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Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies

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

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    Assistive technology: Occupational therapy assessment and services for people with dementia
    (SAGE, 2024-05-21) Curnow, Eleanor; Maclean, Fiona; McCormack, Brendan
    Introduction: Research suggests that services are not effectively providing suitable assistive technology for people with dementia. There is a need to understand the challenges facing practitioners to identify where service changes should be focussed to improve this situation. Method: This study used an online survey to explore the experiences of 41 occupational therapists working with people with dementia, and/or assistive technology. Eight participants subsequently agreed to participate in online discussion groups. Group discussions were transcribed and checked. Data responses from group discussions and open questions in the survey were analysed thematically using the person-centred framework to identify domains supporting or obstructing effective assistive technology service delivery. Results: Forty-one occupational therapist participants described challenges to providing person-centred assistive technology services. These included restricted access to assistive technology interventions, limited knowledge regarding developments in the field, variable funding, unsupportive systems, limited relevant training and difficulties working across health and social care sectors. Conclusion: There is a need to revise the systems surrounding the provision of assistive technology for people with dementia. Occupational therapists need access to training relative to this field, and systems need to be adapted to support the provision of person-centred care by widening access to assistive technology.
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    Articulating expertise and professional artistry: New methodological principles for critical creative research
    (SAGE, 2019-08-01) Kinsella, Niamh; Pentland, Duncan; McCormack, Brendan; Burns, Jane
    This poster presents a critical perspective of a methodology for research that facilitates articulation of professional artistry and expertise in practice with persons living with dementia. This critical perspective was developed during research which intended to explore the principles and philosophy underpinning professional artistry or expert practice with occupational therapists. Existing literature in occupational therapy reflects a concern with developing and expressing the principles of professional artistry, practice expertise and professional judgement (Mattingly 1991, Turner and Alsop 2015) for the purpose of raising consciousness of the value of occupational therapy and supporting development of role clarity and professional identity (Unsworth and Baker 2016). The argument that there is a need to develop research methodologies that support articulation of artistry and expertise related to professional philosophies will be presented in this poster. The case for research strategies incorporating critical creativity (McCormack and Titchen 2006) and creative methods as a way of articulating practice principles that are often deeply embodied in a practitioner’s being will be presented in this poster. A critical creative case study methodology will be described, and reflective dialogue about this critique facilitated with poster viewers. The key messages presented in this poster are: philosophical and methodological principles of creativity can facilitate expression of expert knowledge that is inherently tacit and embodied; and incorporating such principles facilitates practice development and research that is consistent with, and reflective of, our professional philosophy.