Background Lower-limb amputation (LLA) results in participation restrictions in major life activities in personal, work, and leisure environments. By participating in significantly less physical activity (PA) than those who are otherwise healthy, people with LLA are at risk for developing secondary chronic health conditions. Barriers and facilitators to PA participation for those with conventional LLA are well documented. However, these factors are not well understood for those with transtibial osteomyoplastic amputation (TOA). Purpose The aim of this study was to qualitatively investigate the barriers and facilitators to PA participation in the TOA population. Design This study is an observational, qualitative research using thematic analysis. Methods Semistructured interviews were utilized to collect information-rich data from nine men with TOA. Results The participants reported minimal body structure impairments but still experience impairment to body functions. Participants reported that they were limited during running and resistance exercises during before and after the actual amputation surgery. The majority of participants value PA benefits as they relate to prevention of chronic disease but fail to recognize potential benefits on function. An individual's motivation to participate can serve as both a facilitator and barrier to PA. Having the opportunity to socialize during PA is important to these participants. The quality of postoperative care program has a direct influence on the long-term PA participation for these participants. Conclusions People with TOA continue to experience body function impairment, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. The health care team can play a significant role in the adoption of a physically active lifestyle for people with TOA.
This paper describes an academic course designed to lay the foundation for reflective practice in occupational therapy. In this course, students conduct highly personalized research based on experiences in Level II fieldwork that leads to writing an autoethnography. The paper describes autoethnography, details its use in occupational therapy literature, and discusses the design and outcomes of the course. Students' experiences with this autobiographical genre of qualitative research are illustrated. In the writing process, students find clinical stories that must be told and learn to "move around" in their stories. The outcomes of the course include integration of personal and professional experiences, closure to academic preparation, and deep reflection about what it means to be an occupational therapist.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional tone and verbal behavior of social media users who self-identified as having tinnitus and/or hyperacusis that caused self-described negative consequences on daily life or health. Research Design and Method An explanatory mixed-methods design was utilized. Two hundred “initial” and 200 “reply” Facebook posts were collected from members of a tinnitus group and a hyperacusis group. Data were analyzed via the LIWC 2015 software program and compared to typical bloggers. As this was an explanatory mixed-methods study, we used qualitative thematic analyses to explain, interpret, and illustrate the quantitative results. Results Overall, quantitative results indicated lower overall emotional tone for all categories (tinnitus and hyperacusis, initial and reply), which was mostly influenced by higher negative emotion. Higher levels of authenticity or truth were found in the hyperacusis sample but not in the tinnitus sample. Lower levels of clout (social standing) were indicated in all groups, and a lower level of analytical thinking style (concepts and complex categories rather than narratives) was found in the hyperacusis sample. Additional analysis of the language indicated higher levels of sadness and anxiety in all groups and lower levels of anger, particularly for initial replies. These data support prior findings indicating higher levels of anxiety and depression in this patient population based on the actual words in blog posts and not from self-report questionnaires. Qualitative results identified 3 major themes from both the tinnitus and hyperacusis texts: suffering, negative emotional tone, and coping strategies. Conclusions Results from this study suggest support for the predominant clinical view that patients with tinnitus and hyperacusis have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. The extent of the suffering described and patterns of coping strategies suggest clinical practice patterns and the need for research in implementing improved practice plans.
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