Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergothérapie
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Historical Article
Canadian occupational therapists' contributions to prisoners of war in World War II.
A small number of Canadian occupational therapists provided materials to prisoners of war who were experiencing occupational deprivation in German camps during World War II. Although the occupational therapy contribution was relatively minor relative to the overall efforts of assistance to prisoners of war, it represented dedication, commitment and further sacrifice at a time when occupational therapists faced difficult choices. ⋯ This account may inform and inspire current day occupational therapists who are considering the implications of occupational deprivation within frameworks of social and occupational justice.
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Case Reports
In the eye of the dragon: women's experience of breast cancer and the occupation of dragon boat racing.
Women with breast cancer are at risk of developing lymphedema following surgical and/or medical treatment of the disease. Recently, women have challenged traditional advice about limiting upper extremity activity to prevent lymphedema by participation in dragon boat racing. ⋯ People who engage in the occupation of dragon boat racing find it meaningful and develop new coping strategies. Participating in dragon boat racing can decrease stress and shift the meaning of having breast cancer to a more positive view of the experience.
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Parkinson's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting over 100,000 Canadians. With advances in medical and surgical treatments, clients are living longer and fuller lives. ⋯ This article addresses this void by describing these deficits and current measurement tools that can be used to evaluate the impact on people living with Parkinson's disease. Although several tools are cited, three tools are recommended for an occupational therapy evaluation of individuals with Parkinson's disease: the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire.
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The health care system is responding to a paradigm shift from the industrial era to the knowledge society. The rapidly changing administrative structures of some hospitals and increasing numbers of proposals for new models of care are disconcerting for therapists who are used to working in traditional organizational structures and models of care. However, with a broader understanding of the shift that is occurring, it becomes apparent that this paradigm shift is pushing the system toward care practices that are more consistent with occupational therapy practices than those of the traditional medical model. This paper describes the factors influencing the direction of the paradigm shift, the major emerging models of care and organizational structures associated with the paradigm shift, and then discusses the issue of whether the paradigm shift presents a threat or a challenge to occupational therapists.