British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(1), January 2012, pp.10-18.
Publisher:
Sage
The aim of this review was to further evidence-based practice by identifying motor interventions judged to be effective by children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their parents. Six databases were searched for qualitative studies with school-age children with DCD and their parents in order to understand which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for decreasing core symptoms and improving occupational outcomes. The Model of Human Occupation was used to structure the discussion and to illustrate how a model can be used to guide the therapeutic reasoning process about future intervention decisions. For many families, intervention that addressed everyday occupations and the social consequences for children with DCD was of the utmost importance. Both child-centred and parent-centred interventions for DCD were valued but allowing children to be active in goal setting was considered vital. Most parents wanted to maximise their child's social participation and motivation whereas children were more concerned about their ability to engage in self-care and play activities. The authors conclude that there is a need for practitioners to incorporate the priorities of parents and children in order to optimise the outcomes of intervention. Parental and teacher education was highly valued by parents to help manage the uncertainty and worry associated with raising a child with DCD.
The aim of this review was to further evidence-based practice by identifying motor interventions judged to be effective by children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their parents. Six databases were searched for qualitative studies with school-age children with DCD and their parents in order to understand which occupational therapy interventions are most effective for decreasing core symptoms and improving occupational outcomes. The Model of Human Occupation was used to structure the discussion and to illustrate how a model can be used to guide the therapeutic reasoning process about future intervention decisions. For many families, intervention that addressed everyday occupations and the social consequences for children with DCD was of the utmost importance. Both child-centred and parent-centred interventions for DCD were valued but allowing children to be active in goal setting was considered vital. Most parents wanted to maximise their child's social participation and motivation whereas children were more concerned about their ability to engage in self-care and play activities. The authors conclude that there is a need for practitioners to incorporate the priorities of parents and children in order to optimise the outcomes of intervention. Parental and teacher education was highly valued by parents to help manage the uncertainty and worry associated with raising a child with DCD.
Subject terms:
occupational therapy, parents, physical disabilities, user views, children, evaluation;
HARRIS Anne, PINNINGTON Lorraine L., WARD Christopher D.
Journal article citation:
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(12), December 2005, pp.553-558.
Publisher:
Sage
This research review aimed to assess the adequacy available outcome measures to evaluate the impact of mobility assistive technology on participation. The aim was to assess how these tools measured activity and participation in relation to mobility. Each measure considered some useful aspect of participation, but none took sufficient account of the needs of those with mobility impairments or could evaluate adequately the impact of different technologies. To support client-centred and evidence-based practice, an outcome measure that evaluates the impact of mobility assistive technology on activity and participation is required.
This research review aimed to assess the adequacy available outcome measures to evaluate the impact of mobility assistive technology on participation. The aim was to assess how these tools measured activity and participation in relation to mobility. Each measure considered some useful aspect of participation, but none took sufficient account of the needs of those with mobility impairments or could evaluate adequately the impact of different technologies. To support client-centred and evidence-based practice, an outcome measure that evaluates the impact of mobility assistive technology on activity and participation is required.
Subject terms:
mobility impairment, physical disabilities, service users, user participation, assistive technology, evaluation;
Despite some recent policy acknowledgement of the potential role of low intensity support services in assisting people to live independently, community care resources continue to be targeted mainly on high level, often crisis, interventions. Partly because of this continuing focus, there has been little consideration of the evidence of the value of low intensity services. The Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, has now undertaken a systematic research literature review of the effectiveness of such services in enabling people to live independently in ordinary housing. Presents the findings.
Despite some recent policy acknowledgement of the potential role of low intensity support services in assisting people to live independently, community care resources continue to be targeted mainly on high level, often crisis, interventions. Partly because of this continuing focus, there has been little consideration of the evidence of the value of low intensity services. The Centre for Housing Policy, University of York, has now undertaken a systematic research literature review of the effectiveness of such services in enabling people to live independently in ordinary housing. Presents the findings.
Subject terms:
independence, housing, literature reviews, older people, physical disabilities, social care provision, supported living, surveys, user views, evaluation;
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on ‘what works’ in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on ‘what works’ in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
Extended abstract:
Author
Statham, June;
Title
Outcomes and effectiveness of family support services: a research review.
Publisher
Institute of Education, University of London in association with Thomas Coram Research Unit, 2000.
Summary
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on 'what works' in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
Context
Current government policy stresses the importance of evaluation and assessing the outcomes of services that are provided or purchased by local authorities. There is a new emphasis on evidence-based practice, grounded in information from research that attempts to show what works both in individual cases and in the planning of services. Agencies in both the statutory and independent sectors are increasingly expected to demonstrate successful outcomes in order to obtain funding and meet government targets.
Method
Due to this being a research review many methodologies are laid out and explained to the reader, however due to the nature of this review it is not possible to set out a method.
Contents
This review is divided into five sections. The introduction lays out the aims of the review and provides background information. The second section sets up the conceptual framework. It investigates what is meant by family support services and evaluation. It thengoes on to explore different research methodologies as a way to assess effectiveness, and issues in evaluating family support services. Section three reviews what is known about the effectiveness of different kinds of services to support families, covering (amongst others); day care and early education, befriending and social support, and family group conferences. Section four looks at measuring outcomes and costs. Section five offers conclusions on this subject.
Conclusion
" Much of the evidence for the effectiveness of family support services comes from the USA, where there is a strong tradition of systematic programme evaluation and a particular approach to family support. The findings from this research need to be applied withcaution in different social welfare contexts, and it needs to be recognised that different policies and ways of thinking about children would lead to different ways of conceptualising the evaluation of family support."
112 references
ISBN 0 85473 627 1
Subject terms:
intervention, literature reviews, mental health problems, outcomes, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, social workers, babies, children, day services, families, family centres, family group conferences, evaluation, evidence-based practice, foster care, health visiting;