Overview of occupational therapy teaching in Lithuania

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Overview of occupational therapy teaching in
Lithuania

• Vilnius University, Medical faculty
• A. JUOCEVICIUS, R. DADELIENE, I.E. JAMONTAITE, A.
  CIRTAUTAS

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Aim overview the development of OT education and
occupational therapy services in Lithuania during
last 13 years (1991-2003).
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Here are some facts to characterise the social
environment of Lithuania

• the total number of population is about 3,49
  million
• about 6,4 of the population gualifies for the
  status of disabled persons
• about 9 of children are disabled
• About 0,7 of population became disabled every
  year

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Some data of rehabilitation specialists in
Lithuania

• 1998 2002
• 39,5\10.000 physicians 36,4\10.000
• 83,0\10.000 nurses 78,1\10.000 1,7\10.000
  PT 2,28\10.000 0,48\10.000
  OT 1,6\10.000

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According to the Europe standard we need5x
more PT, 10X more OT.Social situation and
needs of rehabilitation specialists have
influenced the promotion of OT development.
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Occupational therapy education program in
Lithuania has passed 3 development stages.
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The first stage-retraining

• In 1991 1993 the specialists from Michigan
  University gave knowledge and shared their
  experience to Vilnius University Hospital/VUH/
  partners including occupational therapists.
• In 1994 1996 specialists from Denmark, Sweden
  and Switzerland had organized theoretical and
  practical training for VUH team members including
  occupational therapists.

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First stage II

• Retraining of the rehabilitation specialists
  rehabilitation doctors, nurses, occupational
  therapists.
• In 1998 was started specialization course in
  Vilnius University for retraining occupational
  therapists.
• Till now there are 124 occupational therapists
  who finished this professional specialization
  course.

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The second stage

• Substantial experience was coupled for teaching
  under OT program in Utena Professional College of
  Medicine.
• The program teachers have exercised the courses
  in Germany, Norway and Finland, where they have
  realized the international collaboration contacts
  for progress of the program.

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The second stage II

• In 1995 the first national program for educating
  of occupational therapy assistants was introduced
  in Utena and Paneveys professional College of
  Medicine.
• The first students graduated of the program in
  1999 were awarded a qualification of occupational
  therapy assistants.
• In 2000 training of occupational assistants was
  started in Kaunas Professional College of
  Medicine.

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The third stage

• In 2001 Utena and Kaunas Professional College of
  Medicine have got College status and started to
  realize no university study programs.
• In 2001 bachelors degree studies in field of
  occupational therapy were started in Kaunas
  University of Medicine. One year later Vilnius
  University has started bachelors degree studies
  in the field of occupational therapy.

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The third stage II

• In 2005 Vilnius University are planning to start
  master degree courses in the field of
  occupational therapy.

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The OT study program in Vilnius University
continues 4 years and has 160 credits.The study
program consists of

• General development University subjects (24
  credits)
• Study field general development subjects (40
  credits)
• Specified study field development subjects (94
  credits).

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NUMBER OF CREDITS
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Prognoses for the future

• We have 288 OT students who are studying in
  Colleges and Universities now.
• The number of occupational therapy specialists
  from 1998 till 2003 has increased.
• In 2004 will graduate 45 students, in 2005 70,
  in 2006 78.

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After graduation OT specialists could work in

• Health care institutions (rehabilitation centers,
  hospitals, out-patient clinics)

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Collaboration and new contacts

• 2002 cooperation with Oslo University College was
  started-exchange program
• During this period OT philosophy and practice
  were distributed and we made new contacts with
  ENOTHE and WFOT.
• The first ENOTHE event in Lithuania was a meeting
  on 20-21 of June 2003 with the aim to harmonize
  study programs in Lithuania.
• Participation in Ninth Annular Meeting of ENOTHE
  31st of October and 1st of November.

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• Relationships with others countries

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Plans for future

• To harmonize the OT study programs in Lithuania.
• To prepare OT standard.
• To harmonize the OT professional activity with
  WFOT standards.
• To develop international relationship.

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Thank You for attention