Objectives: This study had 2 primary objectives. The first was to establish normative data for grip strength for the adult population in Israel. The second objective was to compare the results of this derived Israeli normative data to internationally reported measures. Two published studies were used for comparison. One study consolidated data from 12 different studies that originated from 8 different countries. The other study was limited to data from Australia. Methodology: A total of 574 healthy adult volunteers had their grip strength tested. This study was conducted over a 3-year period (2013)(2014)(2015). Testing with regard to position and technique was performed in accordance with recommendations of the American Society of Hand Therapists. Grip strength was determined using the Jamar dynamometer from the average of 3 trials for each hand. Normative data were established based on age, handedness, and sex. More specifically, to allow comparison to international data, the age was subdivided in both 5-and 10-year intervals. The results from this study were then compared with international standards using a 1-sample t test. Results: Looking first at Israeli normative data, across ages and handedness, males were 45% stronger than females. Right-handed people were on average 9% stronger on their right compared with their left side. Left-handed people had the similar average strength on both side. Compared with the Australian data, Israeli men were 3% weaker and Israeli women were 15% weaker. When the data were subdivided based on age, the Israeli population was weaker but statistical significance was reached only for men below the age of 30 years and for women below the age of 60 years. When the Israeli data were compared with the consolidated norms, Israeli men were 10% weaker and women were 23% weaker. Conclusion: Normative data for grip strength were established for the Israeli population and compared with internationally published data. The lower grip strength of the Israeli population we speculate may be related to the lower demands placed on the hands for "white-collar" occupations relative to manual labor. It may also be related to lower average population size, weight, or hand girth when comparing the populations.
INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapists by the very nature of their scope of practice have to apply an evolving broad spectrum of knowledge and skills to be able to fulfil their various roles as therapists. In order to understand how occupational therapy students learn, learning style studies have been conducted in various countries. Due to differing terminology used by the various measurement instruments, it is difficult to compare findings to allow for generalisation of the results. The aim of this study was to identify the learning style profiles of first year occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. These profiles are used to broaden their self-knowledge in order to become socially and professionally well-adjusted therapists that take responsibility for their own continual learning. METHOD: A descriptive study to determine a learning style profile by means of the instrument known as the Felder-Soloman Index of Learning Styles was undertaken. A convenience sample of 114 first year occupational therapy students between 2009 and 2011 was used. FINDINGS: Results indicated sensing, visual, active and sequential learning styles as the most representative learning styles. The active learning style being the most dominant. CONCLUSION: Occupational therapy students should be encouraged and assisted to determine their own learning styles. Understanding their own learning style profiles may equip students better to fulfil the need to become lifelong learners. Further studies may identify possible changes to this learning style profile due to the changing demographics of occupational therapy students. Key words: Learning styles, occupational therapy students, teaching and learning
Occupational therapy is a holistic profession that assists clients to restore meaning to their lives-a vital spiritual task. Spirituality is a multifaceted and multidimensional construct that occupational therapists need to integrate into everyday practice. In this study, Occupational Therapy educators' and clinicians' understanding of spirituality in their practice was qualitatively explored by purposively selecting 24 participants who attended a workshop based on an appreciative approach, in Gauteng, South Africa. Data were collected through self-report interview schedules and focus group inquiries and were analysed using the creative hermeneutic method. Participants expressed spirituality in occupational therapy as connectedness, meaning of life and client-centred practice.
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