No abstract

Introduction Navigating the transition to university can pose occupational performance difficulties for students with mental health disabilities including those on the autism spectrum or with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study aimed to refine the Trinity Student Occupational Performance Profile (TSOPP) – a self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role for students with mental health disabilities which is based on the Person-Environment-Occupation model. Method Data from 667 files were gathered from two Irish universities. Rasch analyses were conducted on the measure’s item-sets (i.e. Person N = 30; Environment N = 20; Occupation N = 24) and on an item-set which combined all 74 items. All item-sets were assessed for fit, rating scale functioning, dimensionality, reliability and separation indices. Results The TSOPP demonstrated stronger psychometric properties as a combined item-set which measures the ultimate construct of occupational performance difficulties within the student role. The 6-point scale was collapsed into a 4-point scale and 20 redundant items were removed. The item difficulty hierarchy provided empirical evidence for occupational performance difficulties in the student role. Conclusion The TSOPP is a valid and reliable self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role for students with mental health disabilities in higher education.

Purpose As one ages, the risk of experiencing a fall increases and poses a number of serious consequences; 30 per cent of individuals over 65 years of age fall each year. Evidence-based falls prevention programmes demonstrate efficacy in reducing the rate and risk of falls among older adults, but their use in Irish occupational therapy practice is unknown. This study aims to investigate the implementation of falls prevention programmes by occupational therapists working with older adults in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was used to gather data on the use of falls prevention programmes among occupational therapists working with older adults in any clinical setting across Ireland. Purposeful, convenience and snowball sampling methods were used. The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland acted as a gatekeeper. Descriptive statistics and summative content analysis were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Findings In all, 85 survey responses were analysed. Over 85 per cent of respondents reported “Never” using any of the evidence-based falls prevention programmes. The “OTAGO” Exercise Programme was the most “Frequently” used programme (9.5 per cent, n = 7); 29 respondents reported using “in-department” developed falls prevention programmes and 14 provided additional comments regarding current falls prevention practices in Ireland. Originality/value In the absence of Irish data on the subject, this study provides a benchmark to describe the use of evidence-based falls programmes by Irish occupational therapists with older adults.

No abstract