology: The programme employed a Participatory Action Research methodology to co-produce and implement resilience-focused, evidence-based HSC across four localities in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Data was collected through interviews and focus groups with older adults, referring agencies, community partners, informal carers, and the HSC support team. Narrative data was also gathered by HSC support staff through one-to-one key work, while ongoing reflective practice informed continuous learning and adaptation. Findings: The research confirmed a dynamic, reciprocal relationship between older adults and their environment in shaping resilience outcomes. It expanded understanding of how physical, digital, and social environments can enable or hinder resilience, highlighting the impact of systemic cultural factors within HSC, and broader societal structures. Originality/value: This study offers original insights into participatory, intersectoral approaches to supporting ageing in place. It deepens understanding of environmental determinants of resilience in later life and provides evidence-based recommendations for policy, practice, and research. The co-produced, community-centred approach highlights the value of relational support in improving outcomes for older adults.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Third Sector Perspectives on Community Link Worker Referrals in Social Prescribing: A Realist Analysis
    (Frontiers Media, 2025-10-08) Allbutt, Helen; Maciver, Donald; Leitch, Alison; Crandles, Anne; Fitzpatrick, Linda Irvine
    Introduction Community Link Workers (CLWs), also known as social prescribing link workers, connect individuals to community support, much of which is provided by third-sector organisations (TSOs). TSOs are common referral destinations for CLWs, yet the relationships between CLWs and TSOs remain under-explored. Method This realist study investigated TSOs’ perceptions of link working, focusing on referral and collaboration dynamics. Conducted across 22 TSOs in Scotland, it involved in-depth interviews with TSO staff and consultations with CLWs and managers, analysing data via realist heuristics to identify contexts, mechanisms, and outcomes. Results Targeted referrals by experienced CLWs, with follow-up, and strong TSO-CLW relationships, improved client health, wellbeing, and independence while reducing reliance on statutory services. These processes fostered professionals’ trust, satisfaction, and innovation, creating a positive feedback loop. Conversely, inconsistent referrals, such as over-referral or scattergun approaches, compounded by resource constraints and perceptions of inequitable partnerships, led to suboptimal client outcomes, dissatisfaction, and weakened collaboration. Important contexts included extreme resource pressures, varying CLW expertise, and perceptions of power imbalances. Discussion Effective social prescribing needs sustained TSO-CLW collaboration, supported by third-sector investment and tools for equitable partnerships. Rather than a referral process, social prescribing should be envisioned as a community of practice, defined by relationships, a common purpose and shared responsibility for challenges and solutions. Future models should prioritise strengthening statutory and third-sector trust and collaboration.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The experiences of autistic professionals working in health and education: A systematic review
    (Mary Ann Liebert, 2025) Curnow, Eleanor; Maciver, Donald; Meff, Tamsin; Muggleton, Joshua; Johnston, Lorna; Gray, Anna; Day, Helen; Kourti, Marianthi; Utley, Izy; Rutherford, Marion
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Developing the Playground Play Value and Usability Audit (PVUA) Tool: An Evaluation of Content Validity via an Expert Panel
    (Project MUSE, 2025-08) Morgenthaler, Thomas; Loebach, Janet; Lynch, Helen; Pentland, Duncan; Kottorp, Anders; Schulze, Christina
    This study describes procedures for developing and exploring the content validity of a tool to audit playgrounds for play value and usability for diverse populations. Development of the tool included reviewing existing tools, creating an initial draft from evidence literature, followed by iterative rounds with an international, interdisciplinary expert panel (N=22). Panelists' comments and ratings of relevance and clarity supported refinements of items, content areas, scoring, instructions, and interpretations of the PVUA content. The preliminary tool consists of 203 items divided across 28 content areas and two domains. Future research should examine PVUA's reliability and construct validity using a diverse sample of playgrounds.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Music therapy with displaced persons: trauma, transformations and cultural connections [Edited book]
    (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2025-07-21) Coombes, Elizabeth; Maclean, Emma; Gracida, Samuel; Coombes, Elizabeth; Maclean, Emma; Gracida, Samuel
    This book addresses and responds to the forced displacement crisis by exploring how music and music therapy can assist people in a range of settings around the globe. It offers a further understanding of practice and the opportunity to stimulate critical exploration of this area of work.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Resetting the Standard: A Collaborative Approach to Community Resilience for Older People. [Case Study]
    (2025-07-15) Moffat, P; Górska, Sylwia; Desogus, S; Gunn, L; Irvine Fitzpatrick, L
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Contextual factors influencing neuro-affirming practice – identifying what helps or hinders implementation in health and social care
    (SAGE Publications, 2025-09-09) Gray, Anna; Johnston, Lorna; Rutherford, Marion; Curnow, Eleanor; Maciver, Donald
    There has been limited research to date into contextual factors hindering or supporting the successful implementation of neuro-affirming practice in support for Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent adults. We used a Realist Evaluation approach to explore key contexts affecting neuro-affirming practice. A preliminary programme theory of key aspects of support was developed. Views on current practice were sought through structured interviews with 32 senior professionals in leadership roles within Health and Social Care services in Scotland. This study identified important contexts shaping the implementation of neuro-affirming practice for adults. Results indicate widespread professional support for modifying practice to better accommodate neuro-affirming ideas, and scope to achieve this. However, some contexts, including limited resources, restrictive eligibility criteria and rigid service structures, hinder progress. Growing demand for services was often viewed as a restrictive context, but it also offered a chance to rethink conventional, one-size-fits-all models and adopt neuro-affirming approaches. The study is important in addressing a current gap in research into professional perspectives of the contexts required to develop transdiagnostic, neuro-affirming approaches and pathways for Autistic and neurodivergent adults. The insights from this study may offer transferable practice approaches, applicable across different countries with similar healthcare contexts.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Unveiling mirror-writing: Exploring the phenomenon in typically developing children within the Greek school context
    (SIG Writing of EARLI, 2025-06-03) Kanitaki, Eleni
    Mirror-writing has consistently intrigued researchers throughout the years. This study is the first to explore Greek-letter and Arabic-digit reversals from typically developing children within the Greek School Environment. The hypotheses were: (1) Visual discrimination, visual memory, and visual-spatial relationships skills will negatively correlate with the occurrence of character reversals, (2) Left-oriented symbols will be reversed most frequently, (3) Children from year 1 will exhibit fewer reversals than children in nurseries. To test those predictions, 117 children (4.5 to 7.5 years) were recruited from Greek nurseries and primary schools. Character-recognition tasks were conducted, and children’s visual-perceptual ability was measured. Moreover, participants produced capital Greek letters and Arabic digits under dictation. Results yielded a significant negative correlation only between visual-perceptual skills and digit reversals in the total sample, suggesting that children with higher visual-perceptual skills tend to produce fewer digit mirrorings, unlike letters. Furthermore, left-oriented characters were significantly mirrored the most. Finally, only digit reversals were significantly reduced by year 1, probably due to the limited knowledge of letters by children in nurseries. Implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item