An Exploration of Communication between Clients and Professionals in the Design of Home Adaptations

2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina Nord ◽  
Pamela Eakin ◽  
Phil Astley ◽  
Andrew R Atkinson
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Occupational Therapist ◽  
Adaptation Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
London Borough ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
The People

This study explored communications between the people involved in the design of home adaptations, including clients and carers, occupational therapists, surveyors and builders. The aims were to explore (i) what constituted good communication in this context and (ii) how communication occurred. One London borough was selected as a case study. All participants lived or worked within the borough and had been involved in the adaptation process. Nineteen individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with six clients, four occupational therapists, six grant surveyors and three builders. The findings suggest that the professionals constituted a ‘community of practice’ (Wenger 1998) within which communication was good. The professionals used plan drawings to support communication between them. However, the study found that client involvement in the design was limited and that plan drawings were not effective tools in communication with them. The clients relied on the occupational therapist to represent their interests in the design process. Occupational therapists' communication with clients on the design of adaptations may be enhanced by the development and use of more sophisticated visualisation tools to replace the plan drawings. This would enable clients to become more engaged in the adaptations process.

scholarly journals The central role of the occupational therapist in facilitating housing adaptations/home modifications for disabled children

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-383
Author(s):  
Gail Boniface ◽  
Deborah Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Occupational Therapist ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Negative Experience ◽  
Home Modifications ◽  
Information And Communication

Introduction Six reviews/inquiries into housing adaptations/home modifications processes occurred in Wales between 2004 and 2015. One resulted in the removal of the means test for children's Disabled Facilities Grants. This research investigated families' and professionals' experiences of the adaptations/home modification process to gain an understanding of their views and experiences. Method Mixed methods of an online questionnaire for professionals, and semi-structured interviews or an online questionnaire for families (depending on their preference), were employed. Forty-eight families participated and an additional 16 families responded to an online questionnaire. Analysis of qualitative data identified emergent themes, which are discussed in this article. Findings The themes were: poor information and communication mainly aimed at older adults; negative experience of the process; and the positive impact of the completed adaptation. Additionally, whilst undergoing the process, families felt that they needed a contact to guide them through the process. This contact was often by default the community occupational therapist. Conclusion A single contact person should be made available for families; occupational therapists should consider their part in that role; more specific information on children's needs should be provided; families need to recognize the part they can play in adding to delays in the delivery of adaptations.

Co-Constructing a Learning Community

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Common Understanding ◽  
Country Specific

This paper explores the development of professional understanding across a large group of professionals and academics from eight different countries engaged in an international project. The focus of the project was to develop a suite of appropriate electronic tools to support the wide range of professionals (doctors, teachers, care and family workers, psychologists and medical and occupational therapists) who may be involved in working with and providing support for vulnerable children and families, which would be relevant across European countries. This case study explores how effective communication developed between the members of the research group to enable greater common understanding of both cultural and country specific provision, needs, and the underpinning philosophy and principles behind current provision in different countries represented. It explores the role of a ‘learning community’ and a ‘community of practice’ (Lave & Wenger, 1998) in this process as a tool for developing understanding. It provides insights into related issues, and possible future lessons to be learnt.

scholarly journals Exploring a communication curriculum through a focus on social accountability: A case study at a South African medical school

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret G. Matthews ◽  
Jacqueline M. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical School ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Social Accountability ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Curriculum Review

Background: Good communication is integral to social accountability, and training is included in medical curricula internationally. In KwaZulu-Natal, training is conducted in English, in spite of most public sector patients being mother tongue isiZulu speakers. Communication challenges with patients are common, but good communication and African language teaching are not emphasised in teaching.Aim: This study explored communication training and how it related to social accountability at a single institution in KwaZulu-Natal.Setting: This exploratory, qualitative case study design at the medical school explored participants’ perceptions about communication and social accountability and reviewed relevant educational documentation for evidence.Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select medical students, educators and stakeholders from the educational and service platforms. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were thematically analysed with reference to Boelen’s social obligation scale for medical schools.Results: Good communication was valued, but often poorly role-modelled. Participants agreed that communication and isiZulu teaching were insufficiently supported to respond adequately to the needs of local communities. Social accountability was not well understood by students, while medical school educators and other stakeholders indicated that, despite aspirations, this goal had not yet been achieved.Conclusions: Learning isiZulu language and culture in an integrated manner in both preclinical and clinical phases would improve communication with patients, contribute to socially responsive health care, and better address health care needs. Incorporating a social accountability framework in curriculum review would highlight the importance of measuring health outcomes and community impacts, and so enhance the educational mission of the medical school.

scholarly journals Knowledge management alignment to the community of practice in a company of cutting and bending steel

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taciana De Barros Jerônimo ◽  
Fagner José Coutinho de Melo ◽  
Joás Tomaz de Aquino ◽  
André Philippi Gonzaga de Albuquerque ◽  
Denise Dumke de Medeiros
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Scientific Method ◽  
Metallurgical Industry ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Joint Activities ◽  
Management Decision Making ◽  
A Company

This article aims to analyze the characteristics of a community of practice focused on the quality of management decision making in a company in the metallurgical industry, which is a company of cutting and bending steel for construction. Quality management requires greater flexibility in the activities, information sharing, skills development of individuals, and engagement among employees. The scientific method adopted was the descriptive cross-analysis case study, whose data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with 180 individuals. It was observed that the creation of communities of practice does not occur at random, and its main features are defined identity of shared interest; the way to build the image belonging to a particular social group; and involvement in joint activities that allow them to learn from each other.

scholarly journals Stuck in Slums: A Case Study of Slums in Islamabad, Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Persis Samuel ◽  
Muhammad Shemyal Nisar
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Reasons For Living ◽  
Religious Perspective ◽  
The People ◽  
Slum Dwellers ◽  
Religious Differences

This paper focuses on finding answers to the reasons why people keep living in the slums and why they cannot get out of their precarious conditions. This paper looks into different reasons for people being stuck in slums from a religious perspective. Reasons for different religious groups being stuck in slums are not explored fully in the literature. The analysis draws on qualitative research with a sample of 53 semi-structured interviews conducted in 8 katchi abadis in Islamabad, Pakistan. The study shows that slums are nonhomogenous entities and are regarded as a living organism that provide safety, security, and a sense of belonging to some of the residents. The results revealed that both Christian and Muslim slum residents had different reasons for living in slums. There were not only inter-religious differences in the choice of living but intra religious differences had also been found. In the process, the paper highlights that most Christians lived in slums by choice due to strong social capital, with an exception of a few. On the other hand, Muslim slum residents lived in poverty which was a major reason most of the slum dwellers are stuck in slums. Policymakers should meet the needs of the people before implementing any policies. This is because relocation policies can bring misery to some of the slum dwellers. Finally, the paper demonstrated that slums play a pivotal role in the lives of the slum dwellers in keeping them.

An all-female graduate student organization participating in chemistry outreach: a case study characterizing leadership in the community of practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 532-553
Author(s):  
Stephanie Santos-Díaz ◽  
Marcy H. Towns
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Styles ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Student Organizations ◽  
Student Organization ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome

Outreach initiatives are typically framed as informal learning environments that provide an opportunity to increase the participants’ interest in science. Research on chemistry outreach has primarily focused on designing and implementing demonstrations for outreach. Recent studies indicate student organizations are at the forefront of chemistry outreach, describing their outreach practices and facilitators’ conceptual understanding of demonstrations. Although leadership has been linked to the success of groups and organizations, the leadership structure of student organizations is an understudied aspect of chemistry outreach. Here, we conceptualize student organizations participating in chemistry outreach as a community of practice (CoP) with the goal of expanding the chemistry education community's knowledge of this CoP. Specifically, we aim to characterize leadership styles within the student organization in the context of an outreach event. Using a case study approach, we collected multiple sources of data, including the organization's outreach practices, an assessment of leadership style, observations, and semi-structured interviews. Results indicate leaders of the student organization, particularly those in charge of planning outreach events, displayed behaviors associated with the transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles more frequently than behaviors associated with the transformational leadership style. As a long-term outcome for this study, the results can be used by national organizations to inform the development of new workshops for leadership training, with the purpose of teaching practices to leaders that can bring success to their chapter or local group.

scholarly journals Perceptions of the Impact of Non-contact Boxing on Social and Community Engagement for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey Humphrey ◽  
Dana Howell ◽  
Melba Custer
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
The People ◽  
Colaizzi's Method ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: To explore the perceptions of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) on their experiences within a community based, non-contact boxing program. Specifically, this study considered how these individuals perceived non-contact boxing to influence their social and community engagement and factors influencing ongoing participation in this program. Method: This was a phenomenological case study that utilized qualitative methods for data collection including semi-structured interviews and observation. Colaizzi’s method was used for data analysis. A convenience sample obtained from a boxing club that offered PD specific boxing classes was used. The sample included 10 participants (3 female, 7 male) ranging in age from 52 to 84 years. Participants typically attended a 75 minute boxing class two to three times per week. Results: The exhaustive description of the phenomenon was that individuals with PD have a strong desire to maintain the life they had prior to their diagnosis and chose activities, such as non-contact boxing, which supported their ability to sustain that lifestyle. Two themes were identified which included 1) “The people I’ve met here and spent time with will be friends forever” and 2) “I don’t have to be Muhammed Ali. It’s not about that.” Conclusions: This study provided a basic understanding of the subjective experiences of individuals with PD who participated in non-contact boxing. Findings demonstrated that non-contact boxing facilitates the growth of supportive relationship for individuals with PD. The study also found that individuals with PD believe non-contact boxing provided a variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits which facilitated their ability to maintain participation in valued activities.

scholarly journals Using Guilds to Foster Internal Startups in Large Organizations: A Case Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 135-144
Author(s):  
Tor Sporsem ◽  
Anastasiia Tkalich ◽  
Nils Brede Moe ◽  
Marius Mikalsen ◽  
Nina Rygh
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Large Organization ◽  
Software Products ◽  
Software Product ◽  
Lean Startup

AbstractSoftware product innovation in large organizations is fundamentally challenging because of restrained freedom and flexibility to conduct experiments. As a response, large agile companies form internal startups to initiate employ-driven innovation, inspired by Lean startup. This case study investigates how communities of practice support five internal startups in developing new software products within a large organization. We observed six communities of practice meetings, two workshops and conducted ten semi-structured interviews over the course of a year. Our findings show that a community of practice, called the Innovation guild, allowed internal startups to help each other by collectively solving problems, creating shared practices, and sharing knowledge. This study confirms that benefits documented in earlier research into CoPs also hold true in the context of software product innovation in large organizations. Henceforth, we suggest that similar innovation guilds, as described in this paper, can support large companies in the innovation race for new software products.

New avenues for business competitiveness: the case of a community of practice in the hotel sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Almeida ◽  
Ana Cláudia Campos
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Business Practice ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Good Communication ◽  
Hotel Sector

Purpose This paper aims to better understand community of practice (CoP)’s dynamics with a focus on the hotel sector and perceived benefits to members and business performance. Design/methodology/approach This is a case study research focusing on a successful experience within a CoP found in the hotel sector. The study reports in detail how a CoP was created and how it evolved to a digital platform to give birth to a fully co-designed tourism product. It analyzes this CoP’s social dynamics, processes of communication and interaction, as well as digital evolution. To collect rich data, method triangulation was applied by mixing quantitative and qualitative analyses. Findings The community is highly participated and valued because it is perceived as a dynamic system contributing to rapid information exchange and diffusion, efficient context for knowledge transfer and individual responsiveness to daily professional activities and challenges. The reasons why members perceive Amigas do Trade as a distinctive community include shared values and attitudes; professional area and position; and group composition. The majority of members acknowledged that belonging to this CoP has helped in making an informed decision with impact on business practice. The sub-theme more intensely participated and discussed concentrated on human resources issues. Research limitations/implications A case study brings useful insights into the understanding of CoP members’ behaviour; however, findings are not generalizable to other communities. Practical implications This study contributes in several ways to business practice and management. Hotel businesses pertain to a sector in which CoPs easily thrive. This seems to happen because businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry are highly dependent on networks, people, communication channels and technologies. Engagement with technological platforms is stimulated because of the unproblematic integration of these digital platforms into other technologies members already use in their daily work and life. Moreover, digital platforms are not expensive and potentially increase motivation levels within CoP, and consequently in companies. This example inspires the use of digital platforms to exchange knowledge in other CoPs in the hotel sector. Social implications CoPs are contexts of good interaction within a group of people by nurturing a good value system (comprehending trust, cohesion and good communication climate). Thus, a non-hierarchical and non-biased approach to CoP by managers could be accomplished by fostering an organizational culture based on joint innovation, coopetition and open communication principles. Expectedly, in this respect, intensive use of digital technologies in the business arena will keep playing a key role. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on CoP applied to the hotel sector. Additionally, it is also the first time a CoP composed only by women working in the hotel sector was analyzed. One other element of novelty links to the fact that a CoP with physical and virtual dimensions was studied, introducing the use of digital platforms to the analysis of CoP dynamics.

INTEGRATING SPIRITUALITY AS A DOMAIN OF PRACTICE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN INDIA: INDIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS' PERSPECTIVES.

2021 ◽  
pp. 16-19
Author(s):  
Amitabh Kishor Dwivedi
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Occupational Therapist ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Private And Public

INTRODUCTION: Spirituality has risen as of considerable recent interest in occupational therapy. Spirituality and occupational therapy is associated with the holistic, person centred approach to care in order to restore a sense of well-being and recognise individual coping strategies. Despite current global economic challenges and healthcare recongurations, there appears to be a professional drive not to return to a reductionist model of care delivery. The purpose of the study is to understand views of Occupational therapist on integrating spirituality in Occupational Therapy practice in India. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative pilot study endeavoured to understand views of Occupational Therapist on integrating spirituality as a domain of practice in Occupational Therapy in India. STUDYDESIGN:The study design of this study is a cross-sectional, qualitative narrative study design. METHOD: The qualitative descriptive study included twenty participants (n=20) who are expert in the eld of Occupational Therapy (Age mean ± SD 44 ± 9.88, in Years) with major inclusion criteria of minimal ten years' experience, were recruited for this study by using non-probability convenient and snow ball sampling method. The study was conducted with Occupational Therapist working in private and public sectors in India. The in-depth semi-structured interviews with senior Occupational Therapists were conducted to explore themes which covered views of Occupational Therapist on Spirituality as a domain of practice in Occupational Therapy in India RESULT: The themes which are generated as result of this study highlight the views of Occupational Therapists on integration of spirituality as domain of practice in occupational therapy in India. CONCLUSION:This study explored the current practices of spirituality as domain in occupational therapy in India.

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