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Biomedical subjects

Helen Madill

Publications and source records attributed to Helen Madill.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Online learning: the potential for occupational therapy education.

Online learning continues to have a significant impact on higher education. Increasingly students seek a combination of online learning and face-to-face instruction at undergraduate and graduate levels and occupational therapists ask for online continuing professional development opportunities. However, occupational therapy educators have been slow to adopt web-based instructional technology. This paper presents background information on the use of web-based learning in the general sphere of higher education and outlines the current range of usage in occupational therapy education. Research findings are presented to stimulate discussion regarding online learning and occupational therapy professional socialisation, student satisfaction and outcomes. There is a fine line between full and partial online course delivery, so research on technology-enhanced campus-based delivery is also included in the review. Evidence suggests that blending combinations of technologies with computer mediated learning enhances interaction and could address the higher order learning needs of professional programmes such as occupational therapy.

Computer Literacy↗

Therapists' perspectives on the management and delivery of occupational therapy and physical therapy services.

The impact of resructuring healthcare services on the day-to-day practice of occupational therapists and physical therapists was examined. Four main issues emerged: limited understanding of scopes of practice; absence of a rehabilitation perspective at decision-making tables; lack of a career ladder; and barriers to the maintenance and enhancement of professional competence. This article describes the reported impact of these issues on patient care specifically and on the healthcare system in general. Recommendations for an improved structure within an interdisciplinary management paradigm that would ensure effective and efficient use of healthcare resources are provided.

Allied Health Personnel↗

Classroom-based assessment: validation for the school AMPS.

The role of the occupational therapist working in the school system is to facilitate a student's task performance or ability to do purposeful and meaningful activities so that the student benefits from the educational experience. To fulfill this role, occupational therapists need assessments that address functional performance issues in the classroom and provide information for effective programming and consultation. The School Version of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (School AMPS) is an observational evaluation of functional skills in the classroom. Common classroom activities are observed to assess a child's school motor and school process skills. This study examined the validity of the School AMPS by comparing it to the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Fine Motor (PDMS-FM), a common assessment used in local area school districts in Edmonton, Alberta. Results show a higher correlation of the PDMS-FM with the motor scale of the School AMPS than with the process scale of the School AMPS, which was expected. The School AMPS appears to be a promising instrument for measuring the constructs of school motor and school process skills within a naturalistic setting.

Child↗