Strong evidence indicates that person-centered approaches can improve behavior. Moderate evidence supports noise regulation, environmental design, unobtrusive visual barriers, and environmental relocation strategies to reduce problematic behaviors. Evidence is insufficient for the effectiveness of mealtime ambient music, bright light, proprioceptive input, wander gardens, optical strategies, and sensory devices in improving behavior or reducing wandering and falls. Although evidence supports many environment-based interventions used by occupational therapy practitioners to address behavior, perception, and falls in people with AD and related major NCDs, more studies are needed.

A systematic review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent falls in people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. Twelve research reports met inclusion criteria. Studies reported on three types of intervention: (1) exercise- and motor-based interventions, (2) nursing staff–directed interventions, and (3) multidisciplinary interventions. Strategies were offered as single or multifaceted intervention programs. All types of intervention resulted in benefit, although the evidence for effectiveness is tentative because of the studies’ limitations. More research is needed to better understand appropriate dosages of intervention. No evidence was found for the effectiveness of prevention programs accessed as part of occasional respite care. Occupational therapy was seldom involved in the interventions researched. Because effective fall prevention programs are embedded in people’s daily routines and encouraged participation in occupation, the contribution occupational therapy practitioners can make to the care of people with AD has yet to be fully realized.

The objective of this study was to examine the factors influencing fieldwork educators' ability and willingness to supervise Level II occupational therapy students in hospital-based settings. Qualitative focus groups were used to explore the perceptions of occupational therapists in four urban hospitals in Nebraska. The study presents the issues facing fieldwork supervisors and their suggestions on how to improve the fieldwork process. Both personal and professional factors influenced occupational therapists' willingness to accept students, while facility constraints were the primary reason occupational therapists would not accept Level II students. Fieldwork educators believe that their facilities need structured fieldwork programs and that students need more formalized fieldwork preparation at their academic institutions. Themes highlight the need for continued collaborative endeavors between academic fieldwork coordinators and fieldwork educators.

Health care professionals have advocated for educating culturally competent practitioners. Immersion in international experiences has an impact on student cultural competency and interprofessional development. The China Honors Interprofessional Program (CHIP) at a university in the Midwest is designed to increase students' cultural competency and interprofessional development. From 2009 to 2013, a total of 25 professional students including twelve occupational therapy students, ten physical therapy students and three nursing students were enrolled in the programme. Using a one group pre and posttest research design, this study evaluated the impact of CHIP on the participating students. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the study. Findings of the study revealed that CHIP has impact on students' cultural competency and professional development including gaining appreciation and understanding of the contributions of other healthcare professionals and knowledge and skills in team work. The findings of the study suggested that international immersion experience such as CHIP is an important way to increase students' cultural competency and interprofessional knowledge and skills. Limitations of the study included the small sample in the study, indirect outcome measures and the possible celling effect of the instruments of the study. Future research studies should include a larger and more representative sample, direct outcome measures such as behaviour observation and more rigorous design such as prospective experimental comparison group design. Future research should also examine the long-term effects of international experience on the professional development of occupational therapy students. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Importance: Spasticity is one of the most common and disabling motor impairments after stroke. Objective: To examine the evidence for the effectiveness of stretching interventions, including splinting, on reducing upper extremity spasticity, increasing hand function, and improving functional tasks for adults with poststroke spasticity. Data Sources: Databases searched were MEDLINE, CINAHL, OTseeker, AgeLine, and the Cochrane Library; results were limited to studies published from 2004 to January 2017. Study Selection and Data Collection: Following PRISMA guidelines, we included articles describing Level I–III studies with participants who were adults with upper extremity spasticity and received a stretching intervention. Findings: Eleven articles describing 6 Level I and 5 Level III studies met inclusion criteria. Conclusion and Relevance: For reducing upper extremity spasticity, low strength of evidence was found to support the use of static splinting, strong strength of evidence was found for the use of stretching devices, and low strength of evidence was found to support the use of dynamic splinting; no evidence was found for manual stretching to address spasticity. For increasing hand function, moderate strength of evidence was found to support the use of static splinting, dynamic splinting, and manual stretching, and low strength of evidence was found for the use of stretching devices. For improving functional tasks, moderate strength of evidence was found to support the use of static splinting, dynamic splinting, and manual stretching, and low strength of evidence was found for the use of stretching devices. What This Article Adds: This updated synthesis summarizes the current literature regarding the effectiveness of stretching interventions to improve poststroke spasticity, hand function, and functional tasks.