Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Therapy Department students, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, held the 19th “Corona Diaries: Occupational Therapy Interventions” program. The event emphasized the importance of occupational therapist support and occupational therapy interventions.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Therapy Department Representative Berkay Karpuz moderated the program, which was attended by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Occupational Therapy Department Lecturer Erve Nur Kurt, Occupational Therapist Melike Yalçınkaya, Child Development Specialist Kübra Baylan, Occupational Therapist Burcu Yıldırım, and Occupational Therapist Mehmet Üstünkaya as speakers.
“Caregiving requires great effort”
Occupational Therapist Erva Nur Kurt, in her speech titled “Examination of the Roles Undertaken and Difficulties Experienced by Caregivers of Disadvantaged Individuals During the Pandemic Process from an Occupational Therapy Perspective”; stated: “Caregiving is the effort given for something to develop well and remain in good condition, the act of undertaking and providing for a person's needs such as nutrition, clothing, and similar requirements. The main reason for this is that the person in need of care cannot meet their own problems and needs alone.”
“The severity of dementia should be known in studies”
Occupational Therapist Melike Yalçınkaya, addressing “Occupational therapy interventions in dementia” in her speech; said: “This study, for the first time, examined the effect of OT interventions on behavioral problems and depression in individuals with dementia by integrating the results of individual experiments with a meta-analysis. Future scientific studies should be conducted taking into account the type and severity of dementia.”
“We should guide our children instead of forbidding them”
Child Development Specialist Hatice Kübra Paylan, in her speech titled “Children and New Media in the Covid-19 Pandemic Process”; said: “It is necessary to clearly distinguish between media and new media. New media is digital media, while traditional media are platforms like newspapers and television. Previously, we used to get news from daily newspapers, but now we can access it instantly with notifications from news websites. The dominance of new media, which provides such fast access, is most prevalent in Generation Z, so families should apply the slogan ‘guide, don’t forbid’ during this process. Telling a child born into this generation ‘Don’t use it, leave it’ would be a big mistake. Therefore, it is necessary to guide instead of forbidding.”
“Techniques should be taught to the patient”
Occupational Therapist Burcu Yıldırım, in her speech titled “Occupational therapy interventions in osteoarthritis,” stated that osteoarthritis causes destruction of joint cartilage and proliferative changes in surrounding bone and soft tissues, adding: “Patients should be informed about the disease and its consequences, and joint protection techniques such as lifestyle changes, exercises and diet recommendations for weight loss should be provided.”
“Occupational therapists are ready to do everything necessary”
Occupational Therapist Mehmet Üstünkaya, in his speech addressing ‘The social profile of clients receiving services from Community Mental Health Centers (TRSMs) and the occupational therapy services provided’; stated: “Occupational therapists work on self-care; they wash hands and faces, assist with bathing, trim nails, change clothes, and meet many needs; however, many patients cannot perform self-care without prompting.”