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tiffanycook · 3 years

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“My life has been, I suppose, the most incredible series of highs and lows.” - Craig Charles.

What an experience it has been so far, a definite series of highs and lows.

Although I am only halfway through, there have been tears, times of exhaustion, and times when I felt like giving up. However, the “wow” moments, breakthroughs, and visible progress of individual patients and groups have made this rollercoaster ride worth it. Through all the highs and lows during my community block, my eyes have been opened, my thoughts and ways of thinking have been altered and my social awareness broadened.

On a personal level, the members of this community have taught me to be grateful for every little resource that I have been blessed with (whether it be materialistic, idealistic or emotional), to stop worrying about what I don’t have, to live in the moment and focus on the current positives as well as the possibilities of my future. The people in this community make something out of nothing and live their lives to the fullest with minimal resources. Seeing this has humbled me to a new level, teaching me to live my life for today with what I have and to worry about the next obstacle only when it arrives.

This block has earned the title of “the bearer of beneficial perseverance.” At times I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and even wanted to give up, but I now realise how beneficial it was – not only to my patients but to myself. The hard work and perseverance this block required of me has boosted my self-worth and confidence, allowing me to be introspective in identifying my capabilities and grasping the fact that I have so much potential to grow into the therapist I aspire to be.

Community-based practice has also proved that “you get out what you put in.” This quote applies to both myself personally and the quality of services provided to my patients. I gained confidence in my practice, and my patients received the best possible services I can provide and reaped the benefits from my boosted confidence.

Professionally, I have learnt to be more proactive, innovative, confident, and more ethical. OH, and how to wear multiple hats at one time.

The ability to think laterally, have knowledge of the different specialist health services and the ability to integrate this into intervention sessions is a very important skill to have when working in a community setting. Although we are trained in the provision of OT services, we are required to provide multiple services to most of the patients we attend to at the clinic. These services include a bit of everything from physiotherapy, psychology, social work, and speech therapy. Why you may ask?. Well, many PHC clinics do not offer all the specialist health services that are critical for holistic health care provision and that many community members require – my current placement being one of those under-resourced clinics. However, having the opportunity and capability to assist individuals in more ways than one is highly satisfactory as a therapist and a human doing.

On a professional level, I have also learned to manage my time and use my time effectively to provide compelling and complete treatment sessions to each and every patient. We, as therapists, need to ensure we provide compelling and therapeutic sessions, especially for paediatrics. Sparking the parents’ or mother’s interest in OT is an essential component in the treatment of paediatrics. Mothers need to be amazed by our services and realise how beneficial OT can be for their children. We need to show parents that OT is unique and that we provide intervention in ways that they (at home) and other health professionals cannot.

Going into community service in 2022, I will take all the valuable lessons, techniques, and therapeutics tools I have learnt in this community block along with me. I believe the therapist you become in a community-based setting will be the primary therapist you merge into, no matter what you specialise in or where you are in the world. A community-based therapist is holistic, humanistic, just, and non-judgemental. These are all factors a therapist needs to provide the best quality treatment to each and every patient they attend to, no matter their diagnosis, gender, or age.

My daily drives and walks through the community, seeing the injustices and inequalities present and the potential the community has to improve, have brought about feelings of not only anger and sorrow but hope and optimism. This community has taught me so much personally and professionally, so much that I will forever remember. I am incredibly grateful to have been provided the opportunity to be exposed to a new way of thinking, living, and practicing, for the experiences and practice gained, and the lessons learnt. Now I truly see the impact we as occupational therapists (OTs) make at a public health care (PHC) level – it is truly remarkable.

PSA: The level of stress accompanied by this block lead me to source many online resources, in hopes of appropriately managing my stress. On Instagram, I found two pages very useful, @thecutefeminist and @selfcareisforeveryone, and I hope you too are able to find some relief in their posts. They also provide motivational quotes that gave me a daily push in the right direction.

Resources:

1. Charles, C. (n.d.). TOP 25 HIGHS AND LOWS QUOTES (of 103). A-Z Quotes. Retrieved May 27, 2021, from https://www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/highs-and-lows.html

2. Self-Care is For Everyone. (16 April 2021). https://www.instagram.com/p/CNtGqtnH5Iq/?utm_medium=copy_link

3. Self-Care is For Everyone. (25 May 2021). https://www.instagram.com/p/CPRYRMTHadW/?utm_medium=copy_link

4. The Cute Feminist. (24 May 2021). https://www.instagram.com/p/CPOQ7YtjWBg/?utm_medium=copy_link

5. The Cute Feminist. (7 May 2021). https://www.instagram.com/p/COlBKPLjDu5/?utm_medium=copy_link

#experience PHC communitybasedpractice OT

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tiffanycook · 3 years

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OTs Working Towards Sustainable Developmental Goals

“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better.” – Georg C. Lichtenburg

Lichtenburg reminded me of why we need to implement change – so that our personal and our communities’ wellbeing and quality of life can recover and be restored to their optimal levels. In saying this, health care providers are viewed as having and playing a vital role in implementing and achieving sustainable developmental goals (SDGs).

The SDGs are a set of 17 goals arranged by the United Nations (UN) as a framework for individuals to assist the world in achieving protection for our Earth and a greater, healthier future with improved sustainability. The latest goals set in 2015 are envisioned to be achieved by 2030. The SDGs can be used as a ‘blueprint’ by all countries to work towards a better, more sustainable future to ensure equality and that no one gets left behind.

To assist in making a change (even if it is minor) and promote a greater future for the community I am currently working in, I intend to implement and work towards assisting in the global achievement of five SGDs in the community. These include SDG 1 (no poverty), 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education), 5 (gender equality), and 10 (reduced inequality).

SDG 1, to end poverty everywhere, aims to limit the percentage of the population living below the international poverty line and ensure that all vulnerable men, women, and children have access to economic and basic, essential services. SDG 3, promoting healthy lives and improved wellbeing for all, includes the aims of reducing global maternal mortality, ensuring zero preventable deaths of newborns and children under the age of 5, ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. As an occupational therapy (OT) student currently working in a community with a low economic status whose members are vulnerable to or even living in poverty, my goal is to implement these SDGs through provision of health promotion and education on maternal and child health and prevalent diseases and conditions in this community (including substance abuse). In addition, education on an OT’s role in assisting individuals in returning to work, ensuring pre and postnatal health of mothers and children, managing the physical and mental effects of TB and HIV as well as stress, anxiety, depression and substance abuse management will be provided to the community members. However, verbal intervention is not the only path to take. I aim to deliver high-quality, effective, and appropriate treatment for all conditions, physical and mental, to ensure my role in promoting healthy lives and improved wellbeing for all.

SDG 4, to provide quality education for all, aims to provide inclusive and equitable education to provide lifelong learning opportunities. The UN has also requested that all children, male and female, obtain and complete their primary and secondary educational training and that they have access to quality early childhood development and pre‑primary education to ensure readiness for primary education. In addition to those goals, countries should ensure equal access to affordable and quality vocational and tertiary education. These are vital goals and factors that will define the youth’s future. Therefore, I aim to implement and assist in the achievement of this goal through provision of pre-vocational skills training (time, stress and money management, study tips and styles, social and communication skills, ways to approach interviews) and encourage application to a tertiary institution to all grade 10-12 learners to attend the clinic. A colleague has begun implementing a youth development programme at the secondary school, and I plan to recommend applying the practice of some pre-vocational skills in the groups she runs. Mastering these skills will assist the students in obtaining optimal final results in their grade 12 academic year, sponsoring the opening of many doors to the tertiary institutes of their dreams, and building the future of their dreams.

“Men of quality respect women’s equality.” – Jeremiah Say. This quote precisely explains my rationale for my choice to implement SDG 5, to empower women and achieve gender equality, and SDG 10, to eradicate all inequalities for all. These SDGs speak very clearly to the current society we live in. We still have to fight and advocate for the implementation of equal access, respect, and rights for women. This should be made a norm, WITHOUT having to give a reason (to men) for our protests and advocacy for the rights of and equality for women.

The focus of our work in this community is, in fact, on women and children’s health. We have been working towards these goals without even realizing it and will continue to work towards them, now with greater intent. To assist in the achievement of SDG 5 and 10, I aim to provide education to both men and women on women’s rights and the reasons they have these rights. I will speak for those who fear the action and potential consequences of speaking, respectfully so. Women should be allowed to voice their opinions of their culture’s ways and its’ values. Through the provision of OT services, women of the community will be uplifted and empowered to reach their full potential, both personally and within their community.

We can all strive for change and the achievement of these global goals by educating ourselves, our friends, and our families on relevant topics and issues in our communities and using our connections to other healthcare professionals to empower women and advocate for change. Our youth are an essential tool who can entrench the pathways to a greater, more sustainable future – they are our changemakers.

I strongly encourage you to gain more information on the importance of these SDGs and how you can play your role in achieving these goals. Should you need some wise words and encouragement to implement change, visit https://conantleadership.com/25-quotes-about-managing-change/ for more motivational quotes.

Resources:

1. Barbu, P. (2021, February 10). Five Ways to Help Reach the Sustainable Development Goals in Your. . . MovingWorlds Blog. https://blog.movingworlds.org/five-ways-to-help-reach-the-sustainable-development-goals-in-your-professional-life-sdgsandme/

2. ConantLeadership. (2017, August 28). 25 Quotes about Managing Change. https://conantleadership.com/25-quotes-about-managing-change/

3. Gracious Quotes. (2021, April 29). 26 Inspiring Quotes on Gender Equality (WOMEN). https://graciousquotes.com/gender-equality/

4. Sightsavers. (2021, February 25). Global Goals. https://www.sightsavers.org/policy-and-advocacy/global-goals/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkZiFBhD9ARIsAGxFX8BjulCCnVjLVET8AGIlvcsFvxOYzNZ-rigQAtskXHeJyhk_YFNLuygaAtVJEALw_wcB

5. UN Foundation. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Unfoundation.Org. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from https://unfoundation.org/what-we-do/issues/sustainable-development-goals/

6. Wikipedia contributors. (2021, April 29). List of Sustainable Development Goal targets and indicators. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sustainable_Development_Goal_targets_and_indicators#Goal_1._End_poverty_in_all_its_forms_everywhere

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tiffanycook · 3 years

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Why We Need to Acknowledge Our Positionality as (future) Occupational Therapists

Firstly, what exactly is positionality?

Well, from my understanding based on examined literature, our positionality includes personal factors such as race, gender, sexuality, nationality, values, life experiences, socio-economic status, and background and political views. One really needs to identify and acknowledge their positionality to understand why they see the world the way they do, why they observe and interpret things the way they do, and, as Occupational Therapy (OT) students, why we assess and provide the specific treatment that we do.

Positionality plays a role in our daily decision-making and our everyday lives and forms a framework as to how we do things, and gives a reason as to why. A better explanation from D’Silva explains that positionality, being “one’s background, personal values, and experiences”, affects “what he or she is able to observe and analyze” (D’Silva et al., 2016). D’Silva portrays her understanding of positionality as that which affects our thinking and reasoning as well as our view of the world.

Although our past experiences have created our current positionality, Kezar and Lester remind us that our identities, and therefore our positionalities too, are “fluid and dynamic” (Kezar. A, & Lester. J, 2010). This statement means our positionality may inevitably change with the ever-changing and different social and personal changes that may occur in our environments and today’s society.

Personally, I believe the factors of my race, gender, life experiences and socio-economic background have impacted and created my positionality. These have all shaped what I know about the world, how I understand and view the world and how I live and work in today’s society.

My gender and my race have both created my positionality and impacted the way I live. As a young Caucasian woman, I constantly have to be aware of my surroundings when outside the comfort of my home or those which I classify as “safe spaces.” Although I may be considered a sheltered woman of a higher economic class, my life experiences as a South African have shaped the way I view this world and why I live and work the way I do. All of these factors have helped me become the woman I am today – nurturing, respectful, responsible, and one who is focused on not just making a change but BEING the change.

However, the factors mentioned above have also affected my positionality in the way in which I work and provide services as an OT. I remain humble yet humanistic. I value all lives – whether they be black or white, male or female, young or old. And although I am of a different race and have been raised in a higher socio-economic setting with possibly more positive personal life experiences than the members of the community I currently work in, I am still aware of the differences in the way in which they live compared to how I live. Therefore, whilst assessing individual’s conditions and providing intervention at a community level, I ensure that I aim for a client-centred approach, considering their needs, norms, and environmental situations.

It is important to consider my positionality when assessing different conditions (both mental and physical) and providing treatment and implementing programmes at a community level in order to ensure I ask the relevant questions and gain a specific personal and holistic view of that individual or group’s needs and situations in order to provide specific and effective treatment to the members of the community. After all, the individuals or groups I am assessing or providing intervention to are those who are living with the condition or personally in their current situation. Only they completely know what symptoms they are experiencing and presenting with and only they wholly understand how their current situation is impacting on them and their lives. I, therefore, need to listen while being aware of how my positionality may form my critical thinking and clinical reasoning and take all they say into consideration to provide effective and appropriate treatment.

To conclude, it is vital that we evaluate and identify our positionality as time goes by and understand why and how it has been created in order to provide sound assessments and intervention at a community level as OTs, as well as to ensure we are applying appropriate critical thinking and clinical reasoning behind all the services we provide.

For more information on positionality and to better understand just how important it is to consider in your daily lives and how it creates who you are, please seek and enjoy the wealth of knowledge and realistic examples the articles listed in the references below offer

References:

1. Darwin Holmes, A. G. (2020). Researcher Positionality - A Consideration of Its Influence and Place in Qualitative Research - A New Researcher Guide. Shanlax International Journal of Education, 8(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.34293/education.v8i4.3232

2. Dictionary.com. (2021, January 19). positionality. https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/positionality/

3. D’Silva, M. U., Smith, S. E., Della, L. J., Potter, D. A., Rajack-Talley, T. A., & Best, L. (2016). Reflexivity and Positionality in Researching African-American Communities: Lessons from the Field. Intercultural Communication Studies XXV: 1, 94–109. https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/XXV1%E2%80%93D%E2%80%99SILVA-SMITH-DELLA.pdf

4. Kezar. A, & Lester, J. (2010). Breaking the Barriers of Essentialism in Leadership Research: Positionality as a Promising Approach. Feminist Formations, 22(1), 163–185. https://doi.org/10.1353/nwsa.0.0121

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tiffanycook · 3 years

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Maternal & Child Health – A Vital Component in Society

"The seeds of success in every nation on Earth are best planted in women and children." – Joyce Banda.

I came across this quote whilst researching the importance of maternal and child health and immediately felt that I had a greater image in my head of why these two factors are so important. This quote helps to highlight exactly why maternal and child health is so important in society. In this blog, I am going to expand on this quote and share my personal experiences and involvement in the community I am currently working in.

Ensuring mothers (and women in general) are provided the opportunity to maintain and even improve their health is vital. Women around the world are often the sole breadwinners in today's society, especially in low-economic situations and households, specifically in Africa. Therefore, ensuring optimal maternal health allows for economic and social productivity and growth.

The National Research Council in the United States explains that "Healthy children are more likely to become healthy adults" (2004). This leads us to decide that ensuring optimal health of infants and children is also a vital component in society as the children of today are the leaders, engineers, educators, and doctors of our future. They are the ones we rely on to continue the evolution of our nations' political matters, technology and ensure the continuation of a well-functioning and ever positively evolving society.

Healthy women and children are those which we can count on for the continuation of our human race and the future of a healthy nation, giving life, light, and love around the world. It can be said that maternal and child health is, therefore, an essential component in society to ensure the continuation of healthy, productive, and thriving societies and nations. The health and well-being of mothers and children can also help determine any challenges the health care system may experience in the future; the public health care (PHC) sector can therefore prepare for what is to come with the knowledge they have regarding the current health statuses of mothers and children in the society.

For occupational therapists (OTs), poor maternal health care provided at birth often results in haemorrhaging and death of our mothers. This often results in the child being vulnerable to poor physical and cognitive development as their mother is now absent and either the father (who may be employed and works an 8-hour day) or grandmother who is now the primary caregiver is unable to provide the child with sufficient one-on-one stimulation and encourage optimal development in a household with many children.

Poor child health care provided at and after birth often results in the development of cognitive impairments (such as cerebral palsy) which then leads to the development of impairments in speech and language as well as mobility and the use of their body parts to engage in meaningful daily occupations such as schoolwork, feeding, dressing and play.

Poor maternal and child health results in an ever-increasing number of patients requiring OT services. However, in the context that I am currently working in, most members of the community do not know that OT is an existing health care service, they also do not have an understanding of what OT is and therefore do not seek our services as they are not aware that we can help them immensely in achieving their occupational goals.

This, therefore, requires us, as OTs, to promote our profession to encourage and promote members of the community to seek our services and even refer others to us at the clinic if they think they may need OT.

As health care providers, we also aim to provide health promotion in the community regarding maternal and child health. This will improve the community's understanding of the importance of these factors in society and encourage them to seek our services should they feel it is necessary or seek more information.

To conclude, all health professionals and the general public need to TAKE ACTION to promote the importance of and improve the provision and quality of maternal and child health care in our nation. Through this, we will promote a decrease in the development of impairments and disorders and contraction of life-limiting diseases and allow for our mothers to install the seeds of the fruit this society needs and to allow the children of today to carry out their life as an adult, fulfilling their roles in their micro and macro communities.

References:

1. Africa Progress Panel. (2010). Maternal Health: Investing in the Lifeline of Healthy Societies & Economies. Africa Progress Panel. https://www.who.int/pmnch/topics/maternal/app_maternal_health_english.pdf

2. HealthyPeople2020. (2020). Maternal, Infant, and Child Health | Healthy People 2020. Healthypeople.Gov. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/maternal-infant-and-child-health#:%7E:text=children%2C%20and%20families.-,Overview,and%20the%20health%20care%20system.

3. National Research Council (US), Institute of Medicine (US), & Washington (DC): National Academies Press. (2004). Children's Health, The Nation's Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92210/#:%7E:text=Mounting%20evidence%20that%20health%20during,likely%20to%20become%20healthy%20adults.

4. Women and Children Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote. Retrieved May 6, 2021, from https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://www.brainyquote.com/photos_tr/en/j/joycebanda/708437/joycebanda1.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/women-and-children-quotes&tbnid=BQEXImNVHFpsLM&vet=1&docid=LWY5wHuzKLhGrM&w=600&h=315&source=sh/x/im

#maternalhealth childhealth community theseedsofthefuture

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tiffanycook · 3 years

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Advice To My Future Self as a Person and as an OT.

As I approach the end of my 3rd year of studying OT, I have learnt a few things about myself as a person and as a future health professional, an Occupational Therapist.

There is so much I could tell my future self and warn my future self of, but the most important advice I would give to my future self as a person would be:

1. I have realized that I often take the things and the people in my life for granted. Through many hardships and losses, this year has taught me to appreciate life and those people in my life. My future self needs to remember that life is too short, and nothing is permanent. Live your life without worrying about what others would think about you or your decisions. It’s your life; do what makes you happy. Do whatever you think will build and benefit you and your future self. Do it but do it respectfully and responsibly.

2. I am often too critical of myself when it comes to my worth, my potential and my abilities. I would tell my future self that: You are worthy. You are a strong, independent woman. Your opinion of yourself is what matters most, not those of others. You need to believe in yourself, love yourself and care for yourself. Only you can build yourself to become the person you want to be. Allow others to help you along the way, they may have different ideas or opinions to you, but those ideas could potentially be the difference between your success and your failure.

3. This year has allowed for a lot of self-reflection and self-growth. I have grown to accept, love and look after myself, my mental health included. I have realized that I often let things slide too easily and that I should start standing up for myself; I have the right to make my values known and have them respected by all. The advice to my future self would be to know your worth before letting another create your sense of worth according to their perceived view of you first. You have nothing to prove to anyone else, all that matters is that you know your potential and your worth – just as a moth knows that it is yet to become a beautiful butterfly, to be admired by all who lays eyes on it.

4. SET GOALS to achieve the future you want to live in. You need to identify what is important to you and what you could potentially see yourself enjoying and succeeding in as your future self. It may take a while but be patient – it will all be worth it in the end. As long as you put in the hard work and are focused on your goals that will help you achieve your ideal future that makes you happy, you should be proud of yourself. After all, “You get out what you put in. If you want more, give more.” – Jeanette Jenkins.

So, future self, listen to me. Take my advice and take the advice from those who are more experienced than too. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain, so just believe in yourself and practice this advice, make it your reality. Strive for success and reach for the stars. You are more than capable of doing what ever you put your mind to. Don’t downplay your greatness and your potential. You are strong and you are capable. Just believe in yourself because I know I believe in you too!

References:

1. Editorial Staff. (2019, December 30). How to Become Your “Future Self.” Startupanz.Com. https://startupanz.com/become-future-self/

2. Jenkins, J. (n.d.). Jeanette Jenkins Quote. A-Z Quotes. Retrieved November 30, 2020, from https://www.azquotes.com/quote/789604

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tiffanycook · 3 years

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In A Nutshell – Coming Out of Your Shell and Beyond

A “comfort zone” refers to a situation where one feels safe or at ease, as stated in the Oxford Dictionary. It is a psychological space in which one feels in control of themselves and their environment.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is not an easy step to take. Many people prefer to stay in their comfort zones as they see it as their safe place where they do not have to take any risks or face any new challenges. It can be daunting and overwhelming to make the decision and actually step out of your comfort zone in order to establish a new one but, more often than not, it is rewarding and beneficial in the long run. Listed below are a few reasons why it is important to come out of our shell and step out of our comfort zones:

It creates an opportunity for growth

It allows you to learn about yourself

It helps to increase your self-confidence

You learn to deal with new challenges

It allows us to build new relationships

At the beginning of block 2 (groupwork) I was very much stuck in my nutshell/comfort zone – I was not confident in my skills and abilities in facilitating OT intervention group sessions, I felt that I did not have sufficient knowledge in my field of study, I was afraid of being myself and I was very reserved in that I generally do not feel comfortable with public speaking or taking control of a group discussion. I have learnt a lot throughout this block and have grown to love group work and now understand the importance of OT groups and how they can be very beneficial to a variety of individuals with various diagnoses.

Personally, it takes a lot of effort and time for me to come out of my shell and step out of my comfort zones as I don’t like placing myself in situations that will push me out of my comfort zones and those that I feel that I won’t be able to handle or control. However, towards the end of this block and now having completed it, I feel that I have come out of my nutshell/comfort zone and grown as a person as well as an Occupational Therapist. I have learnt about myself and who I really am as a therapist and a person and I have also learnt many different techniques and models I can apply in both group and individual sessions. From this block, my confidence in my skills and abilities with regards to OT has definitely improved and I feel a lot more comfortable facilitating and carrying out an effective OT group intervention session. I have also built new, strong and meaningful relationships with new people in my class that I hope to maintain throughout my OT career.

Overall, I have learnt many new techniques and skills throughout this block that I can use and refer to in the future; they will carry me through the rest of my student years as well as beyond that and into my future as an Occupational Therapist. Thus, I have definitely realized just how important and beneficial coming out of your shell and stepping out of you comfort zones can be for both your personal and your professional life and lifestyles.

References:

1. Miller, J. (2017, November 25). 7 Benefits from Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-benefits-from-stepping-outside-your-comfort-zone-joshua-miller

2. Wikipedia contributors. (2019b, December 8). Comfort zone. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_zone

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tiffanycook · 4 years

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COVID-19: TRICK OR TREAT?

COVID-19, otherwise known as the Corona Virus, is an “infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus” (WHO, 2020). This virus is transmitted through droplets (saliva and other bodily fluids) produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or exhales. You may also be infected by inhaling the virus if you are within close proximity of someone who is infected, or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Everyone has a different perception on the current global pandemic that is COVID-19. Some have shared positive opinions and feelings whilst others have expressed their dismay and extreme cause for concern towards the current situation. For me however, it has been both a blessing and a curse.

This pandemic has had a fairly balanced affect on my life and my mental health. Going into lockdown I was anxious yet grateful at the same time; anxious because the severity of the situation was very clear but grateful because I had been needing a break from reality for a while.

Living with my mom who was an essential worker, I was very worried about the daily risk she had to take. Besides this, I was constantly reminded by the ever-increasing daily deaths that it was not certain that I would see every single one of my family members or my friends again. Additionally, when South Africa’s lockdown was extended, I became very withdrawn and unhappy due to the fact that I was unable to see my family and my friends – the people I depend on the most when I experience life’s hardships. On top of this I am a student and trying to complete my 3rd year of studying OT proved to be very stressful and difficult during a pandemic where I was expected to attend lectures online and complete my practical hours in a hospital – one in which many positive cases were present.

On a more positive note, this lockdown has taught me to accept myself for who I am but also work on becoming a better version of myself, to become more aware of my worth and it has also helped me better my relationship with both of my parents. It has allowed me to repair relationships that were falling apart but also end those that I knew would no longer be beneficial to my life and my mental health.

My perception of the effects of this pandemic have constantly changed throughout the course of South Africa’s lockdown but I am now at ease and have accepted that this is the world (face masks, sanitizers and social distancing) we will be living in for quite some time to come. All in all, I am grateful to have had this time to work on myself and my relationships as well as set my mind to achieving my goals in order to provide myself with a secure and safe future. COVID-19 “tricked” me at first, but I now know it was a “treat” in disguise, at least it was for me.

References:

1. World Health Organization: WHO. (2020, January 10). Coronavirus. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

2.Pros and Cons of Covid-19: A Tale of Two Sides. (2020, June 5). American College of Cardiology. https://www.acc.org/membership/sections-and-councils/women-in-cardiology-section/section-updates/2020/06/05/12/38/pros-and-cons-of-covid-19

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tiffanycook · 4 years

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Collaborative Practice - Multidisciplinary Team and Teamwork

Collaborative practice in health care is the way in which health care professionals work with other professionals in the same profession, with other professionals in a different profession and with the patient and their family. The multidisciplinary team (MDT) includes all health care professionals assessing and providing a specific service or treatment to a patient. Examples of MDT members are doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists (OT), physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and social workers. Each team member provides a service to the patient in which they specialize. For example, an OT will provide treatment to a stroke patient by training the client in adapted dressing techniques which they can use to make dressing with a hemiplegic arm a bit easier in order for the patient to be able to dress themselves independently again. Collaborative practice with the MDT as an OT is very important. You will need to communicate with all members of the MDT in order to gain a holistic view on the patient. For example, you would gain information on medical history and diagnosis from the doctor and information on the patient’s mobilization or ambulation and endurance from the physiotherapist. As an OT, you will also be required to refer your patient to another member of the MDT if they require a service that you do not specialize in. For example, you would refer a patient presenting with global aphasia and slurred speech to the speech and language pathologist. Therefor, you need to know what service each member provides in order to make an accurate and appropriate referral.

During this physical block on prac, I communicated with my client’s doctors to gain information on the client’s diagnosis and treatment regime and with the nurses in the ward to determine the client’s current level of functioning and independence in eating, dressing, bathing and toileting. I also communicated with his physiotherapist to find out the client’s current level of mobilization of his upper and lower limbs. Gaining this information assisted me in identifying what I would need to focus on for treatment for this client.

Over the past two weeks at KEH, it has become very clear to me just how important communication is. Collaborative practice within the MDT is essential in providing the best possible services and treatment that are appropriate and effective to the patient in order for them to make a good recovery with a good prognosis.

References:

1. Multi-disciplinary team. (n.d.). HSE. Retrieved July 22, 2020, from https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/dsc/communityservices/multidisciplinaryteam.html#:%7E:text=Community%20Mental%20Health-,Multi%2Ddisciplinary%20team,specific%20services%20to%20the%20patient.

2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Who Are Speech-Language Pathologists, and What Do They Do? ASHA. Retrieved July 22, 2020, from https://www.asha.org/public/Who-Are-Speech-Language-Pathologists/

3. Interprofessional collaboration in research, education, and clinical practice: working together for a better future. (2015, March 1). PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4360764/

4. Walker, C. M., Walker, M. F., & Sunderland, A. (2003, June 1). SAGE Journals: Your gateway to world-class research journals. SAGE Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/action/cookieAbsent?journalCode=bjod

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tiffanycook · 4 years

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The clinical reasoning cycle involves considering client information, collecting information, interpreting this information, identifying problematic client factors, establishing goals of treatment, implementing treatment and evaluating your intervention.

Taking this into consideration, I definitely think that I made use of this clinical reasoning cycle this week on my return to King Edward hospital. I gathered my clients’ history and previous assessment information from their files, and I gathered new information by conducting new assessments and gaining collateral information from the ward nurses and other MDT members regarding the clients’ performance in ADLs and their general performance respectively. I then proceeded to process and interpret all this client information by determining what information was relevant and what was irrelevant, by identifying what information may be related to another set of information and by comparing current client function to their premorbid functioning. From this information gathered, I was able to make deductions and identify which assessment findings were normal and which may pose a problem (impaired client factor or performance skill deficit). These impairments and deficits were then further explored to determine how and to what extent they are negatively impacting on the client’s functional performance in occupations. Researching these impairments and deficits and assessing how they affect the clients’ performance in all occupations, a specific and appropriate treatment session was then planned and formulated and then carried out the following day.

A reflective session was then done with my supervisor after the treatment session in which I evaluated the session by determining whether my aims of the session were met, what could’ve been done differently and what my future plans should be for this client, and feedback was also given by my supervisor during this time. During this reflective session I was informed that I now need to go further and formulate a treatment plan for my client which includes a cognitive program and sensory re-education. My supervisor assisted me in identifying the need for these programs during the reflective/feedback session.

After this feedback session, I feel more comfortable and confident that I know what intervention needs to be provided for my client in order to see any progress. I’m also finally beginning to understand what it means to provide treatment/intervention and why OT’s play a vital role in the MDT.

“Cultural humility is a humble and respectful attitude toward individuals of other cultures that pushes one to challenge their own cultural biases, realize they cannot possibly know everything about other cultures” (Levitas, 2017).

Throughout the years of being an OT student in clinical settings I have made use of cultural humility. I am aware that there are many different cultures, not just around the world but also in our own country, South Africa. I always attempt to gain a broader knowledge on my clients’ cultures, no matter what they may be. This helps me to understand some (if they have any) of their different opinions and reasons for having these opinions regarding modern western medicine. It also helps me gain insight to why the person is who they are and why they do what they do so that I am able to put aside my differences and biases that I might have previously had. Although my current client does not actively practice her culture, the Xhosa culture, I still did some research to ensure I had an understanding of any opinions she may bring up during future sessions.

Overall, I think it’s important to always remind ourselves to use cultural humility in all walks of life, not just whilst training to be an OT (or any other health professional). By being aware that there are a number of different cultures and understanding that each has their own values and practices in life that you may not have enough knowledge about to have an opinion or voice your biases will prevent a lot of confrontations and promote harmony and unity amongst the people of South Africa.

Resources:

1. J. (2017, October 23). Clinical Reasoning. ZMAAYA. https://www.zmaaya.com/single-post/2017/10/23/Clinical-Reasoning

2. Levitas, J. (2017, October 2). Cultural Humility: Definition & Example Video. Study.Com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/cultural-humility-definition-example.html#:%7E:text=Cultural%20humility.,a%20lifelong%20goal%20and%20process

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tiffanycook · 4 years

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Communication is something everybody participates in every day, globally. It is important to have effective communication skills in the workplace to ensure productivity and to make sure everything runs smoothly and according to plan. It is also important in that it (effective communication) will allow you to achieve your goals and promote good peer and colleague relationships.

Being at KEH has given me a clearer view and idea of what is expected of an OT in an acute hospital setting, working side-by-side with a fellow OT, a physiotherapist and the physicians.

There are extensive communication pathways between all members of the health care team, including the nurses who are an integral part of the team whom you gain a lot of information from, which you need to be aware of and ensure you communicate with all of them in order to find out the necessary precautions you need to take when handling your patient.

Although I am usually afraid to speak up and shy, I have started to come out of my shell when in the ward as a student, as I know that I am required to communicate effectively will all members of the team in order to gain all relevant and important information about the patient to ensure they receive the best possible care from myself as an OT.

I feel that my communication skills, although can be improved and continuously worked on, are on the higher side of the scale. I ensure that I always greet the nursing staff and physicians (If present) before making my way to the client and I inform them of who I am and what I will be doing. If a patient needs to be transferred to the OT department, I am aware that I need to inform the nursing staff of this first – this will be to find out if it is possible and safe and secondly to let them know of that patient’s whereabouts.

When requiring information about the facility and the OT department and how they operate, I am sure to communicate effectively with the OT at KEH and make sure that I ask the right questions to in order to get accurate and sufficient information that will allow me to achieve my goals in terms of patient care. For example, I needed to find out how the department administers assistive devices such as universal cuffs and wheelchairs – this information could only be provided to me by the OT herself and she was very helpful and informative. Had I not done this, I would still be trying to put the puzzle pieces together.

Communicating with the physicians is also very important. They provide us with information on the patients’ diagnoses, prognoses, all necessary precautions that should be taken and what exactly they require for us to assist or provide the patient with. However, I would still like to attend a ward round and thereafter speak with my patient’s physician to gain a holistic view on his diagnosis.

With all that said, effective communication is essential and brings about an understanding between two people or within a group, after all, “the distance between two people is misunderstanding” (a quote found on Pinterest). And for this reason, I will work on making improvements in my communication skills whenever the opportunities arise.

Resources:

1. Employment, S. B. and T. (2019, January 2). Communicating effectively for business. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/managing-relationships/communicating-effectively

2. Effective Communicator: Extroverts & Introverts Different and Equal - Kate Nasser: Misunderstood quotes, Understanding quotes, Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://za.pinterest.com/pin/760967668269032928/

#communicationiskey

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tiffanycook · 4 years

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What Does Client Centred Mean To You?

1. Allowing the client to “play an active role” in therapy by encouraging them to come up with their own goals for therapy.

2. Prioritizing your treatment plan according to the client’s prioritized goals and needs.

3. Putting the needs of the client first and taking their ideas and goals into consideration to incorporate these into treatment sessions.

4. Not just providing treatment to improve what YOU think needs to be improved, but rather focusing on and working towards the client’s end goal.

5. The client actively participates in treatment whilst the therapist guides, provides support and assists the client in realizing their strengths, weaknesses, abilities and capacities.

These are just a few statements to sum up what client centred means to me.

At the start of this week, I found myself trying to get everything done that I thought needed to be done with and for my client. I now realize that I was only being partially client centred this week. Although the chosen activity was relevant to the client in that I knew he required the intervention I planned to provide, I did not find out prior to the implementation of the activity what my client viewed as important or what his goals for therapy were.

However, after receiving the feedback from my supervisor about how I need to incorporate principles and precautions relevant and specific to the client’s diagnosis, I was prepared to do the research and critically think about what I needed to do for him and how I needed to handle my client in my next session. This needed to be done to ensure I use an appropriate approach and provide adequate, relevant and meaningful treatment for them too. This will be kept in mind for my future treatment sessions.

At first, I felt that my treatment planning and implementation was fairly client centred in that it was relevant to the lumbar fracture client and the provided treatment in the form of education in techniques and joint protection principles was also relevant. However, fully understanding now what client centred is, I have realized how and where improvements and adjustments need to be made in my planning and implementation of treatment. I need to find out what the client views as important to him and use that information to provide meaningful activities that still incorporate the performance skills needing to be improved.

For next week and in future, taking the research done and the feedback received into consideration, finding out what is meaningful to the client and what their goals are will be the first step I take in moving forward with treatment planning. In saying this, more effort will be made to incorporate the client’s goals and values into my planning and implementation of treatment and the principles used and precautions taken will be specific and relevant to the client’s diagnosis.

Not to self: always put your client first.

Resources:

1. Client-Centered Therapy by Rogers: Techniques & Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2020, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/client-centered-therapy-by-rogers-techniques-definition-quiz.html

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