Occupational therapists need more training in sight loss
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with sight loss, says a new study commissioned by Thomas Pocklington
Trust.
"Occupational Therapists are emerging from their education without the
skills or confidence to deal with sight loss," says Dr. Angela
McCullagh of the Thomas Pocklington Trust. "This gap in their training
leaves therapists woefully ill-equipped to respond to the needs of an
ageing population."
The study was carried out by researchers at the Department of
Occupational Therapy, Coventry University. It found that training in
sight loss has been and remains a low priority but that therapists
want more training to respond to the needs of older patients.
Among a sample of qualified Occupational Therapists surveyed, all of
them said education in sight loss would be useful in their work.
However: 81% believed they needed further training in this area. Only
2% felt that their education had left them confident to assess and
advise people with sight loss, while 59% had been not at all confident
or barely confident. One third said their education had failed to
provide enough knowledge on sight loss for their first post
Even experienced therapists still lacked confidence in treating people
with sight loss. 34% said they were barely confident and 2% not at all
confident.
Since the profession began, Occupational Therapists have always been
involved in the rehabilitation of people with sight loss. Yet there is
no mandatory requirement for this to be studied within the minimum
standards for Occupational Therapist's education.
Says Dr. McCullagh, "This study shows that Occupational Therapists
both need and want more education on sight loss."
Medical News Today
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168225.php
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