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.

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.

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.

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.