Occupational Science: Knowledge and Evidence for Occupational Therapists

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Occupational Science Knowledge and Evidence for
Occupational Therapists

• Elizabeth Townsend, Dalhousie University
• Helene Polatajko, University of Toronto
• Michael Iwama, Dalhousie University
• Jane Davis, University of Toronto

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Objectives

• 1. Summarize Canadian historical highlights in
  occupational science
• 2. Apply the constructs/language of occupation to
  practice
• 3. Consider occupational science evidence for
  occupational therapy
• Highlight literature on occupational science
• 4. Encourage questions, brainstorming!

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Canadian Historical Highlights in Occupational
Science

• Canadians began to hear about occupational
  science in the late 1980s, notably from Elizabeth
  Yerxa (USA), and Ann Wilcock (Australia),
  founding editor, Journal of Occupational Science
• Canadians Townsend Polatajko were active in
  forming the International Society of Occupational
  Scientists (ISOS) in Canberra, Australia, April
  1999

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Canadian Historical Highlights in Occupational
Science (cond)

• Canadian Society of Occupational Scientists
  Founded, August 2001
• First Canadian Occupational Science Symposium,
  Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS., May 2002
• Second Canadian Occupational Science Symposium,
  University of Toronto The University of Western
  Ontario, Toronto, ON., May 2004
• Upcoming Symposia
• University of British Columbia, 2006
• Lakehead University, Ontario, 2008

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Canadian Historical Highlights in Occupational
Science (cond)

• Occupational Science Presentations Publications
  for CAOT
• Calgary, 2001
• Saint John, 2002
• Winnipeg, 2003
• Charlottetown, 2004
• OT Now Sense of Doing Column
• Other Presentations at OT Conferences
• OT Atlantic, 2003
• Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists
• Renew the Passion Toronto, ON., Sept. 2003
• Turning a New Leaf - Ottawa, ON., Oct. 2004
  (Upcoming)

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Learning About Occupational Science

• When did you first hear about occupational
  science?
• What was your reaction?

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The Canadian Context

• Occupation and Enablement

Occupational Studies/Science
Occupational Enablement
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Depiction of Occupation

• Constructs taken from the media
• Occupational exposure
• Occupational competence
• Occupational mastery

Billy Elliot
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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Drawing on your own media exposure
• Choose a movie or book with which most people in
  the group are familiar, which you feel has the
  ability to inform an understanding of occupation.
  
• Have someone briefly summarize the occupational
  relevance or story for the group.
• What ideas does this life example offer to an
  understanding of occupation?

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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Constructs of disruption from the media
• Occupational transition
• Occupational disruption
• Occupational recapturing / reframing

About Schmidt Regarding Henry
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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Examples from the Research Literature
• Jonsson, H., Borell, L., Sadlo, G. (2000).
  Retirement An occupational transition with
  consequences for temporality, balance and meaning
  of occupations. Journal of Occupational Science,
  7(1), 29-37.
• Rosenfeld, M. S. (1989). Occupational disruption
  and adaptation A study of house fire victims.
  American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 43(2),
  89-96.

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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Constructs of disruption from a real example in
  the media
• Occupational transition
• Occupational disruption
• Occupational recapturing / reframing

Christopher Reeves
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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Practice Examples
• What are some examples of occupational
  disruption, transition and occupational reframing
  / recapturing from your practice experiences?

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Depiction of Occupation (cond)

• Framing Your Practice in Occupation
• How would you discuss your practice using
  occupational constructs/language?

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Occupational Science Evidence For Occupational
Therapy (cond)

• An occupational therapist is working with a 52
  year old, Asian woman who identifies her primary
  occupation as farming. She wants to continue to
  be a farm owner and operator after her right arm
  was amputated when it became entangled in the
  power shaft of her tractor. Her partner is also a
  farmer. Their children have left the farm.

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Occupational Science Evidence For Occupational
Therapy (cond)

• Medical Evidence

• Young, S. K. (1995). Agricultural-related
  injuries in the parkland region of Manitoba.
  Canadian Family Physician, 41, 1190-1197.

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Occupational Science Evidence For Occupational
Therapy (cond)

• Occupational Therapy Evidence

• Strong, S., et al. (2004). Functional assessment
  of injured workers A profile of assessor
  practices. Canadian Journal of Occupational
  Therapy, 71, 1323.

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Occupational Science Evidence For Occupational
Therapy (cond)

• Occupational Science Evidence

Stone, S. D. (2003). Workers without work
Injured workers and well-being. Journal of
Occupational Science, 10, 713.
Molyneaux-Smith, L., et al. (2003). Occupation
disrupted Impacts, challenges, and coping
strategies for farmers with disabilities. Journal
of Occupational Science, 10, 1420.
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Literature On Occupational Science

• Johnson, J., Yerxa, E. (1990). Occupational
  science The foundation for new models of
  practice. New York Haworth Press.
• Zemke, R., Clark, F.  (Eds.) (1996). 
  Occupational science The evolving discipline. 
  Philadephia, PA  F.A. Davis Co.
• Wilcock, A.A.  (1998).  An occupational
  perspective of health.  Thorofare, NJ  SLACK
  Inc.

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Literature On Occupational Science (cond)

• Wilcock, A.A. (2001). Occupation for health.
  Volume 1 A journey from self health to
  prescription.  London British Association and
  College of Occupational Therapists.
• Hasselkus, B.R.  (2002).  The meaning of everyday
  occupation.  Thorofare, NJ  SLACK Inc.

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Literature On Occupational Science (cond)

• Kramer, P., Hinojosa, J., Royeen, C. B. (Eds.)
  (2003). Perspectives in human occupation
  Participation in life. Baltimore, MD Lippincott,
  Williams Wilkins.
• Pierce, D.  (2003).  Occupation by design
  Building therapeutic power.  Philadelphia, PA 
  F.A. Davis.
•  
• Christiansen, C., Townsend, E. A.  (2004).  An
  introduction to occupation The art and science
  of living.  Thorofare, NJ  Prentice-Hall
  Publishing Co. 

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Literature On Occupational Science (cond)

• Journal of Occupational Science
• http//www.jos.edu.au./
• Founded in 1993 by Dr. Ann Wilcock and colleagues
  from Australia and New Zealand
• Aim to give voice to the unique experiences,
  concerns and perspectives of the study of humans
  as occupational beings.

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Comments?

• Questions? Feedback?
• Information on the Canadian Society of
  Occupational Scientists (CSOS) is available at
  www.dal.ca/occscience or on the free listserv
  csos-ca_at_lists.dal.ca