Forty-one preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g and less than 32 weeks' gestation at birth had a Dubowitz neurological assessment performed at 40 weeks postconceptional age. The infants were classified into three groups. Eight... more
Forty-one preterm infants weighing less than 1500 g and less than 32 weeks' gestation at birth had a Dubowitz neurological assessment performed at 40 weeks postconceptional age. The infants were classified into three groups. Eight infants had bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe central nervous system abnormalities, 11 infants had bronchopulmonary dysplasia alone, and 22 infants had neither bronchopulmonary dysplasia nor severe central nervous system abnormalities. The neuromotor performance of these three groups of infants was similar on all the Dubowitz assessment items at 40 weeks postconceptional age. Neuromotor development of very low birthweight infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia appears to be no different from that of infants without bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 40 weeks postconceptional age utilizing the Dubowitz neurological assessment.
Research Interests:
Health policy and demographic trends have produced considerable changes to the delivery of health care in recent years. This focus group study conducted in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, involved 49 occupational therapists and physical... more
Health policy and demographic trends have produced considerable changes to the delivery of health care in recent years. This focus group study conducted in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, involved 49 occupational therapists and physical therapists who discussed their experiences of current health services in relation to rehabilitation practice. Therapists' experiences were that regional rehabilitation service provision was variable and that there were client groups that gained from the shift to community-based rehabilitation and those that did not. Therapists reported changes to occupational therapy and physical therapy practice, including an increased focus on assessments, but fewer interventions being carried out and limited input into the provision of services to support clients in maintaining their health. The findings will be of interest to all practitioners and service providers.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Abstract A community fitness program for adolescents with cerebral palsy was evaluated. Twenty-three subjects (mean age, 14.2 yr) completed a program of aerobics, strength training, and stretching three times a week for 10 weeks. They... more
Abstract A community fitness program for adolescents with cerebral palsy was evaluated. Twenty-three subjects (mean age, 14.2 yr) completed a program of aerobics, strength training, and stretching three times a week for 10 weeks. They were tested three times ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Advertisement. Close Window. Close Window. Thank you for choosing to subscribe to the eTOC for Pediatric Physical Therapy. Enter your Email address: Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The impact of restructuring healthcare services on the day-to-day practice of occupational therapists and physical therapists was examined. Four main issues emerged: Limited understanding of scopes of practice; absence of a rehabilitation... more
The impact of restructuring healthcare services on the day-to-day practice of occupational therapists and physical therapists was examined. Four main issues emerged: Limited understanding of scopes of practice; absence of a rehabilitation perspective at decision-making tables; lack of a career ladder; and barriers to the maintenance and enhancement of professional competence. This article describes the reported impact of these issues on patient care specifically and on the healthcare system in general. Recommendations for an improved structure within an interdisciplinary management paradigm that would ensure effective and efficient use of healthcare resources are provided.
Research Interests: Nursing, Decision Making, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation, Health Care, and 14 moreMedicine, Physical Therapy, Canada, Health Care reform, Humans, Restructuring, Public health systems and services research, Patient Care, Professional Competence, Organizational Survival and Efficiency, Healthcare system, Healthcare Delivery, Physical therapy specialty, and Allied Health Personnel
Research Interests: Psychology, Cognitive Science, Pediatrics, Motor Development, Child Development, and 15 moreAging, Medicine, Birth Weight, Prospective studies, Humans, Infant, Clinical Sciences, Newborn Infant, Longitudinal Studies, Motor Skill, Gross Motor Skill, Reference Values, Apgar Score, Motor Skills, and Percentile
One hundred and seven infants aged < 32 weeks of gestation were stratified according to birthweight and randomly assigned to either a waterbed group (N = 53) or a mattress group (N = 54). All the infants were assessed on removal... more
One hundred and seven infants aged < 32 weeks of gestation were stratified according to birthweight and randomly assigned to either a waterbed group (N = 53) or a mattress group (N = 54). All the infants were assessed on removal from the surface: 68 infants at 40 weeks gestation and 52 infants at four, eight, 12 and 18 months adjusted age. At the 18-month assessment, outcome was classified as normal, suspicious or abnormal. There were no significant differences between the groups at any age. The results suggest that the use of the waterbed as a positional surface in the neonatal intensive-care unit has no influence on the motor development of very low-birthweight infants.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Room 2-50 Corbett Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2G4 johanna.darrah@ualberta.ca. ... Inf Young Children 1992; 4: 1122. Fowler EG, Kolobe THA, Damiano DL,... more
... Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Room 2-50 Corbett Hall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2G4 johanna.darrah@ualberta.ca. ... Inf Young Children 1992; 4: 1122. Fowler EG, Kolobe THA, Damiano DL, Thorpe DE, Morgan DW, Brunstrom JE, et al ...
Research Interests:
Purpose: Pediatric physical therapists are becoming increasingly involved in designing and implementing fitness programs for both typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy. This review discusses some of the... more
Purpose: Pediatric physical therapists are becoming increasingly involved in designing and implementing fitness programs for both typically developing children and children with cerebral palsy. This review discusses some of the methodological challenges associated with evaluating aerobic exercise in children, as well as current evidence on the effects of aerobic exercise for children with motor disabilities, specifically cerebral palsy. We then provide some general guidelines about implementing aerobic exercise programs with children. Summary of Key Points: Our knowledge of the effect of aerobic fitness programs in children is limited. Research designs that fail to control for important child variables such as age and maturity; inadequate control of program parameters such as intensity, duration, and frequency; and the use of many different outcome measures make it difficult to discern the true effects of aerobic exercise. Furthermore, outcomes evaluating the components of activity ...
Research Interests:
Cerebral palsy describes the most common physical disability in childhood and occurs in 1 in 500 live births. Historically, the diagnosis has been made between age 12 and 24 months but now can be made before 6 months' corrected age.... more
Cerebral palsy describes the most common physical disability in childhood and occurs in 1 in 500 live births. Historically, the diagnosis has been made between age 12 and 24 months but now can be made before 6 months' corrected age. To systematically review best available evidence for early, accurate diagnosis of cerebral palsy and to summarize best available evidence about cerebral palsy-specific early intervention that should follow early diagnosis to optimize neuroplasticity and function. This study systematically searched the literature about early diagnosis of cerebral palsy in MEDLINE (1956-2016), EMBASE (1980-2016), CINAHL (1983-2016), and the Cochrane Library (1988-2016) and by hand searching. Search terms included cerebral palsy, diagnosis, detection, prediction, identification, predictive validity, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. The study included systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses, criteria of diagnostic accuracy, and evidence-based clinical gui...
Research Interests: Pediatrics, Early Intervention, Cerebral Palsy, Medicine, Children, and 14 moreHumans, Child, Educational, Journal Article, Infant, Medline, Systematic review, Newborn Infant, Newborn, Randomized Controlled Trial, Early Diagnosis, Prevention Program, High risk, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
To identify the personal, family, and community factors that facilitate or hinder employment for young adults with developmental motor disabilities. Quantitative methods with an embedded qualitative component were used. Seventy-six... more
To identify the personal, family, and community factors that facilitate or hinder employment for young adults with developmental motor disabilities. Quantitative methods with an embedded qualitative component were used. Seventy-six persons between the ages of 20 and 30 years of age (Mean = 25, SD = 3.1) with a diagnosis of either cerebral palsy or spina bifida completed questionnaires addressing factors such as depression, and participated in a semi-structured interview that allowed participants to describe their experiences with education, employment, transportation, and other services. Almost half of the participants (n = 35) were not currently employed. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that gender (females were less likely to be employed), IQ (lower IQ associated with unemployment), and transportation dependence accounted for 42% of the variance in employment. Themes emerging from content analysis of the interviews supported the findings related to transportation barrie...
Research Interests:
Information about the use of research by rehabilitation professionals to make clinical decisions in everyday practice is limited. This study compared perceived research use and knowledge sources across professions, practice situations,... more
Information about the use of research by rehabilitation professionals to make clinical decisions in everyday practice is limited. This study compared perceived research use and knowledge sources across professions, practice situations, and work environments. Participants were 165 randomly selected Canadian occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Self-report ratings during an interview, an interviewer rating, and questionnaire scores (Edmonton Research Orientation Survey, General Use of Research, Knowledge Acquisition Survey) were compared. Speech-language pathologists had the most education and the highest research use ratings. Research use was highest during program planning. Programs to encourage research use must consider the research available to guide practice and therapists' education level. Facility size and location (rural, urban) do not affect perceived research use.
Research Interests: Mechanical Engineering, Occupational Therapy, Evidence Based Medicine, Medical Education, Health Services Research, and 15 moreMedicine, Information Services, Allied Health, Humans, Interview, Newspaper, Clinical Sciences, Questionnaires, Alberta, Analysis of Variance, Professional Competence, Education Continuing, Random Allocation, attitude to health, and Physical therapy specialty
The delivery of paediatric rehabilitation services is complex due to the involvement of different service sectors and diverse models of care. Parents of children with disabilities find it challenging to navigate successfully through... more
The delivery of paediatric rehabilitation services is complex due to the involvement of different service sectors and diverse models of care. Parents of children with disabilities find it challenging to navigate successfully through complicated service delivery systems. Cross-sectoral collaboration to improve continuity of care for children with disabilities and their families is viewed as ideal in public policies. The purpose of this research was to explore how ministerial cultures, processes and structures influence inter-ministerial collaboration for the purpose of enhancing continuity of care for children with disabilities and their families in a Western Canadian province. Six key informants from three government Ministries that funded paediatric rehabilitation services participated in individual, semi-structured interviews between January and May of 2007. Nineteen provincial public policy documents were reviewed. Hall's framework guided the analysis of the key informant int...
Research Interests: Geography, Pediatrics, Social Work, Rehabilitation, Corporate Governance, and 13 moreChild Welfare, Qualitative Research, Treatment Outcome, Medicine, Humans, Child, Alberta, Public health systems and services research, Parent‐child Relations, Continuity of Patient Care, Cooperative Behavior, Public Policy, and Disabled Persons
Background: Physical activity is recognized as a rehabilitation approach for individuals with motor disabilities. To determine whether community fitness programs were accommodating children and youth with motor disabilities, and to... more
Background: Physical activity is recognized as a rehabilitation approach for individuals with motor disabilities. To determine whether community fitness programs were accommodating children and youth with motor disabilities, and to understand family perspectives on important outcomes related to fitness programs. Telephone survey and qualitative interviews. Representatives of 61 fitness programs/facilities and 13 parents of children with motor disabilities. Telephone survey (facilities) and qualitative interviews (parents). 24.6% of programs reported lack of wheelchair accessibility. Only 9.8% of programs and facilities required their staff to have training to support individuals with disabilities. Parents discussed barriers, including lack of staff support and challenges with finding information about community programs. Parents focused on the social benefits of fitness programs. Additional efforts toward reducing access barriers are needed. Parents' focus on social outcomes has...
Research Interests: Psychology, Focus Groups, Qualitative Research, Exercise therapy, Medicine, and 15 moreHumans, Child, Female, Male, Focus Group, Physical Fitness, Disabled children, Alberta, Public health systems and services research, Wheelchair, Mobility limitation, Health Services Accessibility, Interviews as topic, Community health services, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
The establishment of a transdisciplinary research team, the Applied Developmental Neuroscience group, is described. The group, which initially included a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and... more
The establishment of a transdisciplinary research team, the Applied Developmental Neuroscience group, is described. The group, which initially included a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and developmental pediatrician, is focused on linking theory and practice for intervention with children with disabilities. The group encountered challenges related to personal attributes such as trust, communication, time, and commitment; the task of finding a common theoretical perspective; and the autonomous academic environment. The strategies used to address these challenges and the benefits of a transdisciplinary model, such as cross-fertilization of theoretical perspectives and more powerful application and testing of theoretical frameworks in a research context, are described.
Research Interests: Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Group Processes, Medicine, Allied Health, and 12 moreHumans, Child, United States, Newspaper, Clinical Sciences, Disabled children, Public health systems and services research, Full Text Vol 5, Interdisciplinary Communication, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, Neurosciences, and Allied Health Occupations
... Nancy L. Galambos, Joyce Magill-Evans, and Johanna Darrah University of Alberta ... Arnett, 2000) and may be difficult for people with motor disabilities because of physical limitations (Hauser-Cram & Krauss, 2004; Marn... more
... Nancy L. Galambos, Joyce Magill-Evans, and Johanna Darrah University of Alberta ... Arnett, 2000) and may be difficult for people with motor disabilities because of physical limitations (Hauser-Cram & Krauss, 2004; Marn & Koch, 1999; Stevenson, Pharoah, & Stevenson, 1997 ...
Research Interests:
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is clinical decision making based on information from three sources: patient values, clinical expertise and knowledge of the best research evidence. Knowledge and use of the best research evidence depends on... more
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is clinical decision making based on information from three sources: patient values, clinical expertise and knowledge of the best research evidence. Knowledge and use of the best research evidence depends on an effective transfer of knowledge from research to clinical practice. This manuscript presents a conceptual model, the purpose of which is to improve knowledge transfer between
Research Interests:
Background Longitudinal research on gross motor percentile rank scores of children with typical development has documented intra-individual variability of scoring patterns. Clinically, interpreting these fluctuations presents a challenge... more
Background Longitudinal research on gross motor percentile rank scores of children with typical development has documented intra-individual variability of scoring patterns. Clinically, interpreting these fluctuations presents a challenge for therapists. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the utility of cluster analysis as a technique to organize the gross motor scoring patterns of children with typical development into clinically relevant groups. Design This was a descriptive, exploratory study using data from 2 longitudinal studies. Participants Sixty-six children with typical development participated in the study. Methods The children were assessed on the gross motor subscale of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales at 9, 11, 13, 16, and 21 months of age and on the gross motor subscale of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 2nd edition, at 4, 4.5, 5, and 5.5 years of age. Demographic and health data were collected. Parents were interviewed when the children were...
Research Interests: Child Development, Medicine, Physical Therapy, Canada, Humans, and 15 moreChild, Descriptive Statistics, Cluster Analysis, Infant, Developmental disabilities, Clinical Sciences, Longitudinal Studies, Analysis of Variance, Longitudinal Study, Motor Skill, Chi Square Distribution, Gross Motor Skill, Motor Skills, Child preschool, and Percentile
Background Serial joint range-of-motion (ROM) measurements are an important component of assessments for children with cerebral palsy. Most research has studied ROM stability using group data. Examination of longitudinal intraindividual... more
Background Serial joint range-of-motion (ROM) measurements are an important component of assessments for children with cerebral palsy. Most research has studied ROM stability using group data. Examination of longitudinal intraindividual measures may provide more clinically relevant information about measurement variability. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the stability of intraindividual longitudinal measurements of hip abduction (ABD), popliteal angle (POP), and ankle dorsiflexion (ADF) ROM measures of children with cerebral palsy. Design Secondary data analyses were performed. Methods The stability patterns of individual serial measurements of ABD, POP, and ADF from 85 children (mean age=3.8 years, SD=1.4) collected at baseline (T1), 3 months (T2), 6 months (T3), and 9 months (T4) were examined using T1 as the anchor and bandwidths of ±15 degrees (ABD and POP) and ±10 degrees (ADF) as acceptable variability. Frequencies of stability categories (0°–5°, 5.1°–10°, 10.1...
Research Interests:
Physical activity is important for young people's health. The emphasis over the last 2 decades has been on moderate to vigorous exercise when designing activity and exercise programs for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy... more
Physical activity is important for young people's health. The emphasis over the last 2 decades has been on moderate to vigorous exercise when designing activity and exercise programs for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Emerging evidence suggests that sedentary behavior is distinctly different from a lack of moderate to vigorous physical activity and has independent and different physiological mechanisms. The concept of concurrently increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity and replacing sedentary behavior with light physical activity may be beneficial for children and adolescents with CP. This article is a summary of the evidence for what works and what does not work for improving the physical activity of children and adolescents with CP. It also discusses what is known about sedentary behavior of children and adolescents with CP and what research directions are needed to build foundational knowledge in this area with this population.
Research Interests:
... METHODS The motor performance of a cohort of 86 preterm infants was assessed using theMAL AU infants were < 37 weeks gestation at birth and ... Piper MC, Mazer B, Silver KM, Ramsay M: Resolution of neurological symptoms in... more
... METHODS The motor performance of a cohort of 86 preterm infants was assessed using theMAL AU infants were < 37 weeks gestation at birth and ... Piper MC, Mazer B, Silver KM, Ramsay M: Resolution of neurological symptoms in high-risk infants during the first two years of life ...
Research Interests:
Ninety-two infants born at ≤36 weeks gestation were assessed using the Dubowitz Neurological Assessment of the Preterm and Full-term Newborn infants at 40 weeks postconception and the Movement Assessment of Infants at four months adjusted... more
Ninety-two infants born at ≤36 weeks gestation were assessed using the Dubowitz Neurological Assessment of the Preterm and Full-term Newborn infants at 40 weeks postconception and the Movement Assessment of Infants at four months adjusted age. Neurological outcomes were assessed at 18 months adjusted age. Approximately 90% of the infants who were consistently rated a normal at both term and four month were normal at 18 months. This predicative validity did not differ significantly from the obtained from either a normal rating at term (84%) or at four months (85%). Infants who were consistently rated as being abnormal at 18 months (40%) than those infants who were rated as being abnormal only at four months (54%). The two sequential examinations were not better predictors of either (1) normal performance than the term or four month examination, or (2) abnormal performance than the four month examination. The recommendation to perform at least two examinations early in life is based on the clinical usefulne...
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Psychology, Psychometrics, Self Care, Cerebral Palsy, Medicine, and 14 moreActivities of Daily Living, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Infant, Parents, Questionnaires, Public health systems and services research, Daily Living Skills, Mobility limitation, Disability Evaluation, Child preschool, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
To explore therapists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; goal setting and intervention with children with cerebral palsy, and to examine their acceptance of... more
To explore therapists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; goal setting and intervention with children with cerebral palsy, and to examine their acceptance of children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s use of compensatory movement strategies. Interviews were conducted with 23 occupational therapists and 31 physical therapists. Goals and assumptions of relationships between intervention approaches and expected outcomes were coded using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). Therapists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; acceptance of compensatory movement strategies was rated. Thirty-three therapists identified goals representing the ICF activity component. Therapists working with younger children identified goals representing the ICF body function/structure component. Twenty-four therapists assumed that an intervention targeted at 1 ICF component would affect an outcome in a different component. Eleven therapists would not accept compensatory movement strategies. Most therapists&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; goals are congruent with principles encouraging functional goals. The ICF matrix developed for this study may be useful for clinical evaluation and documentation of assumed relationships among interventions and outcomes.
Research Interests: Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Documentation, Cerebral Palsy, Adolescent, and 10 moreMedicine, Humans, Child, Psychological Intervention, Goals, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, Child preschool, Physical therapy specialty, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
Research Interests:
... Canada. E-mail: joyce.magil1-evans@ual-berta.ca. ... peers. British young people with cerebral palsy participated less in social and leisure activities than did peers without cerebral palsy (Stevenson, Pharoah, & Stevenson, 1997).... more
... Canada. E-mail: joyce.magil1-evans@ual-berta.ca. ... peers. British young people with cerebral palsy participated less in social and leisure activities than did peers without cerebral palsy (Stevenson, Pharoah, & Stevenson, 1997). ...
Research Interests:
... The mothers had participated in an earlier study of adolescents (Darrah et al. 2002; Magill-Evans et al. 2001). Most mothers were the biological parents (n=18), two were long term foster mothers beginning very early in the... more
... The mothers had participated in an earlier study of adolescents (Darrah et al. 2002; Magill-Evans et al. 2001). Most mothers were the biological parents (n=18), two were long term foster mothers beginning very early in the child's life with ongoing guardianship, and one adopted ...
Research Interests:
Administrators must balance the demands of delivering therapy services with the need to provide staff with educational opportunities promoting evidence-based practice. Increasingly, the use of multifaceted, interactive knowledge... more
Administrators must balance the demands of delivering therapy services with the need to provide staff with educational opportunities promoting evidence-based practice. Increasingly, the use of multifaceted, interactive knowledge translation strategies, such as knowledge brokering, is suggested as an effective way to encourage clinician behavior changes and implement new knowledge. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe administrators&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; perceptions of the successes and challenges in using a knowledge broker (KB) to promote the use of evidence-based measures of motor function for children with cerebral palsy. Administrators from 27 pediatric facilities completed a semi-structured telephone interview following 6 months of knowledge brokering within their organizations. Using thematic analysis, interview transcripts were reviewed to identify common themes. Six interview themes were identified: &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Efficient and Effective,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Stimulating Peer-to-Peer Learning Environment,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Committed and Respected Knowledge Brokers,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Sharing Beyond,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Organizational Beliefs and Values,&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;The Dilemma of Moving Forward&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;. Administrators were positive about the KB experience, acknowledging its efficiency and effectiveness. They commented on the stimulating peer-to-peer and interdisciplinary learning environment that the KB process encouraged. Administrators referred to their organizational beliefs and values when discussing their need to make priorities for limited resources, which influenced their decisions about whether to continue with a KB after the study was completed. Although administrators were philosophically supportive of knowledge brokering, they identified funding and resource constraints and the absence of evidence of the effectiveness of knowledge brokering as major barriers to the continuation of a KB role in their facility.
Research Interests: Evidence Based Practice, Qualitative Research, Knowledge Translation, Cerebral Palsy, Medicine, and 11 moreThematic Analysis, Staff Development, Continuing Medical Education, Humans, Child, Education Systems, Public health systems and services research, Rehabilitation Centers, Child Health Services, Motor activity, and Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
To compare the order and age of emergence of rolling prone to supine and supine to prone before the introduction of back to sleep guidelines and 20 years after their introduction. The original normative data for the Alberta Infant Motor... more
To compare the order and age of emergence of rolling prone to supine and supine to prone before the introduction of back to sleep guidelines and 20 years after their introduction. The original normative data for the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) were collected just prior to the introduction of back to sleep guidelines in 1992. Currently these norms are being re-evaluated. Data of rolling patterns of infants 36 weeks of age or younger from the original sample (n=1114) and the contemporary sample (n=351) were evaluated to compare the sequence of appearance of prone to supine and supine to prone rolls (proportion of infants passing each roll) and the ages of emergence (estimated age when 50% of infants passed each roll). The sequence of emergence and estimated age of appearance of both rolling directions were similar between the two time periods. The introduction of the supine sleep position to reduce the prevalence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has not altered the timing or sequence of infant rolling abilities. This information is valuable to health care providers involved in the surveillance of infants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; development. Original normative age estimates for these two motor abilities are still appropriate.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Psychology, Quality of life, Treatment Outcome, Cerebral Palsy, Group Psychotherapy, and 15 moreMedicine, Physical Therapy, Activities of Daily Living, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Cluster Analysis, Infant, Parents, Randomized Controlled Trial, Parent‐child Relations, Motor activity, Child preschool, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Psychology, Evidence Based Medicine, Cerebral Palsy, Music Therapy, Medicine, and 11 moreActivities of Daily Living, Humans, Child, Psychological Intervention, Credibility, Patient Care Team, Residential Treatment Recidivism, Competency Based Education, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, Combined Modality Therapy, and Medical and Health Sciences
The role of the occupational therapist working in the school system is to facilitate a student’s task performance or ability to do purposeful and meaningful activities so that the student benefits from the educational experience. To... more
The role of the occupational therapist working in the school system is to facilitate a student’s task performance or ability to do purposeful and meaningful activities so that the student benefits from the educational experience. To fulfill this role, occupational therapists need assessments that address functional performance issues in the classroom and provide information for effective programming and consultation. The School Version of the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (School AMPS) is an observational evaluation of functional skills in the classroom. Common classroom activities are observed to assess a child’s school motor and school process skills. This study examined the validity of the School AMPS by comparing it to the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale–Fine Motor (PDMS-FM), a common assessment used in local area school districts in Edmonton, Alberta. Results show a higher correlation of the PDMS-FM with the motor scale of the School AMPS than with the process scale ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Rehabilitation, Quality of life, Treatment Outcome, Cerebral Palsy, Medicine, and 15 moreCooperation, Activities of Daily Living, Humans, Child, Intervention, Female, Therapy, Male, Context Effect, Social Environment, Goal Orientation, Parents, Motor Skills, Child preschool, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests: Occupational Therapy, Clinical Trial, Cerebral Palsy, Information Design, Medicine, and 15 morePhysical Therapy, Activities of Daily Living, Humans, Female, Male, Psychological Intervention, Infant, Disability and Health, Motor Function, Habilitation, International Classification of Functioning, Motor Skills, Child preschool, Paediatrics and reproductive medicine, and functional outcome
To understand the contribution of educational, employment, transportation, and assured income service programs to the successful transition to adulthood of young persons with motor disabilities. Personal interviews of 76 young adults ages... more
To understand the contribution of educational, employment, transportation, and assured income service programs to the successful transition to adulthood of young persons with motor disabilities. Personal interviews of 76 young adults ages 20 to 30 years with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (n = 54) or spina bifida (n = 22) varying in functional mobility. Content analysis of transcribed interviews was conducted and themes identified. Results. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;Paradox of Services&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; emerged as a dominant theme across all four service sectors. Services designed to encourage independence and full participation for the young adults in their communities often restricted their independence and employment options in young adulthood. Services need to be more individualized and flexible to accommodate the environmental and personal needs of the young adults. Rehabilitation professionals have important roles at both an individual family level and the systems level to ensure the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;best fit&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; between persons with motor disabilities and the services available to them. Contemporary views of disability support rehabilitation intervention targeting both individual and environmental factors.
Research Interests: Psychology, Education, Rehabilitation, Transportation, Cerebral Palsy, and 15 moreMedicine, Social Welfare, Humans, Young Adults, Female, Male, Young Adult, Income, Adult, service Business, Disabled Persons, Spinal Dysraphism, Interviews as topic, Mainstreaming education, and Medical and Health Sciences
Research Interests: Education, Occupational Therapy, Focus Groups, Health Services Research, Cerebral Palsy, and 14 moreAdolescent, Medicine, Transition, Humans, Child, Parents, Family Health, Alberta, Child Health Services, Child preschool, attitude to health, Physical therapy specialty, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
To systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of motor interventions for infants from birth to 2 years with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or at high risk of it. Relevant literature was identified by searching journal article... more
To systematically review the evidence on the effectiveness of motor interventions for infants from birth to 2 years with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or at high risk of it. Relevant literature was identified by searching journal article databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Knowledge, and PEDro). Selection criteria included infants between the ages of birth and 2 years diagnosed with, or at risk of, cerebral palsy who received early motor intervention. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, including 10 randomized controlled trials. Studies varied in quality, interventions, and participant inclusion criteria. Neurodevelopmental therapy was the most common intervention investigated either as the experimental or control assignment. The two interventions that had a moderate to large effect on motor outcomes (Cohen's effect size>0.7) had the common themes of child-initiated movement, environment modification/enrichment, and task-specific training. The publ...
Research Interests:
The Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, recently implemented a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) entry-level degree program. As part of the curriculum design, two models were developed, a Model... more
The Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, recently implemented a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) entry-level degree program. As part of the curriculum design, two models were developed, a Model of Best Practice and the Clinical ...