1. Comparison of equipment prescriptions in the toilet/bathroom by occupational therapists using home visits and digital photos, for patients in rehabilitation.
- Author
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Sim, Sharon, Barr, Christopher J., and George, Stacey
- Subjects
RESTROOMS ,COMPARATIVE studies ,FAMILIES ,HOME accident prevention ,HOME care services ,LIFE skills ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL rehabilitation ,OCCUPATIONAL therapists ,OCCUPATIONAL therapy services ,PATIENTS ,PHOTOGRAPHY ,REHABILITATION ,THERAPEUTICS ,ACTIVITIES of daily living ,ASSISTIVE technology ,HOME environment ,DATA analysis software ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,OCCUPATIONAL therapy needs assessment ,EQUIPMENT & supplies - Abstract
Background/aim Home visits, used by occupational therapists to facilitate independence and enhance safety, are effective but costly and time consuming. This research aims to establish the level of agreement in equipment prescribed by occupational therapists using: digital photographs only, and using home visits and digital photographs, respectively. Method Quasi-experimental methodological design conducted in private dwellings in the community in Adelaide with rehabilitation patients and their family members. The equipment recommended by occupational therapists for the toilet and bathroom using similar methods (both digital photographs from previous data; n = 5) was compared with equipment recommended using different methods (conventional home visits vs. digital photographs; n = 14). Results Percent agreement for equipment prescribed between groups, that is digital only and home visit/photography, respectively, were: 72.5/83.9% for toilet; 87.4/88.3% for bathroom and 83/87% for toilet and bathroom. Variability of agreement in the equipment prescribed showed that some items of equipment were incongruently prescribed, by both methods for toilet and bathroom areas. Conclusion Using digital photographs taken by family members, patient information, and an equipment list is a reliable method of making accurate equipment prescriptions in the toilet and bathroom areas. To enhance accuracy, in-depth patient information via face-to-face interview and measurements of physical environment should be included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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