The Multiple Errands Test-Home Version and Its Association With Driving Potential: A Pilot Study.

Importance: Driving is a complex occupation requiring the interplay of high-level cognitive, physical, sensory, and behavioral skills for safe performance. Occupational therapists need to routinely address driving with adults as an occupational performance area. Further research is needed to determine whether performance-based assessment tools can support occupational therapists in screening client driving potential.

Evaluation of a driving clinical decision pathway for generalist occupational therapists: Pilot test of practice change.

Background: Few evidence-based resources exist to support generalist occupational therapists address driving in practice. This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether a driving clinical decision pathway can assist generalist occupational therapists to address driving with clients.

Methods: Using a before (Timepoint-1) and after (Timepoint-2) design, data were collected at a multi-site outpatient community rehabilitation service.

A Systematic Review of Effective Interventions and Strategies to Support the Transition of Older Adults From Driving to Driving Retirement/Cessation.

Background And Objectives: In most western countries, older adults depend on private cars for transportation and do not proactively plan for driving cessation. The objective of this review was to examine current research studies outlining effective interventions and strategies to assist older adults during their transition from driver to driving retirement or cessation.

Research Design And Methods: A search was completed across 9 databases using key words and MeSH terms for drivers, cessation of driving, and older adult drivers.

Comprehensive quality assessment for aphasia rehabilitation after stroke: protocol for a multicentre, mixed-methods study.

Introduction: People with aphasia following stroke experience disproportionally poor outcomes, yet there is no comprehensive approach to measuring the quality of aphasia services. The Meaningful Evaluation of Aphasia SeRvicES (MEASuRES) minimum dataset was developed in partnership with people with lived experience of aphasia, clinicians and researchers to address this gap. It comprises sociodemographic characteristics, quality indicators, treatment descriptors and outcome measurement instruments.

Entrapment and extraction of wheelchairs at flange gaps with and without flange gap fillers at pedestrian railway crossings.

Purpose: Where pedestrian crossings meet rail tracks, a flange gap allows the train wheel flanges to pass. This gap can be hazardous for wheelchair users as castor wheels may become trapped. While compressible gap fillers can eliminate the flange gap, fillers are subject to wear, pose a derailment hazard to light rail vehicles and can strip grease from passing wheels.

Initial validation of the powered mobility device autonomy residential screen (PoMoDARS).

Background: The Powered Mobility Device Autonomy Residential Screen (PoMoDARS) is a new tool to enable clinicians to screen resident capacity and performance skills for powered mobility device (PMD) use in residential aged care settings. The PoMoDARS is context specific, time efficient and promotes resident autonomy and safety.

Aims: To (i) undertake initial face and content validation of the PoMoDARS, and (ii) use the research findings to make any modifications.

A Systematic Review of Wheelchair and Mobility Scooter Containment Systems Used Internationally on Public Transit Buses.

Despite the daily need for people to travel on public transit buses using their wheeled mobility devices, relatively little information is available regarding the most efficacious, affordable, and independent approaches to assist passengers with keeping their mobility devices in the designated wheelchair access space. A systematic review was undertaken to summarize this literature, place it within a geographical and temporal context, appraise its quality, and establish common themes. Key academic and grey literature transportation databases and government websites searched from 1990 to May 2022 identified 33 documents, which were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) or the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance (AACODS) tool.

Powered mobility device use in residential aged care: a retrospective audit of incidents and injuries.

Background: Powered wheelchairs and motorised mobility scooters, collectively called powered mobility devices (PMD), are highly valued by older Australians, including those living in residential care, to facilitate personal and community mobility. The number of PMDs in residential aged care is expected to grow proportionally with that of the wider community, however, there is very little literature on supporting residents to use PMDs safely. Prior to developing such supports, it is important to understand the frequency and nature of any incidents experienced by residents whilst using a PMD.

Education leads to increased adherence to the 'Australian Competency Standards for Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors'.

Background: Occupational therapy competency standards provide an evidence-base to inform clinical best practice, however it is not known whether education about competency standards will increase occupational therapists' adherence to their use.

Aims/objectives: To investigate if education about the leads to increased adherence to the competency standards in the clinical practice of occupational therapy driver assessors.

Materials And Methods: A mixed methods multiple case study design was used to evaluate 5 occupational therapy driver assessors' adherence to the competency standards.

Survey of Occupational Therapy Driver Assessors' Rehabilitation Interventions With Older Drivers.

The rehabilitation strategies used by occupational therapy driver assessors with older drivers with age-related decline or health conditions are not well understood. The objective of the study was to describe driver rehabilitation interventions used by Australian driver assessors, identify factors that guide rehabilitation choices, and identify barriers and facilitators encountered. An online survey was emailed to 300 driver assessors.

Menstrual hygiene management strategies used by women who are blind or have low vision.

Background: Menstrual hygiene management is a global public health issue that requires local and individualized support to reduce activity limitations and enable safe, independent task performance for people with impaired body functions.

Aim: How do women with blindness or low vision self-manage their menstrual hygiene to promote independence, and what do they recommend occupational therapists incorporate in education for young women when working in this field?

Methods: Phenomenological design revealing lived experience expertise. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six women who are blind or have low vision aged 16-70 in Australia.

The revision of competency standards for occupational therapy driver assessors in Australia: A mixed methods approach.

Introduction: Competency standards outline the knowledge, skills, and attributes that are required for competent practice. This study describes the process followed to revise and validate the competency standards for occupational therapy driver assessors in order to guide clinical practice in this area of advanced occupational therapy practice.

Methods: A mixed methods research approach was used in this study.

Public perspectives on acquired brain injury rehabilitation and components of care: A Citizens' Jury.

Background: Brain injury rehabilitation is an expensive and long-term endeavour. Very little published information or debate has underpinned policy for service delivery in Australia. Within the context of finite health budgets and the challenges associated with providing optimal care to persons with brain injuries, members of the public were asked 'What considerations are important to include in a model of care of brain injury rehabilitation?'

Methods: Qualitative study using the Citizen Jury method of participatory research.

Burden and Preparedness amongst Informal Caregivers of Adults with Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

This study examined the patterns of informal (unpaid) caregiving provided to people after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), explore the self-reported burden and preparedness for the caregiving role, and identify factors predictive of caregiver burden and preparedness. A cross-sectional cohort design was used. Informal caregivers completed the Demand and Difficulty subscales of the Caregiving Burden Scale; and the Mutuality, Preparedness, and Global Strain subscales of the Family Care Inventory.

Maze test score time adjustments when using nondominant hand in fitness-to-drive assessments.

Drivers with medical conditions may need to demonstrate their fitness by participating in clinical and on-road assessments. Scores from the clinic-based occupational therapy-drive home maze test (OT-DHMT) can contribute to fitness-to-drive recommendations. The OT-DHMT is a short, timed test that has previously been shown to be valid and reliable, and norms are available for completion with a driver's dominant hand.

An early warning system for diabetic automobile drivers with peripheral neuropathy.

Purpose: People with Type 2 diabetes exhibit peripheral neuropathy that results in the progressive loss of sensation in their feet. This may adversely affect their ability to drive as there is the potential for their foot to slip off the accelerator or brake pedals, with unwanted consequences including traffic accidents. This research aimed to develop a prototype for an adaptive haptic foot device for diabetic drivers experiencing peripheral neuropathy that can serve as an early warning system for foot slip during driving.

A randomized controlled trial protocol investigating effectiveness of an activity-pacing program for deconditioned older adults.

Background.: Acute hospitalization of older adults can lead to deconditioning and the need for rehabilitation to facilitate a return to home and previous lifestyle. An occupational therapy intervention to combat deconditioning is activity pacing, an active self-management strategy where individuals learn to modify how and when activities are completed with the aim of improving participation in occupation.

Effect of Navigation Problems, Assessment Location, and a Practice Test on Driving Assessment Performance for People with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: People with Alzheimer's disease may be required to undertake clinical and on-road assessments to determine fitness to drive. The manner in which on-road assessments are conducted with drivers who do and do not have navigational problems may affect the outcome.

Objectives: Investigate the effect of 1) navigational difficulties, 2) location of assessment (un/familiar area) and assessment order, and 3) undertaking a second assessment (practice), on passing an on-road driving assessment.

The inter-rater reliability of the Powered Mobility Device Assessment Training Tool.

Introduction: The prescription of powered mobility devices for clients is an important role for occupational therapists. However, the skill of may powered mobility device users to drive their devices remains unknown and clients are provided with only brief education on their use. Few assessments exist to guide mobility device use assessment, and none of these incorporate the training clients need.

Occupational therapy and activity pacing with hospital-associated deconditioned older adults: a randomised controlled trial.

To examine the efficacy of an occupational therapy activity pacing intervention with deconditioned older adults in rehabilitation. Randomised, single-blind controlled trial of deconditioned older adults admitted for rehabilitation following treatment of an acute medical condition, allocated to intervention [ = 51, males = 14, mean age = 80(8)] or control [ = 49, males = 12, mean age = 81(7)] group. The intervention group received individual and group activity pacing education with practice and application of techniques to daily activities and the home environment, while the control group received a typical occupational therapy program, which included brief activity pacing education.

Reliability of the Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT).

Background/aim: The delivery of evidence-based health care requires the routine adoption of outcome measures that are valid and reliable. The Australian Therapy Outcome Measures for Occupational Therapy (AusTOMs-OT) was developed in Australia to capture a global snapshot of status for any client, and has preliminary psychometric evidence to support use. Building on the psychometric evidence of the AusTOMs-OT will provide therapists and researchers with further information as to how best to apply the AusTOMs-OT in their field.

Persistent symptoms and activity changes three months after mild traumatic brain injury.

Background/aim: Approximately, 80% of traumatic brain injuries are considered mild in severity. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) may cause temporary or persisting impairments that can adversely affect an individual's ability to participate in daily occupations and life roles. This study aimed to identify symptoms, factors predicting level of symptoms and functional and psycho-social outcomes for participants with mTBI three months following injury.

Predicting fitness-to-drive following stroke using the Occupational Therapy - Driver Off Road Assessment Battery.

It is difficult to determine if, or when, individuals with stroke are ready to undergo on-road fitness-to-drive assessment. The Occupational Therapy - Driver Off Road Assessment Battery was developed to determine client suitability to resume driving. The predictive validity of the Battery needs to be verified for people with stroke.

The experience of seeking, gaining and maintaining employment after traumatic spinal cord injury and the vocational pathways involved.

Background: Vocational potential in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) are unrealised with rates of employment substantially lower than in the labour force participation of the general population and the pre-injury employment rates.

Objectives: To understand the experience and pathway of people achieving employment outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury by; classifying participants into employment outcome groups of stable, unstable and without employment; identifying pre and post-injury pathways for participants in each group and, exploring the experiences of people of seeking, gaining and maintaining employment.

Methods: Thirty-one participants were interviewed.

"I'm very visible but seldom seen": consumer choice and use of mobility aids on public transport.

Purpose: The number of mobility aid users continues to rise as the population ages. While mobility aid users rely on public transport due to its affordability, evidence suggests access can be difficult. This study aims to describe people who use mobility aids to access public transport and the role of public transport access in influencing mobility aid choice.