Secret History: Return of the Black Death Channel 4, 7-8pm In 1348 the Black Death swept through London, killing people within days of the appearance of their first symptoms. Exactly how many died, and why, has long been a mystery. This Secret History documentary follows experts as they pick through the evidence and reveal why the plague killed on such a scale. And they ask, what might be coming next?

Medscape

http://library.um.ac.id/free-contents/downloadpdf.php/buku/focus-groups-as-qualitative-research-by-morgan-david-l-11476.pdf

Focus groups as qualitative research / by Morgan, David L.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine

Aim
The aim of this study was to describe systematically the best available intervention evidence for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method
This study was a systematic review of systematic reviews. The following databases were searched: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, DARE, EMBASE, Google Scholar MEDLINE, OTSeeker, PEDro, PsycBITE, PsycINFO, and speechBITE. Two independent reviewers determined whether studies met the inclusion criteria. These were that (1) the study was a systematic review or the next best available; (2) it was a medical/allied health intervention; and (3) that more than 25% of participants were children with CP. Interventions were coded using the Oxford Levels of Evidence; GRADE; Evidence Alert Traffic Light; and the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health.

Results
Overall, 166 articles met the inclusion criteria (74% systematic reviews) across 64 discrete interventions seeking 131 outcomes. Of the outcomes assessed, 16% (21 out of 131) were graded ‘do it’ (green go); 58% (76 out of 131) ‘probably do it’ (yellow measure); 20% (26 out of 131) ‘probably do not do it’ (yellow measure); and 6% (8 out of 131) ‘do not do it’ (red stop). Green interventions included anticonvulsants, bimanual training, botulinum toxin, bisphosphonates, casting, constraint-induced movement therapy, context-focused therapy, diazepam, fitness training, goal-directed training, hip surveillance, home programmes, occupational therapy after botulinum toxin, pressure care, and selective dorsal rhizotomy. Most (70%) evidence for intervention was lower level (yellow) while 6% was ineffective (red).

Interpretation
Evidence supports 15 green light interventions. All yellow light interventions should be accompanied by a sensitive outcome measure to monitor progress and red light interventions should be discontinued since alternatives exist.

/pdf/a-systematic-review-of-interventions-for-children-with-52c90cna9r.pdf

A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy: state of the evidence.

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, in collaboration with Health and Welfare Canada have developed and published a conceptual model for occupational therapy, the Occupational Performance model. This paper describes the development of an outcome measure, The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), which is designed to be used with these guidelines for client-centred clinical practice. The COPM is an outcome measure designed for use by occupational therapists to assess client outcomes in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure. Using a semi-structured interview, the COPM is a five step process which measures individual, client-identified problem areas in daily function. Two scores, for performance and satisfaction with performance are obtained. This paper describes the rationale and development of the COPM as wellas information about its use for therapists.

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: An Outcome Measure for Occupational Therapy:

Backround. It has been 13 years since the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was published. In that time there has been a remarkable growth in its acceptance as an outcome measure within the occupational therapy practice and research. Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to review the emerging research and clinical literature related to the COPM since 1994 and to document its impact upon occupational therapy practice and research throughout the world. Method. A systematic search was conducted to the professional and research literature in English publications (primarily occupational therapy). Eighty-eight papers that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed, 86% of which examined the COPM in relation to its psychometric properties (19 papers), research outcomes (33 papers) or practice (33 papers). Results. Overall, although there are a few limitations discussed in the review, the conclusion is that the COPM is a valid, reliable, clinically useful and responsive outcome measure acceptable fo...

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: A research and clinical literature review.

The Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) was developed to overcome limitations of currently available measures of hand function. This measure evaluates quality of upper extremity function...

The Reliability and Validity of the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) is a measure of a client's self-perception of occupational performance in the areas of self-care, productivity and leisure The COPM is administered using a semi-structured interview in which the client identifies significant issues in daily activities which are causing difficulty Extensive pilot testing of the COPM has been completed with 268 clients in communities across Canada and in New Zealand, Greece and Britain Results indicate the COPM has a median administration time of 30 minutes, is able to identify a wide range of occupational performance issues and appears to be responsive to changes in measurement issues centering around the interview, test construction, scoring, timing of the assessment, respondents, and the assessment process are discussed

Pilot Testing of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: Clinical and Measurement Issues

(1993). The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 47-51.

Nancy Pollock

Papers

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: An Outcome Measure for Occupational Therapy:

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: A research and clinical literature review.

The Reliability and Validity of the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test

Pilot Testing of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure: Clinical and Measurement Issues

The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure