The majority of students arriving at Kingsborough Community College with hopes of entering the nursing, physical therapist assistant, and other allied health programs (concentrations in pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-pharmacy, and pre-physician's assistant) are at-risk students. A Foundations of Human Anatomy and Physiology…

A survey of occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) program directors (n=123) to identify the prevalence of shared learning found that two-thirds shared some coursework; most OT and PT students do not have opportunities to practice interdisciplinary teamwork; and some perceived benefits of shared learning also posed barriers. (Contains…

A survey of interdisciplinary educational activities received replies from 11 occupational therapy and 9 physiotherapy programs in Canada. Results indicate that interdisciplinary activities are encouraged and may expand. A model to guide the experiences would be useful. (JOW)

Directors of 47 occupational therapy (OT) and 65 physical therapy (PT) accredited entry-level programs responded to a survey by indicating their support for inclusion of medical-legal issues in the curriculum. Only 40% of OT and 52% of PT directors believed lawyers should deliver instruction; most felt their faculty were qualified to teach these…

Twenty-one moderate to high functioning young children (mean age, two years) with Down syndrome receiving early intervention (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy) were randomly assigned to additionally receive two 0.5-hour massage therapy or reading sessions (control group) per week for two months. On the first and last day…

This study explains the characteristics and treatment of individuals with Rett Syndrome and presents two case studies that investigated the use of interventions in reducing stereotypical hand movements (SHM). The case studies involve two girls (ages 5 and 7) with Rett Syndrome who were enrolled in a special education school. Information was…

This survey generated a profile of a typical water exercise participant. Data include: (1) subject's medical clearance for water exercise, swimming ability, physical and related problems, reasons for participation and perceived psycho-physical benefits of water exercise; (2) techniques of monitoring water exercise intensity: kinds of flotation…

This study was an attempt to evaluate how well a specific selection formula for admission to a physical therapist assistant program worked. It compared the relative selective admission score with the clinical and academic success of those students who completed the course of study; this necessitated a retrospective analysis. (Author/CT)

Reports the outcomes of a 1978 national survey of candidate selection practices in 4 baccalaureate level and 7 associate degree level allied health disciplines. Found that few programs conducted evaluation of their admissions activities and that physical therapy and dental hygiene programs were the most structured in student selection. (JOW)

In one seminar, 39 occupational and 34 physical therapy students interacted with a simulated patient; in another, they viewed a videotape of a simulated patient and clinician. Student identification of patient problems tended to agree with experts in the first seminar; more student treatment plans agreed with experts in the video seminar. (SK)

This pilot study into trunk muscle strength following brain lesions examined 11 patients to determine (1) whether the trunk muscles of the paretic side are impaired after brain lesions; (2) whether measurements of lateral muscle strength are reliable; and (3) the implications of trunk muscle strength for sitting balance and walking performance.…

Brought together are two fact sheets on the supply of and demand for physical therapists and occupational therapists. The fact sheets cite statistical data from the National Easter Seal Society, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Occupational Therapy Association. The cited facts focus on the need to recruit and retain…

This study examined the sequencing of instruction in a course in physical therapy. In the first phase, a procedural elaboration sequence was designed using the Simplifying Assumptions Method. In the second phase, a prescriptive-theoretical elaboration sequence independent of the procedural sequence was designed. A descriptive-theoretical…

The study explored behavioral procedures for developing the skill of standing from a chair for a severely mentally retarded 11-year-old nonambulatory girl and an 86-year-old man residing in a nursing home for the elderly. Functional assessment and programing determined the specific instructional needs of each S. A changing criterion design was…

In observations of three brain injured children (20, 32, and 24 months old), the authors found a strong association between reinforcement density and cooperative behavior during physical therapy sessions. The results suggested that the delivery of reinforcement per se has substantial effects on behavior. When large amounts of noncontingent…