Masters Degrees (Occupational Therapy)

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/11660/317

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Occupational Therapy) by Author "Hough, R."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Description of occupational therapy fieldwork supervision at the University of the Free State
    (University of the Free State, 2014-01) Hattingh, Rialda; Hough, R.; van Vuuren, S.; Nel, M.
    English: Fieldwork education in Occupational Therapy provides students with the opportunity to integrate theory learned at higher institutions with practical skills and professional behaviour within real-life settings to become proficient occupational therapists. Fieldwork supervisors are the key role players and facilitators in realising the purpose of fieldwork education. To this end, supervisors must exhibit effective characteristics of supervision in order to provide quality and meaningful learning experiences for students. Concern has been raised throughout literature about the characteristics that supervisors display during fieldwork placements, because it has such a major influence on students’ learning and experiences of fieldwork education. Very little research has been done on fieldwork education of Occupational Therapy in South Africa and none on the characteristics of supervisors and supervision during fieldwork placements. This study aims to describe effective and ineffective characteristics of supervisors and supervision in Occupational Therapy fieldwork education at the UFS as identified by third and fourth year Occupational Therapy students and supervisors. These phenomena of supervisor and supervision characteristics have been researched in several qualitative studies internationally from either the supervisors’ or the students’ perspective. In this study, a quantitative, descriptive study design was used to gather information about effective and ineffective characteristics of supervisors and supervision during Occupational Therapy fieldwork education. The data collection instruments implemented consisted of two similar self-report questionnaires: one for the students and one for the supervisors. The research population consisted of all the third and fourth year Occupational Therapy students enrolled at the UFS in 2012 (a total of 69) as well as all the supervisors involved in fieldwork training of these Occupational Therapy students (a total of 41). The response rate for the students was 98.6% and for the supervisors 100%. Effective supervision characteristics have been identified and described, with specific emphasis on the main findings that reflect that a supervisor must be competent, professional, approachable, considerate and knowledgeable about what is expected from the student and must spend adequate time with the student. Furthermore, the supervisor must provide sufficient guidelines, support, guidance and feedback. Results were reported according to the five categories used in the questionnaires, namely: interpersonal; curriculum; clinical and professional; feedback and environment. Ineffective supervision characteristics identified in this study were similar to those detected in international studies. This study clearly indicates that supervisors viewed the limited time they had to supervise students as a major cause of ineffective supervising. Additionally, they had less than five years of supervision experience, which influenced the effectiveness of their supervision characteristics negatively. An unexpected finding of this study was the indication by supervisors that students’ attributes – whether positive or negative – had been the biggest influence on the supervision they provided during fieldwork education. In conclusion, extensive recommendations were made to redress the ineffective characteristics of supervision identified in this study as it pertains to students, supervisors and the university. This study contributes to Occupational Therapy’s body of knowledge with regard to supervision characteristics in fieldwork education in a South African setting, which can be used as a base for future research.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Personality characteristics, perception of pain and the attainment of self-care in patients with spinal fusion
    (University of the Free State, 2017-06) Van der Merwe, Chanette; Hough, R.; Nel, M.
    Background Self-care activities are often most affected after a spinal fusion and are priority goals of the individualised treatment approach. Many patients undergo spinal fusions with similar levels and instrumentation. Despite procedural similarities, some patients return to participation within self-care activities effortlessly, whilst others display delayed independence. Literature suggests that personality traits and patients` perceived experience of pain is two contributing factors in rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between these factors. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. The study population included 61 patients who underwent a spinal fusion amid October 2015 and June 2016. Data was gathered pre-operatively and post-operatively. Selfcompiled - and standardised questionnaires were used to measure pain, personality and self-care activities. Results Perfectionism (57.4%), tension (44.3%) and apprehension (44.3%) were high-indicated primary factors. Low emotional stability and seriousness were found in majority (73.8%) of the participants. Study participants (49.2%) who had high functional impairments due to pain displayed high levels of anxiety. Low levels of functional impairments were related to high levels of independence, tough-mindedness and self-control. Caring for toe nails, drying hair and engaging in sexual intercourse were the most affected self-care areas pre- and post-operatively. 68.9% of participants attained both self-care goals. Conclusion Participants with high anxiety and low independence, tough-mindedness and self-control, experienced more pain. Higher levels of pain are associated with decreased goal attainment. However, despite a higher pain perception, the presence of certain personality characteristics namely: low extraversion, high independence and self-control leads to higher goal attainment. Results confirm that personality characteristics influence pain perception and the attainment of self-care goals.