I recently attended a back to basic’s event within the trust I work for, which was led by Jennifer Creek. As always Jennifer challenged us to reflect ‘are we really delivering occupational therapy?’, reminding us that activity analysis is a core skill we should be using for everything we do with clients. Taking this in mind I thought it might be fun to practice our activity analysis skills by doing an activity analysis of #OTalk.
What is activity Analysis?
Activity Analysis is the process of breaking down an activity into steps and detailed subparts and examining its components. With each activity being evaluated carefully to determine its therapeutic potential (Creek 2003 cited in Creek and Bullock 2008).
Any activity can be broken down into performance components to analyse the performance skills required as a means of understanding the client’s ability to complete the task or identify areas where the activity can be adapted (Mosey 1986 cited in Creek and Bullock 2008).
To understand activities and occupations to determine their demands, therapeutic potential, skills required to do them and their particular meaning. The thought process contributes to clinical reasoning during interventions and evaluation. With the therapist skill and expertise in analysing activities is critical in setting realistic treatment goals (Hagedorn 2001 cited in Creek and Bullock 2008).
There are many different forms/ format for activity analysis, but I have chose to use the activity analysis, Jennifer used on the back to basics day. During the twitter chat I will be asking you to fill in the below sections.
Name of activity – Engaging in OTalk
Timing/length of time/number of sessions:
Special features of the environment: (Space and Setting)
Appropriateness: (age, sex,culture etc)
Preparation: (tools, equipment, materials, environment, participants, therapist):
Precautions:
Performance requirements
Physical demands (sensation,sensory, integration, perception, spatial awareness, co-ordination, balance, fine motor movement, mobility, speed, strength)
Cognitive demands (attention, concentration, temporal awareness, discrimination, language, abstract thinking, planning, knowledge, reading, numeracy, memory)
Intrapersonal demands (frustration tolerance, trust, creatively, risk taking, autonomy, sharing, responsibility, initiative, sublimation, coping with pressure, imagination)
Interpersonal demands (communication, co-operation, compromise, sharing, competition, negotiation, leadership, rule following, isolation, gender relation.)
Rachel @OT_rach
The Numbers –
743,099 Impressions
502 Tweets
58 Participants
402 Avg Tweets/Hour
9 Avg Tweets/Participant
I have used the Transcript for Tuesday Chat to write up the Activity Analysis, please do add anything you think we have missed in the comments chapter, and if you engaged in the chat, please do use as evidence in your CPD records
Name of activity – Using social media format of twitter to engage in #OTalk, a weekly twitter chat about occupational therapy.
Timing/length of time/number of sessions: Every Tuesday evening 8pm for 1 hour. However individual can dip in and out during this hour session, others may spend more time doing prep.
Special features of the environment: (Space and Setting) Virtual environment of social media (twitter). Whist engaging the physical environment is best if participate are in comfortable, quiet, spaces he or she likes – dinning table, bed, sofa. However activity could be done anywhere with Wifi/internet access. Some participants multi task during it such as getting children to bed.
Appropriateness: (age, sex,culture etc)
Activity is appropriate for all, however there may be cultural barriers to engaging , lack of twitter experience/knowledge/ timing for those with children juggling bed/bath time with joining in chat. Chat is in english and on GMT limiting access to those not in UK and none english speaking.
Preparation: (tools, equipment, materials, environment, participants, therapist)
Essential equipment/ materials include – Internet access, a twitter account, an electronic device – smartphone/computer/tablet. optional include – pen/ paper to make notes.
The person hosting the chat will have created a blog post for potential participants to read in preparation. A host and more than one participant are required for chat.
Participants are likely to be OT staff/ OT students / service users however the chat is open to all as carried out in an open platform.
Precautions:
Participants in the chat need to be aware of and adhere to HCPC standards and COT Code of conduct. They also may want to think about what twitter account says about them as a professional i.e. appropriate twitter handle, photo, maintaining confidentiality.
Physical demands (sensation,sensory, integration, perception, spatial awareness, co-ordination, balance, fine motor movement, mobility, speed, strength)
Sensory skills to use device to engage in twitter chat, visual skill to follow fast pace of chat, moving between Virtual environments means those differ for different participants and can be optimised for each participant – some will be using assistive technology, fine motor skills to type , though some may choose to speak into Twitter using voice control software. Strength in hands is needed to hold device being used to tweet, unless using a desk top computer. Ability to use speed in typing.
Cognitive demands (attention, concentration, temporal awareness, discrimination, language, abstract thinking, planning, knowledge, reading, numeracy, memory)
Fast pace of chat requires, multitaskings, to follow the multiple treads and react with comments in a maximum of 140 characters. This requires good attention, literary and concentrate skills, Knowledge of the subject and how to use twitter effectively. Ability to remain focused during the hour.
Intrapersonal demands (frustration tolerance, trust, creatively, risk taking, autonomy, sharing, responsibility, initiative, sublimation, coping with pressure, imagination)
Managing frustration and coping with the pressure associated with only 140 characters and speed of chat. Taking responsibility for yourself and the way you portray yourself on Social Media, remembering code of ethics. Wiliness to listen to differences of option. Taking part requires autonomy, ability to share ideas, think creatively and be aware of risk that engaging in a social media as a professional or student might bring. Trust is required of the OTalk community, managing differing opinions, challenging own beliefs, asking ‘risky’ questions.
Interpersonal demands (communication, co-operation, compromise, sharing, competition, negotiation, leadership, rule following, isolation, gender relation.)
Remembering to follow the rules of the chat, and use the # in every tweet, this enable your tweet to been seen by all participants. Cooperation is required, ‘online’ considerations – privacy/awareness of public audience, Turn taking, etiquette and not monopolising the chat. being open to ideas & able to follow a theme or structure like this Q&A, appreciation of the value of discussion.
