Occupational Therapy – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Key Features:

* Encourages a theoretical underpinning of occupation, occupational therapy and research.
* Nationally recognised for excellence in teaching and research.
* Meets the needs of occupational therapists who wish to enhance their current practice in their workplace.
* Provides academic learning experiences in a supportive environment.
* A modular programme that can be studied full-time, part-time or as an associate student. (Associate enrolment: studying a one off-module - this is very appropriate for continuing professional development.)
* Facilitates reflective practice.
* Develops research competencies for using and developing evidence-based practice.

This course will broaden and deepen your knowledge and understanding of the value of occupational therapy in today's changing world. Each modules content is embedded in practice and overall the programme aims to develop your skills in analysing evidence, implementing and evaluating occupational therapy research.

Core Modules

* Occupational Science

Main topics include: occupation defined and classified: theoretical perspectives; occupation as means of promoting and sustaining health and well being; occupational risk factors as barriers to occupational justice; historical perspectives on occupation; the theory base for occupational science: paradigms, frames of reference and models of occupation; occupational science in context.

* Evidence-Based Practice

Main topics include: conducting literature searches; examining the structure of research papers; comparing results and interpreting outcome measures; understanding the purpose and process of meta analyse; examining published outcomes measures; sharing examples of audit.

* The Art of Occupational Therapy

Main topics include: key models of reflection; modes of clinical reasoning in occupational therapy; judgement, decision making and expertise development; the work of key occupational theorists; historical foundations of occupational therapy.

* Communicating and Implementing Research Findings in Occupational Therapy

Main topics include: government policy, professional initiatives and their implications for evidence based practice; making evidence available for practice through effective communication; defining evidence: levels and types; searching for research evidence; critically appraising research evidence; grading evidence based recommendations for practice; strategies for integrating evidence into practice whilst also considering the clients' values and using clinical judgement and experience; managing change: models; barriers to implementing evidence in practice and strategies for overcoming them; evaluating and monitoring changes to practice.

* Research Methods

Main topics include: philosophical underpinnings of research methodology; proposal design; searching and reviewing the literature; ethical issues in research and research governance; surveys and longitudinal studies; questionnaire design; experimental and quasi-experimental designs; n of 1 studies; statistical analysis and using spss; depth interviews; focus groups; observation; use of documentary sources; qualitative analysis.

* Dissertation

Recent examples of dissertations by students taking this course include:

* Living in a glasshouse: users' perspectives on mental health day services;
* Therapists' perceptions of the use of outcome measures in stroke rehabilitation.

Optional Modules Two modules are chosen from:

Occupational Therapy for Children, Young People and their Families

Main topics include: analysis of aspects in child development and study of common problems and disorders in childhood; review of the research based current evidence on occupational therapy theory and practice for children and adolescents; review the clinical reasoning process in paediatric occupational therapy practice; examine a selection of experimental methods appropriate for assessing and evaluating clinical practice or service delivery in children´s health; exploration of effective ways of incorporating the family into their child´s assessment and treatment; exploration of relevant current children´s health policy and legislation.



Occupational Therapy in Mental Health

Main topics include: overview of occupational therapy in mental health; review of the research based literature on occupational therapy theory and practice in mental health; detailed exploration of current mental health policy and legislation in relation to occupational therapy practice; exploring contemporary issues; examining current evidence and research related to the contemporary mental health issues; exploring a detailed selection of quantitative and qualitative measures appropriate for assessing and evaluating clinical practice or service delivery in mental health.



Functional Neuroscience for Rehabilitation

Main topics include: nervous system development and plasticity; synaptic physiology - chemical transmitters; modifable synapses: from development, to learning and recovery of function; autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic function; functional neuroanatomy - from pathways to neurological lesions and deficits; cellular mechanisms of neural injury and repair in stroke, injury and brain trauma; genetics of neurodegenerative disorders; brain chemistry, emotions and behaviour; pain and chronic pain management; cortical functioning in sensation and perception; vision and control of gaze; hearing and speech; brain imaging; consciousness: EEG, coma, sleep and epilepsy and cognition; modern neuroscientific tools for the exploration of brain function.



Communicating and Utilising Evidence in Practice

Main topics include; government policy, professional initiatives and their implications for evidence-based practice; making evidence available for practice through effective communication; defining evidence; levels and types; searching for research evidence; critically appraising research evidence; grading evidence based recommendations for practice; strategies for integrating evidence into practice whilst also considering the clients´ values and using clinical judgement and experience; managing change; models; barriers to implementing evidence in practice and strategies for overcoming them; evaluating and monitoring changes to practice.

Occupational Therapy for Active Ageing

Main topics include: Occupations, occupational deprivation and occupational justice for older people; current older persons´ health policy and legislation pertaining to occupational therapy; review of the research based literature on occupational therapy theory and practice for older people; person centred care; quantitative and qualitative measures to assess clinical practice or service delivery for older people; Joint-working across Health and Social care and voluntary contexts; Risk assessment, social inclusion and health promotion.

Functional Assessment of Challenging Behaviours

Main topics include:- Child development: A natural science approach to development; a behavioural systems approach (sensory-motor, perceptual, cognitive, language, social and emotional development, memory and aspects of motivation); a scientific approach to conducting objective direct observations; essential components and methodological issues for conducting functionally-based assessment/analysis. Causes of challenging behaviour - Functional assessment/analysis and challenging behaviour; supporting behaviour change for children and adolescents; practicals using especially designed multimedia software capturing all aspects applicable to functional assessment/analysis; monitoring and treatment management following the results of functional assessment/analysis.

Specialist Practice in Occupational Therapy

This will primarily be related to the topic chosen by the student and subject advisor.

Learning contracts: Needs analysis, goal setting, strategies and resources for learning, reflective practice; delineation between networking activities and research activities.

Teaching and Learning in Healthcare

Learning theories for adult and professional learners; Learning style inventories and learning approaches; Attributes of effective educators in the clinical setting; Creating appropriate learning environments; Developing learning objectives; Planning and implementing learning experiences; Facilitating student progression; Monitoring, assessment and evaluation of learning; Giving effective feedback; Formative versus summative assessment; Evaluation of competence and capability; Theories of reflection; Self- assessment and peer assessment; Role of personal development plans and portfolios in continuing professional development ; Developing mentor and mentee relationships.

Clinical Leadership

Defining Management and Leadership.; Defining Models of Leadership; Communication skills applicable to leadership; Influencing others; Qualities of leadership; Functions of leadership; Leadership skills and characteristics; Motivation; Gender and leadership; The incomplete leader; Leading teams of equals; Leadership research.