Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Medical Practitioners in South India

Medical practitioners are often the primary referral source for OTs. To make timely and appropriate referrals to OT, it is imperative that the referral sources demonstrate a broader level of understanding of the OT profession. This study determined the level of awareness about OT among medical practitioners in South India. The results revealed that 82% of the respondents reported either being familiar with or having heard about OT. Respondents who are specialists, work in the private sector, and practice their profession in a foreign country were more familiar with the OT profession and referred patients to OT. Although many respondents have heard about OT and recognize it as a profession aligned with the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, their responses indicate that they have a limited understanding of the profession's scope of practice, OTs' role in some practice areas, and practice settings in which OT services are delivered. 

VOTC Therapy Newsletter - Spring 2020 Points of Interest for Occupational Therapists in India The Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on December 31, 2018. This bill seeks to regulate and standardize the education of 53 allied and healthcare professions, including occupational therapy (OT). The bill was referred to the Standing Committee on January 2, 2019. The Standing Committee submitted its report (Report No 117) to Rajya Sabha on January 31, 2020. This summary highlights some notable excerpts from Report 117 that have implications for the OT profession in India with related comments, thoughts, and arguments. PS: The All India Occupational Therapists Association (AIOTA) reported that the bill (National Commission on Allied & Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020) was approved by the cabinet on March 20, 2020. Awareness of Occupational Therapy among Medical Practitioners in South India Look for the research article in the forthcoming issue of Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy that reports the survey that was conducted among medical practitioners (anyone with a MBBS degree or above) in South India to determine their level of awareness about OT.  Utilization of Assistive Devices in Occupational Therapy Practice in Tamil Nadu Look for the research article in the forthcoming issue of Indian Journal of Occupational Therapy that reports the survey that was conducted among occupational therapists in Tamil Nadu regarding the utilization of assistive devices in their practice.  COVID-19 World Health Organization Centers for Disease Control & Prevention John Hopkins Coronovirus Dashboard Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Health & Family Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu Disability News BCCI rewards Indian disability team Chennai: After Santhome, 2 more parks for disabled kids to c .. 2,000 disabled people to receive motorised wheelchairs in Tamil Nadu Teachers to be trained to help disabled kids perform better Goa’s beaches accessible, but not disabled-friendly Disabled and extremely poor Data: How disabilities make life difficult for the affected

Evidence Corner (Links to Research that Support OT Practice) Effectiveness of School-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention on Handwriting Stroke Epidemiology and Stroke Care Services in India INCLEN Diagnostic Tool for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (INDT-ADHD): Development and Validation   Evidence Based Practice

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VOTC Evidence Bytes: Multisensory, visuo-motor integration and cognitive interventions improve handwriting legibility of children

This article describes a study conducted in Punjab, India, in which the authors aimed to evaluate the impact of an intervention program in remediating visual perceptual skills of urban school children with poor handwriting. Occupational therapy screening tools were used for data collection. The results revealed that 12 sessions of remedial intervention program focused on multi-sensory interventions, visuo-motor interventions, and guided practices were effective in improving handwriting legibility.

https://search.proquest.com/docview/2157810922?pq-origsite=gscholar