Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Master's students, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, organized the “Corona Diaries: Occupational Therapy Interventions II ” event, which took place as the 11th installment of the new-format online program.
While Berkay Karpuz, representative of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Therapy Department, undertook the moderation of the program, Occupational Therapist Berfin Demirci, Occupational Therapist Esra Pekel, Occupational Therapist Bilal Temel, Occupational Therapist Esra Alan, and Occupational Therapist Hazal Pural were the speakers of the program, emphasizing the importance of Occupational Therapist Support and Occupational Therapy Interventions with various topics, especially within the framework of the “Stay at Home” and “Life at Home” platforms.
OT. Berfin Demirci: “Occupational Therapy Interventions are extremely important”
OT. Berfin Demirci made evaluations on ‘Covid-19 and Occupational Therapy: Preparedness for Epidemics and Coping Methods’. Demirci stated: “During this pandemic, occupational therapy interventions, which are an effective part of the healthcare system, are extremely important and valuable. Occupational therapists have responsibilities to practice to support health and well-being through meaningful and purposeful activities. With Covid-19, we, as Occupational Therapists, must develop a holistic perspective to encompass all groups, both healthy and disadvantaged, and support treatment and intervention with this perspective.”
OT. Esra Pekel: “Occupational Therapists have a very active role in this process”
Stating that they provide home healthcare services to develop daily skills under the title of ‘Home Occupational Therapy Interventions in the Covid-19 Process: Positioning Training for Individuals with Acute Stroke’, OT. Esra Pekel said: “Occupational therapists have a very important role in this process. They inform their clients about infectious diseases, explain protective methods, and encourage them to stay at home. We provide home healthcare services during this period, and our main goal is to improve daily skills and participation. We strive to help our clients achieve maximum functional ability.”
OT. Bilal Temel: “Existing studies are sourced from abroad”
OT. Bilal Temel touched upon the topic of ‘Technology-Based Activities in Occupational Therapy’: “There are not many studies on technology-based activities in Occupational Therapy in our country. Existing studies are sourced from abroad. Technology, which has brought many benefits and new perspectives to the healthcare sector in technology-based activities, has led to changes in professional experiences, roles, and skills. Developments in technology and new technological products introduced to the market directly affect healthcare services.”
OT. Esra Alan: “The meaning people attribute to being healthy can change”
OT. Esra Alan spoke under the title ‘Addressing the Covid-19 Pandemic within the Biopsychosocial Model and Occupational Therapy Interventions to Enhance Well-being’. OT. Alan stated: “Over time, the meaning people attribute to being healthy can change. That is, Covid-19 has profoundly affected our health concepts and thoughts. Beyond the concepts of health and illness, we have also started to hear the terms epidemic and pandemic frequently. The Covid-19 pandemic shows a different effect on everyone. Some people show no symptoms when they contract this disease, while for others it can result in death. Because these scenarios change very frequently, they negatively affect people.”
OT. Pural: “One of the biggest factors causing stress disorder is trauma!”
Speaking about ‘Veterans Experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Occupational Therapy Interventions Applicable During the Pandemic Process’, OT. Hazal Pural stated: “One of the biggest factors causing stress disorder is trauma. Trauma refers to experiential situations that threaten an individual's physical, emotional, and behavioral integrity, are difficult to cope with, and complicate normal living conditions. Terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics, economic crises, etc., are currently ongoing occurrences in the world.”