Introduction: As occupational therapy practice grows increasingly complex, ensuring the quality of professional reasoning among early-career occupational therapists has become a pivotal concern globally. This study aimed to explore how experienced occupational therapy educators interpret the transformation of professional reasoning among early-career occupational therapists. Method: A qualitative design grounded in a narrative approach with thematic analysis was employed. Three focus group interviews were conducted with experienced occupational therapy educators ( n = 18). Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, drawing on researcher subjectivity and expert insights as resources. Findings: Four themes representing the transformation of professional reasoning were identified: (1) acknowledging the fragility of reasoning; (2) internalisation of mental models encountered in the workplace; (3) construction of reasoning narratives through verbalisation; and (4) autonomous development of professional reasoning. These four themes were interpreted by experienced educators as a dynamic and complex developmental process of professional reasoning. Through interaction with clinical practice and educator support, early-career occupational therapists internalise and verbalise scripts, ultimately becoming autonomous practitioners in the workplace. Conclusion: The four themes identified in this study constitute a structured framework that enables clinical educators to understand and facilitate the professional reasoning transformation of early-career occupational therapists.
Background: Community-based workforce development programs (WDPs) are increasingly used in Canada to improve labor-market participation among marginalized adults facing multiple barriers, yet evaluation evidence remains limited. Methods: We conducted a summative, utilization-focused, mixed-methods evaluation of the Bissell Centre WDP in Edmonton, Alberta. Administrative data for 62 adults who completed the 12-week in-class program phase and reached 6-month follow-up were analyzed to estimate employment at 3 and 6 months, employment duration, and wage. Semi-structured interviews with 14 participants examined perceived mechanisms of change. Results: At 6 months, 56.5% participants ( n = 35) were employed. Among those employed at least once ( n = 53), mean employment duration was 83 days (SD = 45.8) and mean wage was CAD $20.70/hour. Qualitative interviews identified three themes that supported employment: rebuilding routine, belonging, and readiness for work; exploring occupational identity and work-related capacities; environmental instability limited sustained work participation. Conclusions: Short-term workforce attachment is an achievable and meaningful outcome for marginalized adults when workforce development training is integrated with occupationally meaningful routines, social belonging, and practical support. Sustained progress, however, depends on cross-sector collaboration that bridges employment initiatives to transform early attachment into lasting economic inclusion.
Background: Neurological conditions can affect driving ability, and there is an urgent need for valid and reliable tools to recommend fitness to drive to licensing authorities for this population. The Occupational Therapy-Driver Off-Road Assessment (OT-DORA) Battery is a comprehensive, valid, reliable, user-friendly, and time efficient tool for this purpose. Aim: Describe the Italian translation and cultural adaptation of the OT-DORA Battery and present pilot test data following COSMIN guidelines. Methods: The OT-DORA Battery was translated to Italian using international guidelines, and data were gathered from 35 patients and 29 health professionals. Construct validation was undertaken and intra and inter-rater reliability coefficients were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: The translated OT-DORA Battery-Italian (I) demonstrated positive and statistically significant Pearson's correlation coefficients between cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, physical, and sensory skills (r from 0.4 to 0.6, p < 0.05). Most ICCs for inter and intrarater test-retest reliability were over 0.77. Conclusions: Although preliminary evidence supports the OT-DORA Battery-I, further studies with larger populations need to continue to demonstrate the validity and reliability of the Battery to predict fitness to drive among adults with neurological conditions. Significance: Clinicians in Italy can proceed to use the translated OT-DORA Battery with caution.
Introduction: Sleep hygiene, the set of practices promoting healthy sleep, is crucial for daily functioning and recovery. In individuals with schizophrenia, sleep difficulties and poor occupational balance are prevalent and may interact to limit participation. This study examined the association between sleep hygiene and occupational balance in this population.Method: A cross-sectional study included 84 individuals with schizophrenia from Turkish nongovernmental organizations (February-September 2024). Participants completed the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) and Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-T). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and bootstrapped linear regression.Results: Participants' mean age was 46.79 +/- 10.71 years; 81% were male. Mean OBQ11-T score was 18.14 +/- 7.56 (moderate balance), median SHI was 19 (14-22). A significant modest negative correlation was found between sleep hygiene and occupational balance (r = -0.276, p = 0.011). Regression analysis showed sleep hygiene significantly predicted occupational balance (beta = -0.27, p = 0.01), explaining 7% of variance.Conclusion: Poorer sleep hygiene is associated with lower occupational balance in schizophrenia and is a modest but significant predictor. Integrating sleep hygiene education with activity structuring in psychosocial rehabilitation may support occupational balance, participation, and well-being.
