Research Articles (Occupational Therapy)

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Browsing Research Articles (Occupational Therapy) by Author "Classen, Sherrilene"

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    The lived experience of drivers with a spinal cord injury : a qualitative inquiry
    (Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa, 2016) Mtetwa, Lucia; Classen, Sherrilene; Van Niekerk, Lana
    Introduction: Driving is an instrumental activity of daily living and a facilitator of meaningful participation in society for the majority of the population, including persons with spinal cord injuries. Persons with spinal cord injury may have impaired fitness to drive capabilities. Little is known about perceptions of drivers with spinal cord injury on driving, driver rehabilitation, or return to driving. This study examined the post spinal cord injury driving experiences of drivers and illuminates their rehabilitation and return-to-driving needs within the South African context. Method: This phenomenological study explored personal experiences of fourteen drivers with spinal cord injury, recruited through purposive sampling. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data analysis was an inductive and iterative process. Results/findings: Six themes represent the study findings: adjusting to physical limitations, safety perceptions and influencing factors, the positive role of driving, contextual features and supports, environmental barriers, and inconsistent provision of rehabilitation services. Conclusions: The findings indicated that occupational therapists ought to consider incorporating driver rehabilitation services and adopt mediation approaches to advocate for persons with spinal cord injury, who want to drive. Plausible practice and research opportunities are discussed for occupational therapists who are interested in driving and spinal cord injury.
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    Validity of the Stellenbosch University on-road assessment
    (Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa, 2015-12) Swanepoel, Lizette; Classen, Sherrilene; Goliath, Charlyn
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background: Internationally, occupational therapists are the professional group called upon to assess fitness to drive. Fitness to drive is assessed through a comprehensive driving evaluation consisting of a clinical battery of tests and an on-road assessment. The on-road assessment is the criterion standard for assessing fitness to drive. Such an assessment has not yet been developed or validated in the South African context. Purpose: This study empirically quantified the face, content and construct validity of the Stellenbosch University on-road assessment. Methods: Firstly face validity was established using feedback from peer reviewers, secondly, content validity using the ratings of expert reviewers, and thirdly construct validity was established by assessing between group differences in young drivers who drove the road-course. Results: Peer review indicated acceptable face validity. Expert reviewers had an average rater agreement percentage of 94%, indicating favourable content validity. One (of two) on-road outcome measures, the Global Rating Score, discriminated between two groups of drivers, indicating construct validity. Conclusion: This study introduced the first empirical on-road assessment in the South African context. The findings provided foundational information for occupational therapists interested in assessing in-traffic fitness to drive abilities. Implications for practice, research and policy were discussed.