Importance: Spanish-speaking populations represent a significant percentage of occupational therapy clientele globally. Culturally appropriate Spanish translations of assessments are therefore imperative. This study describes the process of a culturally adapted translation of a set of tests for use with Spanish-speaking pediatric populations. Objective: To produce a culturally adapted Spanish translation of the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration^® (EASI) for international use. Method: We used cultural adaptation methodology that included direct and back translations of the EASI by bilingual translators and interviews with pediatric occupational therapists and children ages 3–6 yr from Spain. Linguistic experts helped revise the translations, and pediatric occupational therapy leaders in five Spanish-speaking North and South American countries reviewed the translations for comprehensibility and cultural appropriateness. Results: Back translations demonstrated equivalence with the original EASI tests except for a few test instructions and scoring criteria. Interviews with occupational therapists and children in Spain revealed some comprehension difficulties for several tests, which were revised in consultation with a linguistic expert. Additional adaptations were made on the basis of recommendations to address cultural differences by occupational therapy leaders from five North and South American countries. Most changes in wording were made in one EASI test (Praxis: Following Directions) that is heavily dependent on language comprehension. Conclusions and Relevance: We used currently recommended methodologies to develop and adapt a Spanish translation of the EASI for use across diverse cultures. What This Article Adds: A Spanish translation of the EASI has been developed for use in culturally diverse Spanish-speaking countries around the world.

Importance: Occupational therapy practitioners can play a pivotal role in supporting breastfeeding mothers as they transition to and form new routines for this occupation. Objective: To explore whether occupational therapy programming can assist breastfeeding mothers in reaching their personal occupation-based wellness goals. Design: Mixed-methods design that involved development of an occupational profile and a goal attainment scale (GAS). After the intervention, participants rescored their GAS goals and completed a semistructured exit interview. Setting: Nonprofit lactation center located in the suburbs of a large mid-Atlantic U.S. city. Participants: Women recruited through convenience sampling who had been breastfeeding an infant for <6 mo, who were not currently weaning, and who had met with a lactation consultant at least once since giving birth were eligible (N = 17). Intervention: Group occupational therapy that consisted of 10 weekly 1-hr sessions. Topics were based on occupational profiles, GAS scores, and lactation consultant input. Outcomes and Measures: Each participant created and scored three goals using the GAS before and after the intervention. Results: Data from 14 of the 17 participants were analyzed. The average postintervention GAS score was 56.50 (M = 50), indicating that most personal wellness goals were reached. Thematic analysis revealed that occupational therapy programming helped mothers persevere with breastfeeding, feel more confident as new parents, and value both themselves and their baby. Conclusions and Relevance: There is an increasing role for occupational therapy practitioners in helping new mothers reach their personal wellness goals in ways that support their ability to continue breastfeeding. What This Article Adds: Maternal wellness and breastfeeding represent an emerging area of practice in which occupational therapy practitioners can provide new mothers with physical, social, and psychological supports that help them maintain self-efficacy related to breastfeeding and other meaningful occupations. This study provides foundational evidence in support of this collaboration.

Unpaid caregivers are often expected to help family members or friends overcome activity limitations and participation restrictions to successfully age in place. Caregivers assume multiple responsibilities, such as managing their own physical and psychosocial needs and navigating a complex health care system, and many feel ill equipped to fulfill the necessary health care responsibilities for their care recipients. Underprepared caregivers may cause poor outcomes for care recipients. Federal and state policy proposals call attention to the need to better support caregivers, especially as their numbers increase. Occupational therapy practitioners are well positioned to effectively engage caregivers as they navigate the health care system. The occupational therapy process looks broadly at the functional abilities, environmental contexts, and occupational demands that play a pivotal role in successful aging in place for clients and better outcomes for their caregivers. Now is the time to define occupational therapy’s distinct value to this area.

Importance: Occupational therapy use in the neurological critical care unit (NCCU) may relate to patient factors, but data about these relationships remain unpublished. Objective: To examine how patient factors predict NCCU occupational therapy use and intervention types. Design: Retrospective cohort study of electronic health records data from adults admitted to the NCCU between May 2013 and September 2015. Setting: NCCU in a large, urban academic hospital. Participants: Adults (age ≥18 yr; N = 1,134) admitted to the NCCU. Measures: Using length of stay (LOS), number of comorbidities, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, gender, age, and racial–ethnic minority status as independent variables, separate regression models identified predictors for each dependent variable: receipt of NCCU occupational therapy, occupational therapy onset (days after admission), and receipt of self-care or home management (ADL–Home); functional activities or cognitive training (Func–Cog); and therapeutic exercise (Ther-Ex). Results: Four hundred twenty patients (37.0%) received occupational therapy in the NCCU. Receipt of occupational therapy was positively associated with LOS, number of comorbidities, GCS score, and age. Earlier occupational therapy onset was associated with higher GCS score and shorter LOS. Receipt of ADL–Home or Func–Cog interventions was significantly predicted by number of occupational therapy sessions, but patients with longer LOS were less likely to receive ADL–Home interventions. Receipt of Ther-Ex interventions became less likely as GCS score increased. Conclusions and Relevance: Patients are more likely to receive occupational therapy services if they are older and have a longer NCCU LOS, more comorbidities, and a higher level of consciousness. What This Article Adds: A patient’s level of consciousness is clearly associated with occupational therapy utilization and hospital outcomes, but it should not be the only factor considered when prioritizing patients for NCCU occupational therapy services. Compared with patients who were more awake and alert, patients with a lower level of consciousness had a later onset of occupational therapy, which suggests an opportunity for NCCU occupational therapists to collaborate with physicians in the modification of sedation protocols to enable early rehabilitation.

Importance: An analysis by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA; 2015a ) found that an additional 10,000 mental health care providers will be needed by 2025 to meet the expected growth in demand for treatment of people with mental illness, substance use disorder, or both. Despite being the largest payer of mental health services in the United States, the Medicaid program has extremely low numbers of mental health providers ( Frank et al., 2003 ). Objective: This Health Policy Perspectives column is a collaboration among academics, clinicians, and students in the fields of occupational therapy and law in an effort to advance state occupational therapy associations’ efforts to gain formal recognition of occupational therapy practitioners as Qualified Mental Health Providers (QMHPs) and/or Qualified Behavioral Health Providers (QBHPs). Conclusion: Coordination among states to identify barriers and opportunities in this important advocacy effort are needed for continued successful inclusion of occupational therapy practitioners as QMHPs, QBHPs, or both. What This Article Adds: This column will assist other states in their efforts by providing legislation, strategic advocacy examples, and a course of action.

Older adults living in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care facilities are particularly susceptible to the coronavirus disease 2019 virus and face unique challenges during their rehabilitation process. This case report highlights the disease and rehabilitation course of an older adult who received all of his medical and rehabilitative treatment while residing in a SNF. The occupational therapy evaluation and intervention processes, as well as the client’s response to intervention, are described. The client’s positive outcomes are linked directly to occupational therapy’s ability to incorporate medical, physical, and psychosocial aspects into part of the interdisciplinary model of care in a SNF.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented unique challenges for occupational therapy practitioners working in acute and critical care settings. Using the best available evidence, this case report overviews a prototypical COVID-19 disease course and discusses key aspects of clinical reasoning for practitioners working with this novel population. Following a single patient admitted to a tertiary academic medical center, the authors review the occupational profile and medical history, common impairments, the intervention plan, and strategies to align the occupational therapy and medical goals of care.

Date Presented 04/13/21 The value of family-centered care is identified in the literature, highlighting the need for therapists to use a variety of approaches. However, there is limited evidence as to how to best provide care with families dealing with complex contexts such as language, cultural, and socioeconomic differences. This session will provide the perspectives of eight OTs who identified strategies to support the primary caregiver and ways in which to build therapeutic alliances. Primary Author and Speaker: Tamera Keiter Humbert Additional Authors and Speakers: Patricia A. Henton Contributing Authors: Shelley Dean

Date Presented 04/13/21 In our poster, we describe the experiences and meanings of international pro bono service work for OTs and OTAs, for which no published research exists. Semistructured interviews were done with eight people who had been on at least two trips. The EPP method of data analysis was done, and summaries and themes across participants were generated. As OT expands globally, the results of our study can help increase understanding of how OTs practice as global citizens. Primary Author and Speaker: Joseph Cipriani Additional Authors and Speakers: Jessie N. Zimmer, Cherie Graves

Date Presented 04/13/21 Racial bias is defined as the negative evaluation of a group and its members relative to another and can exist on explicit and implicit levels. This is an exploratory study to examine the presence of implicit and explicit racial bias among OT professionals across the United States. The results (N = 201) highlight the presence of implicit and explicit racial biases among OT professionals in the United States and the need for further education on racial bias. Primary Author and Speaker: Alaa Abou-Arab Additional Authors and Speakers: Alee Leteria, Kristina Zanayed, and Susanne Higgins

Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. OTs are integral in education settings, but their inability to define their role and differences between the educational and therapeutic cultures challenge their professional identity development. Reliable and valid tools to assess the role perceptions and professional identity of OTs in education systems indicate that teamwork is the most influential factor in OTs' positive professional identity. Primary Author and Speaker: Yael Fogel Additional Authors and Speakers: Liron Lamash

Date Presented 04/21/21 Findings will be presented from a quantitative study exploring if, how, and when OTs address self-advocacy with their clients during therapeutic interventions. Implications for OT practice will be discussed, including examples of strategies used to provide clients with self-advocacy education and how they are being implemented in treatment and continuing education. Primary Author and Speaker: Laura Vanpuymbrouck Additional Authors and Speakers: Yinao Wang, Abigail Catalano Contributing Authors: Gesina Phillips

Date Presented 04/22/21 OTs are trained to identify cognitive impairments in individuals diagnosed with specific diseases or who have sustained injuries or experienced a neurological event such as stroke. However, the presenters’ research demonstrates that OTs are underutilizing formal cognitive assessments and more often relying on observations and screening tools. Presenters discuss survey findings, setting influences, and potential solutions for OTs to increase the use of cognitive assessments in practice. Primary Author and Speaker: Amanda J. Blattman Contributing Authors: Jacqueline Schechter, Anne Spence, Susan S. Hayashi, Kara Sauerburger, Molly Houdeshell, Jennifer Henry, Judith Lieu, Robert Hayashi, and Allison King

Occupational therapy’s focus on functional cognition offers a distinct approach to the assessment of and intervention for occupational performance deficits that may follow coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although the majority of people survive COVID-19, many people experience persistent functional cognitive sequelae severe enough to interfere with occupational performance. After COVID-19, people may be categorized as either (1) those who experience severe or critical illness requiring hospitalization or (2) those with mild to moderate presentations of the virus without hospitalization. A third group of those who do not have ongoing signs of active infection but who experience new, lasting, or deteriorating symptoms has begun to emerge and may represent a distinct COVID-19 long-haul syndrome. By following the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and using established processes for occupational therapy assessment and treatment of functional cognition, occupational therapy practitioners can tailor assessments and interventions to meet clients’ needs.

This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy highlights the contribution of occupational therapy practitioners to the care of clients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The case studies and articles exemplify the resilience of practitioners and the importance of occupational therapy interventions in addressing the physical, cognitive, psychological, and social needs of clients, their families, and care providers. We encourage practitioners to be inventive, to be collaborative, and to contribute to research regarding the benefits of occupational therapy for this population.

This case report describes the distinct value of occupational therapy services in the treatment of a pediatric patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in an acute care setting. Practice-based evidence was used to design the treatment plan for this patient throughout the course of his hospital stay. Interventions addressed range of motion, strength, functional endurance, activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and functional cognition. Occupational therapy goals focused on the progression toward return to baseline functioning and participation in ADLs and IADLs.

This case report describes occupational therapy services provided in consultation with a primary care practice for a community-dwelling older adult dyad with mild coronavirus disease 2019. The occupational therapy evaluation included administration of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure through telehealth to identify priority areas for intervention; the clients selected participation during activities of daily living and mealtime, fall prevention, cooking together, and leisure participation. The intervention process focused on addressing the dyad’s identified priorities as well as managing caregiver stress and preventing hospitalization. Positive outcomes were achieved while adhering to social distancing guidelines set forth by state and national agencies.

This case report examines the role of occupational therapy in the recovery of a client who became critically ill with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In it, we describe evaluation and treatment methods, functional impairments, and special considerations when working with a client with severe coronavirus disease 2019 infection. The client was a 43-yr-old Hispanic man treated in a long-term acute-care hospital. Client-centered treatment sessions focused on activities of daily living (ADLs), self-feeding, medication management, and leisure and were implemented in 30- to 45-min sessions 3 times per week for 5 wk. The Activity Measure for Post Acute Care Daily Activities Short Form was used to measure basic mobility, daily activities, and applied cognition in the acute setting. A manual dynamometer was used to measure grip strength, and the Nine-Hole Peg Test was used to measure digit dexterity. Both were used in the context of occupational engagement. Data were collected at evaluation, every 2 wk, and at discharge. The client achieved his goals and demonstrated marked improvement in independence with basic ADLs, leisure activities, bilateral grip strength, and manual dexterity.

Prolonged symptoms from the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), otherwise known as long COVID, postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), or post-COVID syndrome, are affecting an increasingly high number of patients after severe, moderate, and mild acute COVID-19 infections. Using evidence-based practice strategies, this case report describes occupational therapy evaluation and treatment approaches, plan of care, and associated outcomes for one client experiencing long COVID symptoms in the outpatient setting.

Disability studies (DS) is an interdisciplinary field grounded in a minority studies philosophy that approaches disability as a socially constructed phenomenon. The first special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy on DS was published in 2005. The present issue serves as a follow-up to highlight opportunities for and examples of DS integration into occupational therapy education, research, and practice. Studies in this special issue reflect a DS approach to research that prioritizes lived experiences, critical approaches, and participatory methodologies. Reported interventions focus on changing societal barriers rather than remediating individual impairments and acknowledge instrumental activities of daily living often neglected by traditional research. Studies on educational practices in occupational therapy have found persistent issues around negative attitudes toward disability and many opportunities to better infuse disabilities studies into curricula. Revisiting DS as it applies to occupational therapy has shown that many of the issues and considerations raised in 2005 remain in the field today. Recommendations across articles in this special issue highlight that advocacy and working for broader social change are essential for occupational therapy practitioners, given ongoing occupational injustices for people with disabilities. Infusing DS ideas into occupational therapy can promote greater alignment with priorities of disability communities and spur professional change to dismantle oppressive structures and ideologies.