Introduction / Rationale:

Opportunities for residents to participate in occupations inside and outside of nursing homes and to interact with their surrounding communities are important for promoting occupational justice, social inclusion, mental health and well-being. Existing nursing home tools focus on risk, physical environments, mobility, and independence, highlighting the need for tools that emphasise an occupational perspective to better understand participation in occupations.

Objectives:

We will present a novel tool for mapping residents' participation in occupations inside and outside nursing homes.

We will discuss the tool’s development and how it can support occupational therapists to identify occupations that residents need and wish to participate in, and connections between the nursing home community and its surroundings, including gardens, neighbourhoods, and the broader local environment.

Methods / Approach:

This tool has been developed as part of a larger ethnographic study in three Swedish nursing homes, using participant observations, walk-along interviews, cognitive interviews, and expert consultations. Data were analysed using a qualitative interpretive approach.

Results / Practice Implications:

The tool includes questions to identify key areas where residents’ participation is limited. Using the tool, Occupational Therapists can capture places of importance for residents and highlight specific occupations inside and outside nursing homes that residents need and wish to participate in.

Conclusion / Contribution to the occupational therapy profession:

This tool offers an innovative approach for Occupational Therapists to identify and intervene on participation restrictions and occupational deprivations experienced by residents due to contextual infrastructure and lack of usability of important places. This can reinforce the profession’s commitment to occupational justice, social inclusion, and mental health and wellbeing.

PURPOSE: Individuals with traumatic brachial plexus injuries (TBPI) may experience lifelong physical and psychosocial consequences. With or without surgical treatment, the rehabilitation is considered important. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists face challenges due to the scarcity of evidence-based rehabilitation protocols after TBPI. There is limited knowledge about patients' experiences with rehabilitation. This study aims to explore and describe patients' experiences of rehabilitation after a TBPI.

METHOD: Transcripts from five focus groups with 21 participants after TBPI and rehabilitation were coded and analysed with a qualitative content analysis. The discussion guide contained questions regarding experience of rehabilitation.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed one overarching theme: "A fight on your own", and three themes that include 1) Lack of tailored rehabilitation in a life-changing situation, 2) Crucial prerequisites for engagement in rehabilitation, and 3) Life will never be the same. The results highlighted the importance of healthcare professionals engaging with patients and advocates for comprehensive, person-centred rehabilitation programs across healthcare levels. Furthermore, participants value peer interaction, psychosocial support and up-to-date technology.

CONCLUSION: Patients struggle to access person-centred rehabilitation from engaged and knowledgeable occupational and physiotherapists. Addressing both psychosocial and physical aspects and daily activities is crucial.

OBJECTIVE: The study's aim was to better understand how persons, diagnosed with dementia while still working, strived to make sense of and come to terms with their changing everyday lives during the process of exiting work life.

METHODS: The study has an explorative, longitudinal design, following five persons who developed dementia while still working, with repeated, qualitative, in-depth interviews. Comparative analyses were combined with an interpretative approach, using the concepts doing, being, becoming and belonging.

RESULTS: Three overarching themes were created: i/Finding out an orientation to continued activity engagement, ii/ Relating to the diagnosis and available dementia specific activities, and iii/ Managing wellbeing and information related to health care. Findings illuminate how participants sought avenues for continued activity engagement in everyday life, based on their perceptions of what they were able to do, who they wanted to be and become, and where they felt they belonged.

CONCLUSION: The participants' agency came through strongly in their efforts to come to terms with changes in everyday life in their work and private lives, as well as with health care and dementia associations, underscoring that agency is vital and possible to support in persons with early-stage dementia.

Bakgrund/Syfte*: Sjukskrivningsprocessen uppfattas ofta som osäker och otydlig av både patienter och personal. År 2020 infördes en lag om koordineringsinsater och rollen som rehabiliteringskoordinator utvecklades. För att förbättra processen utarbetades, i sydöstra sjukvårdsregionen, ett strukturerad arbetssätt för bedömning av rehabilitering och sjukskrivning (STARS). STARS består av åtta metodstöd med anvisningar, information och förslag om vad som bör/kan beaktas och göras både internt och externt vid olika tidpunkter under sjukskrivnings- och rehabiliteringsprocessen. Arbetssättet implementerades på nio vårdcentraler under 2021. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur personal involverad i sjukskrivningsprocessen upplever det att arbeta enligt STARS.

Metod/Tillvägagångssätt*: Kvalitativ fokusgruppsstudie. Sju grupper och totalt 37 deltagare från nio vårdcentraler. Inklusionskriterier: Personal (läkare, rehabiliteringskoordinatorer, sjuksköterskor, psykologer, kuratorer, arbetsterapeuter och fysioterapeuter) vid de nio inkluderade vårdcentralerna som var direkt involverad i sjukskrivnings- och rehabiliteringsprocessen. Fokusgruppssamtalen analyserades med tematisk innehållsanalys.

Resultat/Förväntat resultat*: Fyra teman framkom som beskrev personalens upplevelser av att arbeta enligt arbetssättet: Snabbare, multiprofessionella insatser med flexibel planering; Teamarbete som skapar tillit och arbetsro; Trygghet och förutsägbarhet samt; En struktur som överbryggar. Personalen upplevde att en rehabiliteringsplan fastställdes tidigare, att färre patienter föll mellan stolarna samt att teamarbetet främjades. Rehabiliteringskoordinatorn fungerade som en sammanhållande funktion internt och externt mot andra aktörer/myndigheter och arbetsgivare vilket å ena sidan upplevdes avlastande för övrig personal men för rehabiliteringskoordinatorn upplevdes en ökad belastning.

Slutsats/Praktisk tillämpning*: Vårdpersonalen upplevde att STARS var användbart i kliniskt arbetet och skapade trygghet för patienterna. STARS möjliggjorde multiprofessionella, snabbare och mer proaktiva åtgärder. Resultat har relevans för arbetsterapeuter som arbetar inom primärvård.

Introduction

It is important to understand how the interaction between care and everyday life in nursing homes can affect the older person's participation and sustain a meaningful life. Nursing homes in Sweden serve as both home and a place for care, which may be difficult to combine. The purpose of this study was to understand how the Swedish model of Integrated Care in nursing homes influences the older persons participation in occupations.

 Approach/Methods

The study used an ethnographic approach which involved six months of fieldwork. Data were collected through participant observations and informal interviews with residents, their families and staff including managers. The field work focused on everyday situations where care and daily life interact, with a particular focus on the social and physical environment.

Finding

Preliminary findings reveal that care is often provided “in the moment,”, which may disrupt the resident´s participation in daily occupations. “Everyday interactions” between staff and residents seems to constitute an integral part of care practice. However, the findings also show “behind the scenes” care practices that do not require an interaction with the residents, but care that may rapidly be activated if needed.

Implications for Occupational Science

The preliminary findings show that fostering a sustainable environment in nursing homes, focusing on participation for residents and staff is crucial. This may support the staff in creating opportunities for residents to maintain participation in meaningful occupations, inspire changes, and develop new ways of focusing on participation through occupation.

Introduction: Unemployment is known to have effect on occupational well-being and thus is issue of relevance and importance to occupational therapy. However, knowledge about occupational therapy practices among unemployed people in the Finnish context is scarce. Aim: This study aims to explore the various ways occupational therapists work among unemployed people, and how this work could be further developed. Method: The study followed a phenomenographic approach. Data was gathered combining focus group discussion and interviews. Results: The ways of working among unemployed were identified as Assessing, Coaching and Collaborating. Practices could be further developed by Adapting to new ways of working, Increasing awareness of occupational therapy and Advocating for better opportunities to participate in working life. Conclusions and significance: The results imply that occupational therapists in Finland engage with unemployed people’s situation at late stages of unemployment, limiting the integration of occupational perspective in current services. Therapists wish to advocate but are simultaneously acting as gatekeepers, emphasizing the need for preventive and collaborative approaches. Study suggests that occupational therapists may contribute to bridging health, social, and employment services. Further research including client perspectives is needed to expand the profession’s role and effectiveness in addressing the situation of unemployed people.

Bakgrund/Syfte*: Särskilda boenden fungerar som både hem och en plats för vård, vilket ibland kan ses som svårt att förena. Det är viktigt att förstå hur samspelet mellan vård och vardag kan påverka den äldre personens möjlighet till att vara delaktig och leva ett meningsfullt liv. Studiens syfte är att utforska och beskriva vad som karaktäriserar Nära vård i särskilda boenden för äldre.

Metod/Tillvägagångssätt*: Studien ingår i ett doktorandprojekt och tre särskilda boenden i Jönköpings kommun deltar. Datainsamlingen påbörjades i juni 2024 och förväntas avslutas i januari 2025. Studiens design är kvalitativ med en etnografisk ansats, där fältstudier med deltagande observationer och informella intervjuer utgör datainsamlingsmetoderna. Fältstudierna fokuserar på situationer i vardagen på det särskilda boendet där vård och vardag samspelar med ett särskilt fokus på den sociala och fysiska miljön.

Resultat/Förväntat resultat*: Preliminära resultat indikerar att vården ges omedelbart i stunden oberoende av vad som pågår i vardagen, vilket betyder att dagliga aktiviteter riskeras att avbrytas. Vardagliga samtal mellan personal och boende utgör en integrerad del av vårdpraktiken och där relationerna dem emellan är av stor vikt för en meningsfull vardag. Utomhusmiljön framstår som en outnyttjad resurs för att möjliggöra både vård och en meningsfull vardag för de boende.

Slutsats/Praktisk tillämpning*: Resultaten har stor relevans för arbetsterapi och specifikt för arbetsterapeuter som arbetar på särskilda boenden. Resultatet kan skapa möjligheter att stödja boende att bibehålla en meningsfull vardag genom Nära vård. Nya arbetssätt kan utformas med stöd i Nära vård, med fokus på aktiviteter och ett meningsfullt vardagsliv och arbetsterapins kärna kan återtas.

The workshop aims to facilitate a discussion on how social work research and social work practice can be intertwined as well as how both can influence each other. The initial discussion at the workshop will be rooted in experiences gained through cooperation between the Social service organization at Jönköping municipality, and researchers. These experiences will be primarily communicated in three themes that will lay the ground for the discussion the audience will be invited to take part in. Theme 1 is related to the research-practice gap and ways of bridging the gap. Here practitioners and researchers will reflect on which communication strategies and cooperation forms are most effective in bridging the gap. Theme 2 concerns the popularization of scientific knowledge in social service organizations. Here practitioners and researchers will present their experiences of how dissemination of scientific knowledge could be channeled through the entire organization. Finally, Theme 3 will discuss how engagement structures that can be used by practitioners to bring forward practical knowledge to the fore of education and research on social work. Here, particular focus will be put on practitioners' experiences of engaging in education work in universities and through work-integrated learning projects. It is expected that by showcasing existing cooperation between research and practice and engaging in discussion and exchange of experiences, one could outline cooperation structures between practice and academia in the Social work domain. Moreover, this could enable social work as emancipatory practice.   

Purpose There is growing interest in the potential of participatory research approaches to democratize research, empower participants and contribute to targeted health and social care. Participatory research approaches are emphasized in ethical and funding applications regarding patient and public involvement; however, less is known about their use in long-term care facilities for older adults. This meta-ethnography seeks to provide an increased understanding and novel conceptualization of participatory research approaches in long-term care facilities for older adults. Methods A meta-ethnography was used to synthesize qualitative literature on participatory research approaches in long-term care facilities for older adults. In total, 1,736 articles were screened at title and abstract level, 35 studies were eligible for full-text review and 10 articles were included. Results The following third-order constructs were identified as salient to the conceptualization and use of participatory research approaches in long-term care facilities for older adults: 1) participatory backdrops, 2) collaborative places, 3) seeking common ground and solidarity, 4) temporal considerations, and 5) empowerment, growth, and cultural and social change. Conclusion This meta-ethnography contributes a novel conceptualization and six recommendations to enhance the design and implementation of participatory research approaches as democratic spaces of exchange and collaboration for older adults.

BackgroundPhronesis is a way of knowing, implying wisdom, experiences, and reflections that guide our judgements. Phronesis, important for learning, is a neglected form of knowledge when applied to research.AimTo examine how phronesis is conceptualised and practiced in three research projects.MethodData from eight interviews with researchers involved in three research projects was generated. The interview material was analysed. A theoretical matrix of contemporary understanding of phronesis was applied to the material.ResultExamples of phronesis from three research projects in occupational therapy are presented according to categories of contemporary phronesis; acknowledging embodiment, embracing humility, using perceptiveness, and practicing reflexivity.SignificanceThis unique approach of analysing research projects contributes to the understanding of phronesis and its implications for research, providing valuable insights into the researchers' praxis in their respective projectsConclusionThere is a need for a greater recognition of phronesis as a dimension of knowledge within all types of research, and within the discipline. By not recognising phronesis as a legitimate form of knowledge, the discipline perpetuates a superiority of knowledge from episteme that dominates our ways of learning about the world around us and where the type of knowledge gleaned from phronesis is consequently marginalised.