The aim of this study was to assess the measurement invariance of the Therapeutic Recreation Job Responsibility Scale (TR-JRS). It measures four dimensions of recreational practitioners’ duties with 27 items: 1) administration, 2) therapy, 3) face-to-face leadership and 4) professional development. Measurement invariance assesses the ability of a single instrument, the TR-JRS, to measure duties among recreational practitioners working in different environments, members of separate professional associations, and to promote different aspects of their work. The sample comprised 417 members of the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association and the F´ederation qu´eb´ecoise du loisir en institution. The initial factorial measurement analysis showed metric invariance as the model of choice, though its overall fit was outside the usual acceptable criteria. A factor analysis with a target rotation resulted in a short scale of 14 items with an appropriate Root Mean Square Error of Approximation and Comparative Fit Index. It included the same four dimensions as the 27-item version. A measurement invariance analysis was also run on the short-form scale. The number of factors, position of items within factors, and factor loadings were equal in both groups. The absolute values of the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation and the Comparative Fit Index associated with the short form were over the acceptable cutoff points by a small margin. As expected, items means differed between the two groups and reliability coefficients were high. Such findings reflect this study’s exploratory nature. Hence, further studies on item development could improve fit indices in favor of a stronger invariance status for this scale, which measures an important construct in therapeutic recreation.

Spending time in nature is beneficial for stress reduction and recovery. Using the properties of biophilic design, this study examined the influence of a nature-based indoor environment on physiological stress systems. An experimental study was designed to assess the influence of indoor natural elements on autonomic activity (heart rate variability or HRV), self-reported environmental assessments. No differences in heart rate variability were found between participants assigned to either condition. The room with natural elements was rated more positively than the room without natural elements. Participant preference had more impact on changes in HRV for participants without exposure to natural elements. The results suggest that natural elements in indoor environments may influence the regulation of stress response via environmental preference.Abbreviations: ANCOVA: Analysis of Covariance; ANS: Autonomic Nervous System; AVNN: Average of NN; DST: Digit Span Test; EAS: Environmental Assessment Scale; ECG: Electrocardiograph; fMRI: Functional magnetic resonance imaging; HF: High Frequency; HRV: Heart Rate Variability; INE: Indoor Nature Exposure; NR: Nature-Relatedness Scale; PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; SAM: Search and Memory Test; SLSI: Student Life Stress Inventory; SMT: Sentence Making Test.

This study examined the professional responsibilities and job satisfaction of 258 members of the Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA). It extended an earlier survey done with recreational practitioners affiliated with the Federation quebecoise du loisir en institution (FQLI). The factor analysis of duties and satisfaction shows results that match with the original study. For duties, four factors center on administration, therapy, professional development and face-to-face leadership (FITL); for the satisfaction scale, the analysis confirms the intrinsic and extrinsic components of the Minnesota Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. A canonical analysis shows similar results, but with some variations, between the two studies. In the case of the first canonical factor, members in a hospital setting are more involved in recreational therapy and in FTFL, hold a therapist title and have a lower salary. In the second canonical factor, members in a hospital setting, without a therapist title, do more administrative tasks but fewer of their duties relate to FTFL and professional development; and they also have a lower salary. In conclusion, we contrast our findings with those of the original study and discuss reasons for similarities or differences in the research results. Among implications is the recognition of a wide variation in what Canadian therapeutic recreation (TR) practitioners do, where they work, and how they identify.

This research project explored students' and community practitioners' experiences of community-based experiential education and, in particular, the characteristics of such experiences that are key to creating meaningful learning opportunities. Through focus groups with current undergraduate students in recreation programs at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, and key informant interviews with practitioners at community organizations that have facilitated experiential education for our students, we explored the research question: What aspects of community-based experiential education are key to creating meaningful learning opportunities for recreation students? Based on our thematic analyses, the data can be described by the three themes of value, context, and relationships. Overall, findings suggest that all stakeholders in the experience—instructors, students, and community practitioners—need to find their involvement meaningful, and that the meaningful nature of such experiences is associated with mutual value, deep relationships, and a supportive context.

As our global population ages, physical activity has been found to be an important dimension of healthy aging. Many research fields use the terms “older adult” and “physical activity,” but differences in how these terms are defined and conceptualized can impair interpretation and comparison. As such, the purpose of this review was to determine how recent peer-reviewed articles defined, conceptualized, and operationalized the terms “older adult” and “physical activity.” Gaps in the literature resulting from considerable variation in term use and operationalization are discussed. Measures such as functional ability may be useful in addition to chronological age when describing a sample of “older adults,” while a number of age-specific considerations for physical activity measurement are presented. By illustrating the variability in how these two terms are used in the literature and outlining considerations for conceptualization and assessment, this article provides guidance for future study in the field of aging and physical activity.

This research explored the effectiveness of a leisure education program on participants' overall leisure functioning. The study took place within a Geriatric Day Hospital (GDH) where the goals are to treat and ameliorate patients' symptoms and conditions, while also ensuring promotion of a healthy lifestyle.At the time of the study there were no recreation therapy services provided to the GDH patients. The literature reviewed suggested that a formalized service including leisure education to address leisure awareness, social interaction skills, leisure resources, leisure activity skills, and recreation participation may have significant impact on GDH patients' physical, psychological, and social health. The study design therefore focused on participants' motivation and competence to engage in leisure activities and their personal leisure satisfaction.No significant differences were found between the experimental and control group related to leisure satisfaction and leisure motivation. However, interesting trends were identified in the Leisure Competence Measure. The research also identified useful thematic information collected by the research assistant and interventionist.

Engaging in outdoor nature-based spaces has significant positive physiological and psychological health benefits. Although the integration of nature into indoor spaces is rarely considered a health-promoting tool, it may be an effective method for increasing nature engagement in a largely urbanized world. This paper presents an overview of indoor nature exposure (INE) by summarizing the current evidence of INE through the use of a scoping methodology. Results show that INE can be a health-promoting tool through the interaction of nature-based stimuli and individual characteristics (e.g. gender, age). Moreover, the results of the current literature need to be interpreted with consideration to methodological issues, such as the lack of participant characteristics, the issue of exposure realism and little qualitative data to highlight individual experiences. The scoping review process allowed for the summation of results and for a framework to be created in order to better understand how INE is facilitated.

BACKGROUND:Physicians are required to maintain and sustain professional roles during their careers, making the Professional Role an important component of postgraduate education. Despite this, this role remains difficult to define, teach and assess. OBJECTIVE:To (a) understand what program directors felt were key elements of the CanMEDS Professional Role and (b) identify the teaching and assessment methods they used. METHODS:A two-step sequential mixed method design using a survey and semi-structured interviews with Canadian program directors. RESULTS:Forty-six program directors (48% response rate) completed the questionnaire and 10 participated in interviews. Participants rated integrity and honesty as the most important elements of the Role (96%) but most difficult to teach. There was a lack of congruence between elements perceived to be most important and most frequently taught. Role modeling was the most common way of informally teaching professionalism (98%). Assessments were most often through direct feedback from faculty (98%) and feedback from other health professionals and residents (61%). Portfolios (24%) were the least used form of assessment, but they allowed residents to reflect and stimulated self-assessment. CONCLUSION:Program directors believe elements of the Role are difficult to teach and assess. Providing faculty with skills for teaching/assessing the Role and evaluating effectiveness in changing attitudes/behaviors should be a priority in postgraduate programs.

(2013). ‘Cultural life’, disability, inclusion and citizenship: moving beyond leisure in isolation. Annals of Leisure Research: Vol. 16, 'Cultural Life', Disability, Inclusion and Citizenship: Moving Beyond Leisure in Isolation, pp. 183-192.

This study examined the job duties and job satisfaction of stakeholders working in the 350 leisure facilities affiliated with the Federation quebecoise du loisir en institution. The sample included 159 respondents including recreational therapists, community recreation technicians, or special education technicians. The average age was 42 years and 77% of respondents were women. Factor analysis of the tasks identified four factors: (1) administration, (2) therapy, (3) animation, and (4) development. Factor analysis performed on the simplified version of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire confirmed the extrinsic or intrinsic dimensions generally attached to this measurement instrument. In addition, a canonical analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between the categories of professional tasks, job satisfaction, and certain demographic variables. The results indicate that the stakeholders engaged more in recreational therapy, administration, development, and less in animation-related task...

We reside within a global community that is constantly changing. It is predicted that 22 million individuals per year for the next 20 years will be migrating from undeveloped to developed nations (...

Approximately 500,000 Canadians have Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia, with the majority of these individuals residing in the community. As a result, there is significant need for support networks and programs that can optimize functioning and independence of persons with dementia. Therapeutic Recreation enhances people's social, psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being across the life course and can be a key part of dementia care. This case report provides insight into one Therapeutic Recreation program and the associated model for delivery, focusing on the impact of the program on one participant with Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of Dementia. The participant's involvement in a Wii bowling activity enabled the participant to demonstrate increased focus, to engage in a familiar and meaningful activity, and to master new skills. Several implications are noted, such as the importance of completing a task analysis and identifying problem areas for the person with Alzheimer's. It was also observed that the caregiver benefited from the client's improvements. Future studies and practice should include the caregiver in the sessions, which may assist in transferring skills to the home environment.

Approximately 500,000 Canadians have Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, with the majority of these individuals residing in the community. As a result, there is significant need for support networks and programs that can optimize functioning and independence of persons with dementia. Therapeutic Recreation enhances people’s social, psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being across the life course and can be a key part of dementia care. This case report provides insight into one Therapeutic Recreation program and the associated model for delivery, focusing on the impact of the program on one participant with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of Dementia. The participant’s involvement in a Wii bowling activity enabled the participant to demonstrate increased focus, to engage in a familiar and meaningful activity, and to master new skills. Several implications are noted, such as the importance of completing a task analysis and identifying problem areas for the person with Alzheimer’s. It was also observed that the caregiver benefited from the client’s improvements. Future studies and practice should include the caregiver