INTRODUCTION: Based on the "2019 Living Time Survey" data conducted by the National Statistical Office, this study is aimed at comparing the time usage of single-parent families by classifying the occupation area based o...INTRODUCTION: Based on the "2019 Living Time Survey" data conducted by the National Statistical Office, this study is aimed at comparing the time usage of single-parent families by classifying the occupation area based on the fourth edition of the occupational therapy practice framework (OTPF) and dividing time use according to weekdays and weekends and by gender. METHODS: After extracting the subjects who were selected belonging to a single-parent family from the original data of the "2019 Living Time Survey," 404 subjects who were single parents were selected, and the data were analysed. The sample consisted of 134 males and 270 females. The time usage by occupation area during weekdays and weekends and according to the gender of the subjects was checked. By using SPSS 25.0 version for data analysis, the general characteristics and time usage of subjects were presented as frequency analysis and technical statistics, and an independent sample -test was conducted to compare time usage on weekdays and weekends. RESULTS: Subjects spent more time on "education" and "work" on weekdays, and on weekends, they spent more time on "activities of daily living," "rest and sleep," "leisure," and "social participation." After classifying the subjects by gender, men spent more time on "work" on weekdays, and on weekends, they spent more time on "activities of daily living," "rest and sleep," "leisure," and "social participation." Women spent more time on "education" and "work" on weekdays, and on weekends, they spent more time on "rest and sleep," "leisure," and "social participation." CONCLUSION: By examining the time usage of single-parent families according to the day of the week, we hope that it will be used as basic data to suggest in which areas they have difficulty managing time, depending on the day of the week, and to establish solutions to insufficient time use due to gender differences.
Executive functions (EF) and sensorimotor skills play a critical role in children's goal-directed behavior and school readiness. The aim of the current study is to provide new insights into the relationship between execu...Executive functions (EF) and sensorimotor skills play a critical role in children's goal-directed behavior and school readiness. The aim of the current study is to provide new insights into the relationship between executive functions and sensorimotor development by considering the risks associated with learning difficulties. Therefore, we investigate the predictive role of EF and sensorimotor skills in the development of learning difficulties during preschool years. Ninety-five preschool children (5-7 years old) were tested, comparing the performance of children that are at risk of learning difficulties ( = 55) to the performance of typically developing children ( = 40). Participants completed a battery for the assessment of sensorimotor skills (i.e., Southern California Sensory Integration Test: postural imitation, body midline crossing, bilateral motor coordination, and standing balance with eyes open) and executive functions (i.e., inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and verbal working memory). Our results show that children at risk for learning difficulties exhibited more impairments on sensorimotor and EF measures (inhibition and verbal working memory) when compared with TD children. We ran three separate binary logistic regression analyses to assess the relative influence of EF and sensorimotor functions on predicting risk for learning difficulties. Our findings demonstrated that verbal working memory as EF function (odd ratio (OR) = 0.91, 95% CI 0.78-0.91, = 0.05) and standing balance skills as a sensorimotor skill (odd ratio (OR) = 0.86, 95% CI 0.81-0.98, = 0.01) were the strongest predictors of risk for learning difficulties. The findings point to the importance of supporting children's executive function development and promoting sensorimotor development, as both fundamentally influence school readiness.
The study explored cross-sectional associations between loneliness and occupational dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults. Seventy-four older adults (12 men and 62 women; mean age 73.9 ± 8.3 years) completed a q...The study explored cross-sectional associations between loneliness and occupational dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults. Seventy-four older adults (12 men and 62 women; mean age 73.9 ± 8.3 years) completed a questionnaire survey that included the Japanese version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 and the Classification and Assessment of Occupational Dysfunction (CAOD). Bayesian statistical modeling was used for a more stable estimation given the small sample. For model selection, we assumed a univariate analysis model of the CAOD (Model 1); a multivariate analysis model, including confounding factors in Model 1 (Model 2); and a multivariate analysis model, including random effects in Model 2 (Model 3). The best model was selected by comparing the widely applicable information criterion (WAIC) and the widely applicable Bayesian information criterion (WBIC) for each model. Bayesian statistics with the dependent variable as "loneliness" showed that the best model used "occupational dysfunction" as the independent variable and included confounding factors and random effects (WAIC = 474.5 and WBIC = 213.1). The best model identified an association between occupational dysfunction and loneliness (odds ratio [OR] = 2.363; 95% Bayesian confidence interval [CI] = 1.105-5.259). This study highlights the role of occupational dysfunction in addition to the risks and related factors reported to date when dealing with loneliness. Therapists could help older adults cope with loneliness by supporting their social participation and improving their occupational dysfunction.
This study explores the perceptions and experiences of Korean occupational therapists (OTs) about their role in managing elderly patients with orthopedic conditions. The goal is to inform policy discussions for better in...This study explores the perceptions and experiences of Korean occupational therapists (OTs) about their role in managing elderly patients with orthopedic conditions. The goal is to inform policy discussions for better integration of OT services in orthopedic care settings in Korea. A survey was conducted among Korean clinical OTs to gather data on their perceptions, experiences, and challenges in providing orthopedic OT services. Snowball sampling was used, and the survey addressed general characteristics, orthopedic OT status, perceptions, and competence. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage calculations in SPSS 22.0. Out of 171 respondents, only 18 had experience working in orthopedic departments, while 78 (45.6%) had provided occupational therapy to orthopedic patients. Rehabilitation medicine physicians were the primary prescribers of orthopedic OT. Key challenges included a lack of awareness among professionals, an absence of appropriate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. The majority of respondents agreed that providing OT in orthopedic departments was appropriate and expressed a need for education and clinical guidelines. The study examines the current state of orthopedic OT in Korea, showing low levels of experience and highlighting challenges, such as a lack of professional awareness, inadequate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. Respondents mostly agreed on the necessity for education and clinical guidelines to improve their capabilities in orthopedic settings. This study emphasizes the need for healthcare system improvements that allow OTs to participate more widely without being confined to specific medical disciplines, promoting a more comprehensive approach to OT, especially as the aging population continues to grow.
BACKGROUND: During the normal ageing process, a person's cognitive functions and memory gradually decline, which can affect their ability to perform everyday activities including cooking, cleaning, managing finances, and...BACKGROUND: During the normal ageing process, a person's cognitive functions and memory gradually decline, which can affect their ability to perform everyday activities including cooking, cleaning, managing finances, and shopping. Semantic memory encoding strategies benefit older adults' cognitive and functional performance. Such strategies can be taught by an accessible, cost-effective, and flexible app-based programme. Currently, no studies examine such an app-based programme focussed on everyday activities. OBJECTIVES: To determine if an app-based programme constructed on the principles of semantic memory encoding strategies, targeted towards older adults, called Enhancing Memory in Daily Life (E-MinD Life) is (1) feasible by examining acceptance, engagement, and attendance and (2) acceptable by examining the perceived effectiveness, relevancy, clarity, and convenience. METHODS: Eleven participants were recruited to a nine-week (18 sessions) programme using E-MinD Life. Feasibility was measured by collecting data on recruitment and retention rates, attendance, and duration of sessions. Acceptability was measured via a Likert scale questionnaire and free comments. Likert scale responses were analysed using descriptive statistics; open-ended responses were categorised qualitatively via constant comparative approach. RESULTS: Nine participants completed the programme. Overall, most participants found the programme relevant, convenient, logical, and easy to understand and perceived it to be effective to address functional cognitive problems impacting performance of everyday activities. The results from the qualitative analysis showed that participants found the programme enjoyable and the interaction with the research team throughout the intervention beneficial. CONCLUSION: E-MinD Life shows promise as the focus of further research to determine the effectiveness of the programme and sematic-based cognitive strategies in maintaining cognition and performance in everyday activities among older adults with and without cognitive impairment.
OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to describe the occupations people engaged in more frequently during lockdown than before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a function of generation. The secondary objectives w...OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to describe the occupations people engaged in more frequently during lockdown than before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic as a function of generation. The secondary objectives were to (i) describe the levels of importance, performance, and satisfaction for these occupations and (ii) identify factors affecting the levels of importance, performance, and satisfaction. METHOD: We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of young adults (YAs, aged 18-39), middle-aged adults (MAs, aged 40-59), and older adults (OAs, aged 60 or over). RESULTS: 2534 participants (YAs: 47%, MAs: 33%, and OAs: 20%) cited 4500 occupations. The occupations in which people most engaged were leisure occupations (67%), followed by productive occupations (31%) and then self-care (2%) occupations. YAs gave a median (interquartile range) importance score of 8 (6; 9) to leisure, 8 (7; 10) to productivity, and 8 (7; 10) to self-care. MAs gave a median importance score of 8 (6; 10) to leisure, 8 (7; 10) to productivity, and 8 (7; 10) to self-care. OAs gave a median importance score of 8 (7; 10) to leisure, 8 (7; 9) to productivity, and 9 (8; 10) to self-care. In a pre-/postlockdown comparison, the changes in performance scores among YAs were +5 (3; 6) for leisure, +4 (2; 5) for productivity, and +4 (3; 6) for self-care. Among MAs, these changes were, respectively, +4 (3; 6), +3 (2; 5), and +4.5 (3; 6). Among OAs, these changes were, respectively, +3 (1; 5) for leisure, +3 (2; 5) for productivity, and +2 (0; 4) for self-care. The changes in satisfaction scores among YAs were +3 (0; 5) for leisure, +3 (0; 5) for productivity, and +3 (1; 6) for self-care. Among MAs, these changes were, respectively, +3 (0; 5), +2 (0; 4), and +5 (0; 6). Among OAs, these changes were, respectively, +2 (0; 4), +2 (0; 4), and +2 (0; 4). CONCLUSIONS: Lockdown led to stronger engagements in quiet leisure and alternative forms of socialization. Occupational therapists may have a role in helping community-dwelling people to balance and structure their new daily routine.