Galway study: People living in the west of Ireland would benefit if occupational therapists were employed in a more diverse range of health, social and educational settings, delegates at a conference will be told tomorrow.
Third-year students of the BSc occupational therapy course at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) will host the one-day conference entitled Emerging Areas of Practice in Occupational Therapy, at which the results of a new module which actively encourages civic engagement will be outlined.
Occupational therapy is a healthcare discipline which promotes independence by bridging what an individual can do with what they need to do in order to live an independent and fulfilling life. Most occupational therapists in the Republic work with people with physical, intellectual and psychological disabilities through the mainstream health services. However, in Canada, the US and New Zealand, occupational therapists contribute to a wider range of social and healthcare provision.
Combining clinical placement with service learning, students at NUIG were allocated to a range of local services where there was no current or past occupational therapy service.
These organisations include support services for those with Aids/ HIV; a mainstream national school; a refugee support group; a Galway traveller movement; and agencies for the homeless.
Other areas surveyed included neo-natal care and a return-to- work programme at University College Hospital Galway and a rehabilitation service for those with acquired brain injuries.
Over 12 weeks the students undertook assessments of the organisations' need for an occupational therapy service.
Although 25 per cent of all occupational therapists employed in the US work within the mainstream educational system, no occupational therapists are currently based within the school system in the Republic.
To assess how occupational therapists could benefit students, researchers visited Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla, Galway. In common with most schools in the State, the 370-pupil school has a number of children with attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, as well as behavioural and emotional difficulties.
It was found that occupational therapy could provide a broad spectrum of interventions in collaboration with staff and parents which would optimise children's educational and social performance.
The role of occupational therapists in the area of the homeless was assessed at two facilities in Galway city. Although the needs of the homeless are complex, students found that occupational therapists would have a significant impact in assisting clients in the area of social skills training, financial planning and time management.
Improving these skills was identified as crucial in helping clients maintain independent living accommodation and employment.
The research, which was funded by a grant from the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (Celt) at NUIG, is part of the Community Knowledge Initiative at the university which encourages students to engage in activities which specifically educate them for their future roles within society.