Üsküdar Üniversitesi Department of Occupational Therapy students, led by Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, organized the 17th edition of the “Corona Diaries: Occupational Therapy Interventions” program. The event highlighted the importance of Occupational Therapist Support and Occupational Therapy Interventions.
The program, moderated by Berkay Karpuz, Representative of the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Department of Occupational Therapy, hosted Üsküdar Üniversitesi Department of Occupational Therapy Lecturer İsa Kör, OT. Ayşe Metin, OT. Esra Alan, OT. Mustafa Karaarslan, and OT. Hande Çelik as speakers.
Ayşe Metin: “15% of Diabetic Patients Have Foot Ulcers”
Occupational Therapist Ayşe Metin delivered her speech titled 'Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy Interventions in Diabetes-Related Amputations'. Metin stated; “Simply put, diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by high glucose levels in the bloodstream. In diabetic patients, the immune system weakens, blood vessels and nerves in the feet deteriorate, blood flow decreases, and nerve damage develops. Due to nerve damage, loss of sensation occurs in the feet. In these sensation losses, known as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic patients experience numbness in their feet to the extent that they may not notice wounds. Fifteen percent of diabetic patients have foot ulcers, or the likelihood of developing a foot ulcer at some point in their lives is higher compared to the general population.” Metin, who made recommendations for foot ulcers, emphasized the necessity of consulting a doctor for foot wounds.
İsa Kör: “Older Adults Should Engage in Productive Activities”
Occupational Therapist İsa Kör addressed the topic of necessary activity studies to strengthen the cognitive functions of disadvantaged individuals. Kör stated, “When we look at the relationship between cognitive decline and daily living activities, limitations in daily living activities lead to a faster decline in cognitive performance, and having poorer memory can be associated with less participation in daily living activities. Aerobic physical activity interventions in non-cancerous individuals can affect a person’s cognition and cognitive processing speed. By engaging in productive activities, older adults can make social and familial contributions that benefit others.”
Esra Alan: “Various Reasons Contribute to the Onset of Mental Retardation”
OT. Esra Alan made statements on 'Occupational Therapy Interventions in Psychiatric Patients with Limited Mental Capacity'. Alan said; “Individuals diagnosed with mental retardation struggle to perform at a level parallel to their chronological age in skills such as attention, perception, memory, reasoning, judgment, and problem-solving. Mental Retardation can arise from prenatal causes, perinatal causes, and postnatal causes.” she explained.
Karaaslan: “Parkinson is Caused by Insufficient Dopamine Release”
OT. Mustafa Karaarslan spoke under the title 'Occupational Therapy Interventions in Parkinson's During the Covid-19 Process'. OT. Karaarslan stated: “Parkinson's disease results from damage to cells in a brain region called the substantia nigra, which synthesizes dopamine. Dopamine is one of the most fundamental substances that facilitates communication between neurons in our brain, responsible for our body movements. Damage to cells in the substantia nigra leads to insufficient synthesis and release of dopamine. This manifests as a clinical picture including slowed movements, tremors occurring especially at rest; slowness in movements, and muscle stiffness.” he explained.
Çelik: “Every Occupational Therapist’s Method is Not the Same”
OT. Hande Çelik made evaluations on 'Initial Encounter with the Child and Planning Occupational Therapy Intervention'. Çelik emphasized that the initial encounter with children is very important and involves specific stages. Hande Çelik, speaking about the sessions, said that before the first encounter with the child, information is obtained from the institution, followed by an assessment of who the child came with and how they arrived, and then the family is included in the session along with the child.