Blogs are publicly accessible websites that are authored by one or several individuals (Boulos et al 2006). These individuals post regular entries and encourage comment on their work, thereby creating discussion and debate. Preliminary evidence suggests that blogging facilitates learning, assists personal and professional development, and provides an opportunity to reflect on issues raised by others from different cultural perspectives (Martin 2007). This opinion piece is based on the shared experiences of five occupational therapy bloggers from the United Kingdom, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the United States and suggests that blogging has a key role in demonstrating evidence of continuing professional development in a globalised community.

Networking is a fundamental aspect in developing a strong professional identity and furthering professional development. This opinion piece asserts that networking is an essential activity for occupational therapists, and that many of the challenges involved in creating an effective network can be ameliorated by harnessing the power of the online environment. By sharing the experience of using Facebook, an online social networking platform, with the specific aim of furthering professional development, clear and tangible outcomes of this being achieved are shown in order to inspire more occupational therapists to connect online for the benefit of the profession.

This practice analysis evaluates an extra curricular opportunity provided to undergraduate occupational therapy students. A blended learning package was designed and facilitated by two experienced educators, aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to use online social media to create professional networks and facilitate continuing professional development. Feedback was sought on the design and impact of the package, with students revealing an increased confidence in online professional networking. Suggestions for change included more guidance about online professionalism. It can be concluded that the package is effective in preparing students to use the online environment for continuing professional development.

IntroductionThis qualitative study, nested in a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial, explored the views of working people with inflammatory arthritis on the impact of a work rehabilitation programme received.MethodThirty-two participants, drawn from the 55 participants in the associated randomised controlled trial, were recruited from secondary care in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted at six (n = 32) and nine months follow-up (n = 31). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a constant comparative approach, under the theoretical framework of critical realism.FindingsThree overarching themes emerged: (1) intervention group participants valued the work rehabilitation programme received, and highlighted the benefits of occupational therapy; (2) control group participants reported no benefits in relation to the written work advice pack, and lacked future aspirations to stay employed; (3) the majority of participants reported not reading the written work advice pack provided, which was the only work advice received by the control group.ConclusionWorking people with inflammatory arthritis highly valued the practical support received from the therapists, and emphasised the value of the therapeutic relationship in the rehabilitation process. A tailor-made work rehabilitation programme, which incorporates cognitive-behavioural strategies into patient education, may help to reduce work instability in people with inflammatory arthritis, and increase their perceived self-efficacy.

IntroductionOccupational therapy-led work rehabilitation for employed people with inflammatory arthritis and work problems was piloted in five hospitals in the United Kingdom. This qualitative study explored the views of participating occupational therapists and their line managers about the work rehabilitation training received and conducting the intervention, with particular focus on the structured interview used, the Work Experience Survey – Rheumatic Conditions.MethodFace-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with occupational therapists (n = 9), followed by telephone interviews with their line managers (n = 2). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed by three researchers to maximize validity.ResultsThe main themes emerging from the occupational therapists’ interviews were: varying levels of prior knowledge and experience of work rehabilitation, initial concerns about the feasibility of a lengthy work assessment in practice and increased confidence in delivering work rehabilitation as the study progressed. The line managers’ interviews generated themes around the positive impact of the work rehabilitation training the occupational therapists received, and changes in their practice.ConclusionThe Work Experience Survey – Rheumatic Conditions was considered a good choice of work assessment which can be implemented in practice. Once therapists had provided the work intervention several times, their confidence and skills increased.

Introduction: This pilot study explored the learning experience of four undergraduate occupational therapy students within the online virtual environment, Second Life. The study aimed to explore the feasibility of learning how to facilitate occupational performance in a home environment via a virtual platform. Method: A house was developed within Second Life that simulated simple barriers to occupational performance that may be experienced by a wheelchair user. By means of a virtual human representation of themselves (or 'avatar'), students were asked to navigate through the house and attempt to remedy any barriers they found. They were observed doing this and substantive notes including descriptions, recorded quotes and summaries of the experience were taken by the first educator/researcher. This was followed by a one-to-one semi-structured interview conducted by the second educator/researcher. All data were transcribed as appropriate, coded and analysed thematically. Findings: Themes identified include the relationship between the student and the avatar, the student experience of the task, interaction with the Second Life environment and development of new knowledge and understanding. There is potential for learning about barriers to occupational performance in the home via Second Life. Conclusion: Further research is recommended to evaluate the potential value of teaching and learning about environmental adaptation in a three-dimensional world.

BackgroundWorld Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) member organisations comprise 77 national occupational therapy organisations across the world. Each national organisation interacts with its members and the public using diverse methods. Increasingly, national organisations are broadening their communication methods.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine if and how occupational therapy organisations are using social media for communication, and if so, the types of concerns or barriers they experience and what role they anticipate social media might play in the near future.MethodsAn online survey was developed; 57 of 77 WFOT member organisations responded.FindingsThis study identified that WFOT national organisations are using social media, to varying degrees, with or without an individual formally assigned to manage social media. Respondents reported that they used social media to: communicate with members, promote the organisation and promote the profession. Commonly expressed needs included assistance with guidelines for ethical social media use, developing technical expertise, and recognition of limits of time and competing priorities. Recommendations arising from this research are at the global, national, local and individual levels and incorporate active dissemination and pure diffusion approaches. Taking steps to increase the use of social media could indirectly impact occupational therapy practice through enhancing organisations’ abilities to support practitioners to enhance their practice.Limitations and recommendations for further researchAlthough 57% of WFOT member organisations returned usable responses, there may be some additional perspectives that were not captured. It would be helpful to contact non-responding organisations to explore their social media use and plans. Further research could examine how future initiatives put in place by WFOT impact social media use by member organisations.

This practice analysis focuses on a project arising from a training event provided for 15 geographically dispersed occupational therapists in England. They wanted to continue the collaborative opportunities afforded by spending time together and it was suggested that an online space might be useful. Although enthusiastic about virtual teamworking, the therapists did not engage meaningfully with the online space. This unsuccessful outcome has been analysed in relation to three of the five paradoxes inherent in virtual teams, resulting in an understanding of the reasons for the project's failure and suggestions for others undertaking a similar initiative.