Special Edition: Rehabilitation Sciences Institute Research Day 2022

Christina Ziebart, Stephanie Cimino, Beatrice Manduchi & Wade Michaelchuk

The Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI) Research Day is a much anticipated event every year. For the first time, rehabINK and the RSI Research Day committee are excited to present the winners of each presentation category! This was a great opportunity for students to showcase their work. Click on to see all the exciting research being done at RSI!

Putting the ‘Inclusive’ in Inclusive Education: Lessons Learned from an International Experience in Armenia

V. Armineh Babikian

Armineh Babikian, an occupational therapist (OT) from New York City, discusses her 2017 volunteer experience in Armenia providing OT services in rural villages and engaging in capacity-building for newly mandated inclusive education. As a current PhD student, Babikian reflects on her approach using a critical social lens and discusses the implications of her North American training in Armenia.

Patient Engagement – The Forgotten Puzzle Piece to Creating Patient Reported Outcome Measures

Stephanie Reischl & Rochelle Furtado

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) capture treatment progress from the patient’s perspective. While patients should be involved in their development, often they are not. This article addresses benefits and barriers towards patient engagement, designing PROMs for capturing pain, and strategies on including patients in studies…all directly from a patient partner’s experience!

The Power of Words: How to Talk About Fall Risk

Natasha Benn

Within media platforms, healthcare, and social circles, the negative consequences of falls are emphasized and elicit a fear of falling (FOF). A study showed that older adults view fall-awareness media campaigns as detrimental and exacerbated their fear. If instead patient education was focused on independence and balance interventions, it could prevent the development of FOF.

Are Ontario Workers Paid or Paying to be Sick at Work?

Jessica Otoo-Appiah, Lizzie Houlding, Lauren Humphrey & Anonymous

When healthcare workers discuss the intersection of health and work, rehabilitation therapists are often not at the forefront of these conversations. However, unsafe workplaces affect our patients and communities. This article discusses the impact of precarious work on health and the rehabilitation sector’s role in changing it.

The Role of Occupational Therapy in Forensic Mental Health

Summer Hart

The overrepresentation of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system has been well-documented, however, correctional services are often ill-equipped to address this topic. Through an exploration of relevant research, this article calls for an expanded role of occupational therapy within Mental Health Courts and elucidates what this re-envisioning can entail.

Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy a Beneficial Rehabilitation Strategy to Address Mental and Functional Needs Among Survivors of COVID-19?

Vanessa S.K. Fan, Riya Shah, Sharon S. Kwan & Anna Krosinski

The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a growing population with post-COVID-19 mental and functional impairments, increasing rehabilitation demands. This rapid review suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) improves insomnia, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among survivors of COVID-19. More research is warranted to illustrate CBT’s role in improving function. Online CBT resources are provided for public use.