Institute of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Master's students, with the participation of Occupational Therapists from NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi and NP Medical Center, held an online special program titled “Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices”. In the event organized under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of the Occupational Therapy Department, ‘Occupational Therapy’ was introduced to the students by experts with various visual and verbal explanations.
Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova: “The Occupational Therapy master's program was first opened at our university”
Prof. Dr. Sevda Asqarova, Head of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, who delivered the opening speech of the event, emphasized the 100th anniversary of the Republic and stated that they continue to organize events as a department. Asqarova said, “We are here with a scientific program. This time you will meet our students from the Institute of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Master's Program. I must also mention that our university was the first among Turkish foundation universities to open the Occupational Therapy Master's Program under the leadership of our esteemed Nevzat. We were the first to open both undergraduate and graduate programs. Our department graduates are successfully working in the field and in their professional lives. Today, occupational therapists from our NP Brain Hospital and Fener Yolu Medical Center will also be with us and introduce you to ÇEGOMER (our Child, Adolescent Development and Autism Center).”
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “Scanning for the best evidence is very important”
In the online event, Rector's Advisor, Head of the Software Engineering Department, and Director of the Institute of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, emphasized that evidence-based practice processes in occupational therapy are very valuable. Ergüzel said; “In evidence-based practices, formulating the clinical problem, scanning for the best evidence, critically evaluating it, and translating evidence into patient applications are very important. In occupational therapy, clinical decisions, clinical experiences, research evidence, and especially the patient's or individual's preferences must be taken into account.”
After the opening speeches, participants delivered their presentations.
“Ayres sensory integration is an evidence-based approach”
Occupational Therapists Zeynep Özdemir and Mustafa Sağlıyan delivered their presentation titled ‘An Evidence-Based Intervention: Ayres Sensory Integration’. Özdemir and Sağlıyan stated; “Ayres sensory integration is an evidence-based approach. The child's strengths and weaknesses are identified through tests and scales, and work is carried out using a data-driven decision-making method. The impact of the interventions on daily life is monitored with tables called GAS, and the daily life outcomes of the sub-skills worked on are determined in a way that the family can observe and follow.”
Occupational Therapist Özlem Yalçın: “There is a need for person-centered occupational therapy approaches that focus on activity”
Occupational Therapist Özlem Yalçın shared her presentation titled ‘Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices in Severe Mental Disorders’ with the participants. Yalçın stated; “Severe mental disorders are mental illnesses that affect individuals physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually; disrupting their participation in activities in the areas of self-care, productivity, and leisure performance. In individuals with severe mental disorders, there is a need for person-centered occupational therapy approaches that focus on activity to facilitate activity participation and increase activity performance. Occupational therapists evaluate the current performance and skill levels of individuals with severe mental disorders in daily living activities within the framework of occupational therapy models and establish rehabilitation goals.”
Occupational Therapist Yasin Çelik: “Early mobilization of the tendon increases the strength of the healing process”
Occupational Therapist Yasin Çelik delivered his presentation titled ‘Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions in Tendon Rehabilitation’. Çelik stated; “A hand therapist is an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist who has specialized knowledge and training in the treatment of upper extremity disorders, including the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. In tendon rehabilitation, delays between surgery and the start of the rehabilitation process result in adhesion and loss of excursion. Adhesion is less in extensor tendon rehabilitation compared to flexor tendons, but patient cooperation is weaker. Early mobilization of the tendon increases the healing process and the strength of the tendon.”
Occupational Therapist Melike Aslan Mayi: “Emotional muscle strength comes from parents and children”
Occupational Therapist Melike Aslan Mayi delivered her presentation titled ‘Emotional Muscle’. Mayi stated; “Throughout our lives, we all need to develop and work on our physical muscles for our health and well-being. As emotional muscles are worked, they facilitate our relationships in daily life. Emotional muscle strength comes from parents and children. The emotional muscle technique has started to meet with many experts, educators, and families for the first time in Turkey through the joint cooperation of Yeni Aile Yayınevi and Üsküdar Üniversitesi.”
Occupational Therapist Expert Psychologist Leyla Ak: “Family participation level plays an important role in the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions”
Occupational Therapist Expert Psychologist Leyla Ak delivered her presentation titled ‘Family Attitude and Participation in Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practices’. Ak stated; “One of the occupational therapy intervention approaches is the family-centered approach. In the family-centered approach, intervention goals are carried out in cooperation with the family and the therapist. The level of family participation in occupational therapy interventions plays an important role in the effectiveness of the intervention. As occupational therapists, examining family attitudes, the level of family participation, communication, and parental roles is important.”
Occupational Therapist İremnur Soylu: “Therapist – Child interaction is very important for permanent learning and emotional regulation”
Occupational Therapist İremnur Soylu delivered a presentation titled ‘Evidence-Based Practices of Therapist – Child Interaction in 0-6 Year Old Children’. Soylu stated; “Therapist – Child interaction is very important for permanent learning and emotional regulation. For the therapist to interact with the child, the parent must also use effective communication steps with both the child and the therapist. To use effective communication, it is necessary to observe the child's emotional state during the session, use non-verbal communication and body language, and make environmental arrangements with the right materials. In addition, following parent education and home programs online increases therapist – child interaction.”
“Positive parenting focuses on developing a deep attachment relationship”
Occupational Therapist Ebru Şirin, Clinical Psychologist Burak Çebi, and Occupational Therapist Emrullah Harun Kaya delivered their presentations under the title ‘Positive Parenting & NP Feneryolu ÇEGOMER Evidence-Based Activities’.
The following points were highlighted regarding ÇEGOMER:
“Positive parenting is described as positive discipline, gentle guidance, or loving mentorship for children. Positive parenting focuses on developing a strong and deep attachment relationship between parent and child based on communication and mutual respect. ÇEGOMER develops rehabilitation programs that support daily living skills, academic, and social skills for neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents. The center, which combines health and education aspects, develops Early Childhood Programs, Preschool and School Programs, and Home Follow-up Programs with its expert staff including child and adolescent psychiatrists, occupational therapy specialists, speech and language therapists, clinical psychologists, special education specialists, and sports – movement educators. It involves adopting a multidisciplinary working approach to create a rehabilitation program that supports daily living skills, academic, and social skills for children/adolescents with special needs, and to implement this program with ongoing developmental tracking.”