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Biomedical subjects

L A Nordholm

Publications and source records attributed to L A Nordholm.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Australian speech pathologists' views of what professional practices lead to successful outcomes of therapy.

The relative importance attributed to factors perceived by speech pathologists as contributing to successful levels of therapeutic outcomes were addressed in a survey of 372 practicing therapists in Australia. The survey consisted of 42 items derived from interviews with a sample of ten speech pathologists in Sydney. Therapists were asked to rate the importance of each item on a seven-point scale ranging from "not at all important" to "critically important." The findings indicate that the most important ingredients of successful therapy incorporate a mix of support and therapeutic activity outside the clinic; the clinicians' organizational skills and involvement in conducting therapy and their use of techniques; the positive therapeutic relationship between clinician and client; and, finally, the client's attitude to therapy. These findings suggest that speech pathologists, like other allied health professionals, endorse a humanistic or holistic approach to health care. The results provide insights into the practices that should be addressed and fostered in undergraduate speech pathology programs.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The impact of community-based rehabilitation as perceived by disabled people in a village in Botswana.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) on the lives of disabled people in Moshupa village in Botswana. Of the 132 disabled people, identified in a previous epidemiological study, all but three could be accounted for, and 77 were interviewed during a 5-week field period. The interviews took place in the homes of the clients, and focused on independence in activities of daily life, schooling/jobs and quality of life. The results indicated that a remarkably high percentage of elderly were alive (17% were 65 and over), and that most people had maintained high levels of independence in ADL. Furthermore, 20% of adults were working, 10 out of 14 children of school age were in school, and life satisfaction was high, although somewhat higher for younger people than for older ones. Significantly more younger people reported that life had improved, while most elderly people believed life to be worse now.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Australian physiotherapists' and occupational therapists' views on professional practice.

The extent to which physiotherapists and occupational therapists endorse a humanistic, holistic approach to health care was addressed in a survey of attitudes of practicing occupational therapists (N = 378) and physiotherapists (N = 558). A 22-item questionnaire including aspects of therapist's knowledge and techniques, holistic approach, client characteristics, client/therapist relationship, and approaches to professional practice was employed. The findings indicate that the professional practices reflecting the new public health model prevailed. This model emphasizes client/therapist interaction, the client's own ability to change and improve, and holistic attitudes towards health care, along with the therapist's knowledge and skills. However, comparative analyses of the two therapy groups reveal that although both groups support a humanistic approach to client care, occupational therapists promote the client's resources and coping skills to a greater extent, place more emphasis on the client in terms of the client's capacity for recovery and coping abilities, were more involved with the social, personal, and psychological problems of the client, and place less emphasis on treatment methods and techniques than physiotherapists. Demographic variables including gender, age, and workplace setting (public/private) were found to be significantly related to views of professional practice. Recommendations for the training of therapists and the implications for practitioners are made and suggestions for further research are given.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Swedish physical therapists' beliefs on what makes therapy work.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find out what practicing physical therapists believe to be the most important factors in successful treatments. SUBJECTS: A national random sample of 187 Swedish physical therapists received the survey instrument by mail. The response rate was 76%. METHODS: On the basis of a pilot interview study and literature review, a survey instrument was constructed consisting of 22 Likert-type items and various demographic variables. RESULTS: The findings indicated that a majority of the respondents believed that the patient's own resources and the patient-therapist relationship rather than the treatment techniques are the most important factors in explaining why physical therapy works. Most physical therapists endorsed a holistic view of treatment (pertaining to the whole person, not just body parts), although significantly more women than men supported this viewpoint. Other background factors had no relationship to the beliefs and attitudes expressed. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: The findings are discussed within the framework of attribution theory, and in the context of viewing physical therapy as an applied biomedical science or a caring profession. In this study, the view of physical therapy as a caring profession prevailed among the majority of the physical therapists.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Validation of a Swedish version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale.

The purpose of this study was to test the validity of a Swedish Version of the Arthritis Self-efficacy Scale on two groups of patients: 25 patients with chronic pain and 24 rheumatology patients. Scores on the three subscales of the self-efficacy instrument--for controlling pain, for controlling function of daily living activities, and for controlling other symptoms--were correlated with indicators of present pain status and scores on the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scales. All correlations were in the direction predicted by self-efficacy theory, providing evidence for the construct validity of the scale. In addition the two patient groups differed significantly on the three subscales indicating evidence for the discriminant validity of the instrument.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of an exercise program on sick leave due to back pain.

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the effect of a weekly exercise program on short-term sick leave (less than 50 days) attributable to back pain and to determine whether changes in absenteeism were related to changes in cardiovascular fitness. Subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise group (n = 58) and a control group (n = 53). Sick leave attributable to back pain was determined in the intervention period of 1 1/2 years and a comparable 1 1/2-year period prior to the study. In the exercise group, the number of episodes of back pain and the number of sick-leave days attributable to back pain in the intervention period decreased by over 50%. Absenteeism attributable to back pain increased in the control group. The decrease in sick leave in the exercise group was not accompanied by any change in cardiovascular fitness. Suggestions for establishing exercise programs are given.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1984

Cultural differences in reactions to patient behaviour: a comparison of Swedish and Australian health professionals.

Scott hypothesised that there are national differences in the theories held by health professionals regarding rehabilitation. Thus they have different perceptions of and reactions to patient behaviours. This was tested by comparing the reactions of female physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses in Sweden (N = 51) and Australia (N = 83) to behaviours of patients belonging to six diagnostic groups. It was predicted that national differences would be influenced by Australians' endorsement of a more psycho-social model of health care and Swedes' stronger beliefs in personal responsibility for health. Questionnaires containing case histories of the six patients and transcripts of interviews in which they expressed either depression, optimism, dependence, independence, self-blame or denial of blame for their illnesses were distributed to subjects. Case histories and interview transcripts were combined differently in six forms of the questionnaire. Subjects rated their impressions and evaluations of each patient on 14 Likert type scales and answered the question, "If the patient had said this to you how would you have reacted?" Subjects completed the Health Locus of Control Scale on which Swedes proved to have significantly stronger beliefs regarding personal responsibility for health. Highly significant differences were found in discriminant analyses of reactions to the six behaviours. Australians were more likely to perceive patients as dependent, depressed and poorly adjusted. They responded verbally to patients' feelings, recommended counselling and liked patients more. Swedes were more likely to react with specific treatments and technical aids. Swedes regarded patients who were dependent or who did not blame themselves as having poorer prognoses. Few differences occurred in ratings of the typicality of patients' behaviours or the degree of patients' acceptance or coping. The findings have particular relevance to multi-cultural nations. Bias may have occurred in the results because subjects represented only 40% of those sent the questionnaires.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Community-based rehabilitation in Moshupa village, Botswana.

This article presents a summary of findings from the 'Moshupa Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) project', which to date have been the subject of three studies: one initial survey of disabled people and two follow-up studies. Of the 132 disabled people who were identified in the survey, all but three could be accounted for in the first follow-up. Seventy-seven were interviewed about independence of activities of daily living, school/jobs and quality of life. A high percentage of elderly (17% were 65 and over) were alive, and most had maintained high levels of ADL skills. Twenty per cent of the adult disabled were working, 10 out of 14 school-aged children were enrolled in schools, and life satisfaction was high. The second follow-up study indicated that personnel, although acknowledging the benefits of the programme, pointed to several remaining problems such as lack of rehabilitation education for the personnel. The results are discussed with reference to the CBR programme's aims, and implications drawn for industrialized countries.

Adolescent↗