Occupational Therapy Archives - ľĹÉ« /category/research/research-areas/occupational-therapy/ The Pontifical and Royal Catholic University of the Philippines Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:07:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-800px-Seal_of_the_University_of_Santo_Tomas.svg_-32x32.png Occupational Therapy Archives - ľĹÉ« /category/research/research-areas/occupational-therapy/ 32 32 Thomasian studies on flexicoaching for access of urban poor to disability support services feted by DOST /thomasian-studies-on-flexicoaching-for-access-of-urban-poor-to-disability-support-services-feted-by-dost/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thomasian-studies-on-flexicoaching-for-access-of-urban-poor-to-disability-support-services-feted-by-dost Sat, 12 Apr 2025 23:07:22 +0000 /?p=193565 Four researches conducted since the pandemic have helped form the recently-feted Quezon City Kabahagi Center’s flexicoaching program, which was recognized in March 17, 2025 by the Department of Science and…

The post Thomasian studies on flexicoaching for access of urban poor to disability support services feted by DOST appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Four researches conducted since the pandemic have helped form the recently-feted Quezon City Kabahagi Center’s flexicoaching program, which was recognized in March 17, 2025 by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Center for Health Research and Development. The flexicoaching program was feted with the 2025 Gelia Castillo Award for Research on Social Innovations in Health (GCARSIH).

Beginning with the crisis response

With the mobility restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, community-based rehabilitation (CBR) services also had to shift modality. The paper “ľĹÉ«-based rehabilitation in the time of pandemic: Experiences of parents of children with disability” (co-authored by BS Occupational Therapy students Balangue, Chua, Ilagan, Juan, Labaco, and Noh, and academic staff Asst. Prof. Karen S. Sagun) conducted focus groups with parents whose children received CBR and found that they saw the potential of telecoaching to continue availing services, provided that the digital divide and initial doubt on technology can be overcome.

Building on the previous year’s focus groups, a second study was conducted a year later, focused this time on access of low-income households to community-based telerehabilitation. The paper “Exploring the accessibility of community-based telerehabilitation for children with disabilities from low-income households” was co-authored by BSOT students Ryanne Nicole H. Alava, Kristine Therese S. Cablay, Katelyn A. Dagdag, Francis Rowelle P. Lagman, Kvaern Edgar S. Nocos, Jamela Y. Quidilla, Nina Mari M. Tan, along with Sagun. It was recently published in the International Journal of Telerehabilitation (Volume 16, Issue 2).

The second study found the need to provide a comprehensive approach to helping low-income households overcome access issues. In particular, affordable technology, family support, and policy advocacy must be provided by a combination of stakeholders: healthcare professionals, policy makers, and family beneficiaries. If the needed support is provided, technological competency and service delivery flexibility as well as telerehabiltation sustainability may be attained.

Transitioning to the blended modality

It was not only classes that transitioned to the blended delivery, as CBR for indigent children with disabilities (CWD) also eventually adopted the blended mode. Dubbed Flexicoaching, the QC Kabahagi Center’s CBR program was tested for its effectiveness using a quasi-experimental research design that delved into retrospective records review. This the third study conducted by Thomasian researchers, this time by Sagun, along with students Balloon, Defiño, Guerrero, Managuelod, Oliva, and Riñoza in 2024. The paper, entitled “Examining the caregiver’s perception of occupational performance and satisfaction in community-based rehabilitation using blended online and onsite therapy,” found primary caregivers’ perceived occupation performance and CWDs’ satisfaction were positive in a blended modality. The program enhanced “social and educational participation, validating its potential as a sustainable service delivery model for children with disabilities in urban poor communities.”

Scaling the efforts

The fourth paper, entitled “Effectiveness of community-based flexicoaching from low socioeconomic background using goal attainment scaling, used pre-test and post-design for the quasi-experimental study alongside the Goal Attainment Scale to measure intervention success for CWDs. The Flexicoaching program was found potentially valuable not just for occupational therapists, but also for physical therapists, and speech therapists, after validating remarkable effectiveness among 88.67% of the participants, who were part of the 406 cases reviewed.

According to QC Kabahagi Center Director and Department of Occupational Therapy academic staff Asst. Prof. Karen S. Sagun, MSOT, MRS, “the partnership between UST and QC Government through the Kabahagi Center exemplifies how academe-government collaboration can advance multiple Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health, education, and reducing inequalities.” The findings of the four studies provided informed evidence-based rehabilitation services that have been made accessible to urban poor communities and thus addressed social disparities.

Sagun added that while the collaboration began as a crisis response by BS Occupational Therapy students to see the effectiveness of Flexicoaching, the partnership has now shown “continuous development of community-tailored rehabilitation approaches.”

The GCARSIH award, which looked into Filipino-developed programs that targeted an identified priority health need of a community, fetes transformative partnerships that help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through integrated local governance, health innovation, and academic excellence. Among the selection criteria used were degree of innovativeness, significance, potential for further research and scale, inclusiveness, effectiveness, affordability, and participatory and co-owned nature.

Sagun acknowledged the invaluable support of Quezon City Mayor Hon. Ma. Josefina Belmonte, the QC Kabahagi center staff, UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences Dean Anne Marie C. Asron and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, along with the units’ officials, academic staff, researchers, and students. Sagun added: “This recognition honors the power of collective innovation in healthcare delivery. From dedicated frontline workers of the government to academic partners and the participatory leadership of the city, each stakeholder has contributed to building a sustainable model of inclusive, community-based rehabilitation services. The partnership has become a launchpad for healthcare innovations while nurturing generations of professionals deeply committed to serving vulnerable communities.”

The post Thomasian studies on flexicoaching for access of urban poor to disability support services feted by DOST appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Philippine traditional occupational therapy practice highlighted through actual cases in new book chapter /philippine-traditional-occupational-therapy-practice-highlighted-through-actual-cases-in-new-book-chapter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=philippine-traditional-occupational-therapy-practice-highlighted-through-actual-cases-in-new-book-chapter Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:27:44 +0000 /?p=191826 Occupational therapy practice in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, and physical rehabilitation were brought to the fore in a new book chapter entitled “Traditional occupational therapy practice settings.”…

The post Philippine traditional occupational therapy practice highlighted through actual cases in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Occupational therapy practice in the areas of pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health, and physical rehabilitation were brought to the fore in a new book chapter entitled “Traditional occupational therapy practice settings.” Thomasian occupational therapy academic staff Dr. Paulin Grace Morato-Espino and retired academic staff Assoc. Prof. Sally Jane H. Uy and Mr. Joel R. Guerrero joined authors Roi Charles Pineda, Constantine L. Yu Chua, Camille Anne L. Guevara, Christianne Marie Coronel-Andigan, and Daryl Patrick Yao in sharing about the Philippine experience.

The authors indicated that occupational therapy in the Philippine has usually revolved around the four previously mentioned areas. Using cases personally witnessed by the authors, the authors pointed out the “drivers that have influenced (and that continue to influence) the current state and future direction of occupational therapy practice in these practice areas.” The authors concluded with mitigation measures to address the threats.

Uy and Guerrero are among the early faculty members of the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy program in UST, which first offered it in the late 1990s. Her research interests include occupational therapy education and older adult patients. Meanwhile, Espino is among the early graduates of UST’s BS OT program in 2003. She is also among the first graduates of the new research-focused Doctor of Philosophy in Health Research program of the UST Graduate School. Her area of expertise is on child well-being, screen time, and play.

The post Philippine traditional occupational therapy practice highlighted through actual cases in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Ethics in occupational therapy vis-a-vis modern practice discussed in new book chapter /ethics-in-occupational-therapy-vis-a-vis-modern-practice-discussed-in-new-book-chapter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ethics-in-occupational-therapy-vis-a-vis-modern-practice-discussed-in-new-book-chapter Mon, 17 Feb 2025 07:28:04 +0000 /?p=191056 What does modern occupational therapy practice in the Philippines demand of professionals in terms of ethical behavior? In a new book chapter by Routledge, Occupational Therapy academic staff Assoc. Prof.…

The post Ethics in occupational therapy vis-a-vis modern practice discussed in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
What does modern occupational therapy practice in the Philippines demand of professionals in terms of ethical behavior? In a new book chapter by Routledge, Occupational Therapy academic staff Assoc. Prof. Kim Gerald G. Medallon, PhD, OTRP and co-author Caroline Fischl look into the Philippine Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and the theoretical foundations and key ethical principles that guide prevailing expectations.

The chapter elucidates the obligations of professionals to clients, as well as to the profession, education, research, and society. With reflection questions and case studies, the chapter “offers a valuable guide for OT professionals to effectively navigate and resolve ethical dilemmas in Philippine contexts.”

The book chapter is part of the new book “Occupational Therapy in the Philippines: Theory, Practice, and Stories” by Routledge. It was edited by Michael Sy, Roi Charles Pineda, and Caroline Fischl.

Medallon has published studies on “Inclusive classrooms: Making it work for peers of children with disability” (with Asst. Prof. Karen S. Sagun and Asst. Prof. Allan James Tan) and “Attitude development from the perspectives of occupational therapy interns and clinical educators.” Formerly the Internship Supervisor for the BS Occupational Therapy program of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, he is the Assistant to the Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Educational Delivery.

The post Ethics in occupational therapy vis-a-vis modern practice discussed in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Need for contemporary occupational therapy research agenda in the Philippines highlighted in new book chapter /need-for-contemporary-occupational-therapy-research-agenda-in-the-philippines-highlighted-in-new-book-chapter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=need-for-contemporary-occupational-therapy-research-agenda-in-the-philippines-highlighted-in-new-book-chapter Mon, 17 Feb 2025 06:48:52 +0000 /?p=190852 Banking on a review of Philippine occupational therapy studies conducted since the 2000s, Occupational Therapy academic researcher Assoc. Prof. Ivan Neil B. Gomez, PhD and co-authors Caroline Fischl and Michael…

The post Need for contemporary occupational therapy research agenda in the Philippines highlighted in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Banking on a review of Philippine occupational therapy studies conducted since the 2000s, Occupational Therapy academic researcher Assoc. Prof. Ivan Neil B. Gomez, PhD and co-authors Caroline Fischl and Michael P. Sy reviewed “common areas, topics, and methodologies” found in local occupational therapy research since the new millennium.

Using these as bases, the authors discussed the implications for using such in “advancing knowledge and practice of occupational therapy” in the country. The authors also presented strategies that may be adopted to strengthen research efforts and establish a “contemporary, relevant, and critical research agenda.”

A researcher of the Center for Health Research and Movement Science, Gomez specializes in occupational therapy, psychophysiology, and evidence-based practice. Among his recent publications are “Occupational Balance and Quality of Life among Hospital-based Occupational Therapists during the COVID-19 Pandemic” (with Christopher Jeffrey B. Streegan) and “Reflections on the role of occupational therapy programmes on mental health of stakeholders’ transition to e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Gomez is also the editor-in-chief of the Philippine Journal of Allied Health Sciences (PJAHS).

The book chapter is part of the new Routledge book entitled “.” It was edited by Michael Sy, Roi Charles Pineda, and Caroline Fischl.

The post Need for contemporary occupational therapy research agenda in the Philippines highlighted in new book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
Philippine community practice of occupational therapy highlighted in new Routledge book chapter /philippine-community-practice-of-occupational-therapy-highlighted-in-new-routledge-book-chapter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=philippine-community-practice-of-occupational-therapy-highlighted-in-new-routledge-book-chapter Mon, 17 Feb 2025 03:03:52 +0000 /?p=190791 While occupational therapy is often thought to be held in brick-and-mortar centers, community-centered initiatives are not yet as well-known. This is what the new book chapter entitled “Embracing Bayani-han: Navigating…

The post Philippine community practice of occupational therapy highlighted in new Routledge book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>
While occupational therapy is often thought to be held in brick-and-mortar centers, community-centered initiatives are not yet as well-known. This is what the new book chapter entitled “Embracing Bayani-han: Navigating Occupational Therapy Practice in the ľĹɫ” aimed to document and describe. 

Authored by Occupational Therapy academic staff Karen S. Sagun, MSOT, MRS with co-authors Teresita C. Mendoza and Abelardo Apollo I. David, the article hinged on the Filipino concepts of pamayanan and bayanihan to “foreground the interconnectedness between individuals within communities.” The authors showed how the Filipino concepts can manifest in “selfless practice of [occupational therapy] as modern-day bayani.”

With an aim of widening access to occupational therapy services in adherence to the Philippine Universal Health Care Act, the authors discussed “the practical aspects of developing community programs, leveraging the authors’ leadership involvement in three different community programs.”

Sagun, apart from teaching at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, is involved with the Quezon City Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities as its Director.

The book chapter is part of the new Routledge book entitled “” The book was edited by Michael Sy, Roi Charles Pineda, and Caroline Fischl.

The post Philippine community practice of occupational therapy highlighted in new Routledge book chapter appeared first on ľĹÉ«.

]]>