The “Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices – V” event was organized by the Department of Occupational Therapy, Institute of Health Sciences, Üsküdar University, and the Music Therapy Application and Research Center (MÜTEM). At the event, held under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of the Department of Occupational Therapy, Institute of Health Sciences, the importance of evidence-based approaches in the occupational therapy profession was emphasized. It was also stated that occupational therapy plays an important role in the treatment of psychological and physiological disorders.
Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of Üsküdar University Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, and MÜTEM Director, Erg. Emel Gençtürk, Erg. Filiz Gündüz, Erg. Serap Yiğit, Erg. Aslıhan Bozan, Erg. Edanur Güçlü, Fzt. Fatma Selçuk, Erg. Elif Orhan, and Erg. Çağla Nur Gençay participated in the online event.
Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova: “The main thing is to bring together clinical evidence obtained from scientific research…”
Prof. Dr. Asqarova emphasized the importance of bringing all disciplines within the team together in evidence-based practices, noting that the aim here is to show the importance between research results and practice. Asqarova said; “In this regard, to provide the best service to the individual, proven resources, patient preferences, and expert opinions on clinical practice are very important. The main thing is to bring together clinical evidence obtained from scientific research. For this, comprehensive and coordinated work with evidence-based practices as an interdisciplinary intervention model is needed.”
Erg. Emel Gençtürk: “The development of our profession is possible with the implementation of evidence-based approaches”
Erg. Emel Gençtürk, who moderated the event, stated that the development of the occupational therapy profession is possible with evidence-based approaches. Gençtürk said; “The occupational therapy profession is built upon scientific and humanitarian foundations aimed at improving individuals' quality of life and contributing to public health. The strengthening and development of our profession are possible through the implementation of evidence-based approaches. Today, with the contributions of our expert speakers in the field, we have come together for a program where we will share current information and effective interventions. I hope this event, which gains value with your participation, will be a source of inspiration and knowledge for your professional development.”
Erg. Filiz Gündüz: “Occupational therapy has an indispensable place within multidisciplinary approaches in the field of mental health”
Erg. Filiz Gündüz shared her presentation titled “The Importance of Mental Health in Occupational Therapy: Evidence-Based Studies on Anxiety and Depression” with the participants. Gündüz said; “Occupational therapy is a holistic approach aimed at increasing individuals' participation in daily life activities and plays an important role in mental health. Common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression negatively affect individuals' functionality and quality of life. Evidence-based studies show that occupational therapy is effective in coping with such disorders. In particular, engaging the individual in meaningful activities, restructuring their routines, and developing coping strategies support mental well-being. Occupational therapists have been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by increasing an individual's participation in daily life through individualized interventions. For this reason, occupational therapy has an indispensable place within multidisciplinary approaches in the field of mental health.”
Erg. Serap Yiğit: “We can offer multifaceted support for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”
Erg. Serap Yiğit delivered her presentation titled “Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices in Children Diagnosed with ADHD”. Yiğit said; “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a child experiences difficulties in maintaining age-appropriate attention span, impulse control, and motor regulation. We, as occupational therapists, can offer multifaceted support for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. We can help these children develop their daily living skills, improve their social relationships, and increase their academic success. Since each child's needs are different, the occupational therapy process requires an individualized approach. ADHD can create problems in attention and movement regulation, but with appropriate therapies, children can reach their potential.”
Erg. Aslıhan Bozan: “Potocki-Lupski Syndrome can make daily functions difficult for individuals”
Erg. Aslıhan Bozan shared her presentation titled “Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions in 17th Chromosome Duplication and Deletion Syndromes” with the participants. Bozan said; “Potocki-Lupski Syndrome (PLS) is a rare genetic disorder typically associated with a deletion (loss) in the long arm of chromosome 17. This syndrome is characterized by developmental delays, cognitive impairments, social and communication difficulties, movement disorders, and some physical abnormalities. Occupational therapy is a treatment method designed to help individuals perform their daily living activities (ADLs) independently. Neurodevelopmental disorders like Potocki-Lupski Syndrome can make it difficult for individuals to perform motor skills, language development, social interactions, and other daily functions. Occupational therapy can help overcome these difficulties.”
Erg. Edanur Güçlü: “Diet yields successful results in managing epilepsy”
Erg. Edanur Güçlü delivered her presentation titled “Evidence-Based Diet Applications in Individuals Diagnosed with ARX Gene Mutation and Epilepsy”. Güçlü said; “The ARX gene plays an important role in embryonic development and is associated with intellectual disability, epilepsy, and neurological disorders. Its mutations can lead to conditions such as West Syndrome, myoclonic epilepsy, Ohtahara, and Proud syndromes. Epilepsy is a disease that causes seizures due to abnormal electrical activities in the brain. Electroencephalography (EEG) and imaging techniques are used in its treatment. The ketogenic diet contains high fat, low carbohydrates, and adequate protein. During ketosis, the body produces ketones for energy. The diet is effective in managing epilepsy and reducing seizures, yielding successful results in cases resistant to drug treatment. It can also provide benefits in conditions such as weight loss, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. There are standard, cyclical, targeted, and high-protein types. The Case Study focused on occupational therapy with a multidisciplinary approach for a case diagnosed with ARX gene mutation and resistant epilepsy. During the two-session-per-week treatment process, progress was made in areas such as motor skill development, nutritional problems, and communication. Improvement in EEG results was recorded after the intervention.”
Fzt. Fatma Selçuk addressed disability as a social construct
Fzt. Fatma Selçuk delivered her presentation titled “Overcoming Barriers Together: Alleviating Burdens on Individuals and Families”. Selçuk addressed disability as a social construct and explained how it affects the social lives of individuals and families. She emphasized that disabled individuals and their families develop a mutual dependency relationship over time, which reduces the independence of both sides. To solve this situation, she talked about approaches that could serve to empower families and disabled individuals. Subsequently, she touched upon studies conducted in Turkey on this subject and discussed two significant examples of applied work in this field globally, examining these studies through scientific articles and explaining the effects of these approaches.
Erg. Elif Orhan addressed the role of occupational therapy in inpatient addiction treatment
Erg. Elif Orhan delivered her presentation titled “Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices in Inpatient Addiction Recovery Treatment”. Orhan addressed the role of occupational therapy in inpatient addiction treatment. She stated that occupational therapy contributes to individuals' personal recovery by supporting their occupational performance and life balance in their struggle with addiction. An evidence-based study was presented, emphasizing that occupational therapy interventions provided positive effects in areas such as stress management, self-care, and motivation. She mentioned that the intervention consisted of a five-session group training based on Kielhofner's Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), participants' recovery process was evaluated using the Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Scale (C-PROM), and an increase in occupational performance and life balance was observed after the occupational therapy intervention.
Erg. Çağla Nur Gençay: “Mindfulness techniques aim to improve individuals' quality of life”
Erg. Çağla Nur Gençay shared her presentation titled “Trauma-Sensitive Occupational Therapy: Rebuilding a Safe and Meaningful Life” with the participants. Gençay said; “Trauma-sensitive occupational therapy is an approach that focuses on understanding and mitigating the effects of trauma on an individual's daily living skills, sensory regulation, and emotional functioning. This method aims to create a safe environment, empower the individual, and address the holistic impacts of trauma. It aims to improve individuals' quality of life through evidence-based interventions such as sensory regulation exercises, mindfulness techniques, and participation in daily living activities.”