Our study showed a positive effect of SNS interventions on health behavior-related outcomes, but there was considerable heterogeneity. Protocol registration The protocol for this systematic review is registered at http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO with the number CRD42013004140.

BackgroundPersonally controlled health management systems (PCHMSs) contain a bundle of features to help patients and consumers manage their health. However, it is unclear how consumers actually use a PCHMS in their everyday settings.ObjectiveTo conduct an empirical analysis of how consumers used the social (forum and poll) and self-reflective (diary and personal health record [PHR]) features of a Web-based PCHMS designed to support their physical and emotional well-being.MethodsA single-group pre/post-test online prospective study was conducted to measure use of a Web-based PCHMS for physical and emotional well-being needs during a university academic semester. The PCHMS integrated an untethered PHR with social forums, polls, a diary, and online messaging links with a health service provider. Well-being journeys additionally provided information to encourage engagement with clinicians and health services. A total of 1985 students and staff aged 18 and above with access to the Internet were recruited online, of which 709 were eligible for analysis. Participants’ self-reported well-being, health status, health service utilization, and help-seeking behaviors were compared using chi-square, McNemar’s test, and Student’s t test. Social networks were constructed to examine the online forum communication patterns among consumers and clinicians.ResultsThe two PCHMS features that were used most frequently and considered most useful and engaging were the social features (ie, the poll and forum). More than 30% (213/709) of participants who sought well-being assistance during the study indicated that other people had influenced their decision to seek help (54.4%, 386/709 sought assistance for physical well-being; 31.7%, 225/709 for emotional well-being). Although the prevalence of using a self-reflective feature (diary or PHR) was not as high (diary: 8.6%, 61/709; PHR: 15.0%, 106/709), the proportion of participants who visited a health care professional during the study was more than 20% greater in the group that did use a self-reflective feature (diary: P=.03; PHR: P<.001).ConclusionsThere was variation in the degree to which consumers used social and self-reflective PCHMS features but both were significantly associated with increased help-seeking behaviors and health service utilization. A PCHMS should combine both self-reflective as well as socially driven components to most effectively influence consumers’ help-seeking behaviors.

Background/Aims The rapid expansion of web-based video hosting platforms has resulted in DVD-assisted learning being increasingly used in higher education. This format is particularly attractive for teaching clinical skills as it provides a permanent resource that can be cost effective for the university, while providing a flexible learning tool for the learner. DVD-assisted learning has been found to be effective in teaching clinical skills when compared with other teaching modalities; however, the majority of this research has been conducted in the discipline of medicine to teach surgical skills. The aim of this research was to determine the efficacy of a DVD-based teaching approach (intervention) compared with the traditional face-to-face approach (control) to teach occupational therapy students to transfer a patient using a hoist. Methods A single-blind, randomised controlled pilot trial was carried out among final-year occupational therapy students (n=12) who were randomly assigned to DVD-assisted or face-to-face training. Each participant's performance in executing the transfer of a non-weight bearing client from bed to wheelchair was evaluated pre- and post-training using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. Students' perceived confidence in completing the task and satisfaction with the training was evaluated post-training. Results Both groups of students demonstrated an improvement in performance of the hoist transfer following training. There was no significant difference in the level of improvement between groups; however, the small sample size meant the research could not reach definitive conclusions. Participants who attended face-to-face training had higher levels of perceived confidence in completing the task and were more satisfied with the training received than those who engaged in DVD-assisted training. Conclusions This study is inconclusive in determining whether DVD-assisted training is as effective as face-to-face training in the acquisition of hoist transfer skills among occupational therapists. With DVD-assisted learning expected to increase, this study offers a useful protocol by which to conduct research on this topic with a larger sample size.

Are occupational therapists using risk assessment to its fullest potential? Taking part in activities of daily living can introduce significant risk for someone overcoming disabilities and risk assessment is regularly utilised to confirm where harm is liable to occur. In this opinion piece, risk assessment is promoted as a valuable addition to the therapist's 'toolbox'-allowing, rather than hindering, occupational therapy practice. In offering therapists the opportunity to engage creatively in finding novel solutions to problems, risk assessment can, in fact, avoid a focus on what cannot be done in favour of what can be done with greater certainty, accountability and transparency.

While occupational therapy students in Ireland receive training in safe patient handling they appear to have limited knowledge of best practice and experience difficulties in applying their learning to clinical situations. There is an urgent need to consider the effectiveness of current educational strategies in this area. Implications for Rehabilitation Safe patient handling is a key component in preventing musculoskeletal injury among rehabilitation professionals The extent to which pre-professional training prepares rehabilitation professionals to practice safe patient handling is unclear Occupational therapy students in this study had limited knowledge of safe patient handling and had difficulty applying their learning to clinical practice Alternative education models are required to support development of safe patient handling skills. Educators may wish to consider how safe patient handling can be embedded across curricula to avoid the challenges of once off instruction and massed practice.