The use of evidence-based guidance to enable reliable and accurate measurements of the home environment.

Introduction: High quality guidance in home strategies is needed to enable older people to measure their home environment and become involved in the provision of assistive devices and to promote consistency among professionals. This study aims to investigate the reliability of such guidance and its ability to promote accuracy of results when measurements are taken by both older people and professionals.

Method: Twenty-five health professionals and 26 older people participated in a within-group design to test the accuracy of measurements taken (that is, person's popliteal height, baths, toilets, beds, stairs and chairs).

How are service users instructed to measure home furniture for provision of minor assistive devices?

Purpose: Measurements play a vital role in providing devices that meet the individual needs of users. There is increasing evidence of devices being abandoned. The reasons for this are complex but one key factor that plays a role in non-use of equipment is the lack of fit between the device, environment and person.

Polio survivors' perceptions of the meaning of quality of life and strategies used to promote participation in everyday activities.

Introduction: The term 'post-polio syndrome' (PPS) is used to describe new and late manifestations of poliomyelitis that occur later in life. Research in this area has focused upon health status rather than its effect on quality of life.

Aim: To gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning of quality of life for polio survivors and to determine the type of strategies that are used by people with PPS and the support that they consider as important to facilitate participation in everyday life activities that have an impact on their quality of life.

Factors influencing occupational therapy home visit practice: a qualitative study.

Background: Home visits prior to discharge from hospital are an integral part of both occupational therapy practice and the discharge process. However, there is remarkably little understanding as to why they occur in practice and who is thought to best benefit from a home visit. The aims of this research were to explore occupational therapists' perceptions of home visits and to ascertain their clinical reasoning in respect of conducting home visits.

Occupational therapists' perceptions about the clinical utility of the 3D interior design software.

Purpose: The 3D interior design software (3DIDS) is a technology, which primarily allows users to simulate their homes and visualize any changes prior to implementing them. This feasibility study aimed to examine occupational therapists' perceptions about the clinical utility of the 3DIDS. A secondary aim was to explore the attitudes of occupational therapists towards technology in general.

Living with polio and postpolio syndrome in the United Kingdom.

The term Postpolio Syndrome (PPS) is used to describe new and late manifestations of poliomyelitis that occur later in life in polio survivors. Polio had been eradicated in the United Kingdom (UK) and most of Europe, although this is not the case in all countries. Research in this area has tended to focus upon the impact of polio and PPS on health status and functional health rather than its overall effect on people's lives.

Is occupational therapy practice for older adults with lower limb amputations evidence-based? A systematic review.

Background: Although occupational therapists are integral to the rehabilitation process of people with amputations, the effectiveness of the occupational therapy intervention for older adults with lower limb amputations has not been investigated.

Objectives: To identify the effectiveness of the occupational therapy interventions with older adults aged 65 years and older with lower limb amputations.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Assistive technology and prediction of happiness in people withpost-polio syndrome.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between level of happiness in people with post-polio syndrome (PPS) and assistive technology (AT) by taking into account confounding factors such as age, gender and house composition.

Method: Existing data from 218 adults with PPS, who had completed a cross-sectional survey conducted by the British Polio Fellowship in 2007, were used for a secondary quantitative analysis. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to determine whether ownership of or the need for AT predicted happiness in people with PPS.

Reliability reconsidered: Cronbach's alpha and paediatric assessment in occupational therapy.

Background/aim:  Using reliable outcome measures is a necessity for the occupational therapy profession in enabling valid assessments of clients. Although Cronbach's alpha is the most widely applied index of internal consistency reliability, there are misconceptions about its use and interpretation. This paper aims to guide assessment developers in paediatric occupational therapy, as well as practitioners who are evaluating outcome measures in using and interpreting the Cronbach's alpha estimates appropriately.