La Trobe Rural Health School study for Occupational Therapy Australia identifies practice issues
Almost half a million Australians have served with the Australian Defence Force. Given the high prevalence of physical and mental health conditions and complexity of civilian life adjustment after military service, high-quality occupational therapy services are critical. However, there is limited description of occupational therapy service provision to individuals funded by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs to inform government policy.
A cross-sectional study, led by Professor Carol McKinstry, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean with La Trobe University’s Rural Health School at the Bendigo campus has used an online survey to collect information from occupational therapists providing services to Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients.
The aim of this study was to describe the practice of Australian occupational therapists working with former service members and identify opportunities to enhance practice and policy. Professor McKinstry was instrumental in the development of the occupational therapy course at the La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus and also the establishment of the Rural Health School. She is also the a Board Director of Occupational Therapy Australia.
Participants in the study included 123 Australian occupational therapists residing in metropolitan (47%), regional (28%) and rural/remote (23%) areas. Most occupational therapists (69%) had over 15 years of clinical experience and worked in private practice (87%). Common interventions included home modifications, equipment prescription and assistive technology (77%), goal-oriented rehabilitation (16%) and activities of daily living or function assessments and education (13%). Three themes describing practice issues were identified: (1) Service provision as rewarding yet underfunded, (2) Administrative complexity and lack of understanding of the occupational therapy role and (3) Need for specialist professional development opportunities.
Australian Health Journal spoke with McKinstry about the study, and its conclusions.
Australian occupational therapists are providing a range of services to Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients although mostly relating to physical conditions, states Professor McKinstry.
Her conclusions for the study are that occupational therapy practice with former Australian Defence Force members be expanded to meet their diverse and complex needs. Further research and education is needed to support use of specialist knowledge and interventions. Advocacy by peak associations and policy reform are urgently required to ensure sustainable services, particularly in rural areas.
-
Patient-paramedic trust can help free up emergency departments
Dr. Robbie King is a Senior Advanced Care Paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service and a community paramedic. He is also a lecturer at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. After studying paramedicine and working as a student paramedic since 2009, he recognised that most patients attended by ambulance services did not require emergency interventions.
-
Role of milk in cognitive function and quality of life in older adults
New research emphasises the role of cows’ milk, particularly A1 protein free milk, in enhancing cognitive function and quality of life for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A multi-centre, double-blinded, randomised controlled clinical study published in *The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging* evaluated 88 milk-tolerant Chinese adults aged 65-75 over three months. Participants consumed either ordinary skim milk or A1 protein free skim milk, leading to improvements in various cognitive assessments.
-
The 2019 John Deeble Lecture and Panel Discussion
The John Deeble Lecture and Panel Discussion was established by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association to commemorate the life and achievements as distinguished scholar, health economist and health policy leader, Prof John Deeble AO.
