Introduction
Occupational therapists tend to teach clients skills and work with them in order to achieve their goals. The education of the clients provides a lot of opportunities for collaboration between the client and the practitioner. The process of education gives a chance for clients to participate in the treatment process being completely involved in it. In order to educate clients, occupational therapists use a number of methods and techniques media, and other sources for getting information. The article under analysis is devoted to the description of the main aspects of clients’ and practitioners’ participation; it covers the analysis of comprehension and reading skills developed in the process of education.
Summary of the Article
The authors of the article managed to analyze the reading levels of the written material of education. The article discloses a lot of statistical information and surveys carried out at different stages of education in order to show the achievements of the clients. It depicts figures explaining the results of the surveys conducted not only by occupational therapists but also by Health Departments and Associations. The author managed to provide different graphics and tables showing the achievements of the clients and their level of comprehension and reading skills.
The article focuses on the factors influencing the reading and comprehension abilities of the clients. It should be stressed that these factors were regarded in terms of age, education level, gender influence on the reading level ability of the participants. The authors also regarded social status habits and the level of usual reading perception. As a result of the complex analysis medium effect size considering linear regression analysis was predominant.
The study carried out was based on the participation of the 214 clients who were considered to be voluntary. Some of the participants refused to continue the tests because they felt they could not do it. Thus, about 158 people refused to complete the tasks. The article provides an analysis of those who did not continue the test. They appeared to be older and their characteristics were much lower. For example, they had worse reading abilities and reading perception. These main characteristics became decisive in their future participation.
It is important to stress that the statistical data provided in the article was concentrated on the reading and comprehension level of the participants being in the hospital; it is difficult to refer the results of the research to the general generation because such factors as ethical, cultural and economic backgrounds of the participants are not taken into account. The authors of the articles managed to show that the reading and comprehension level of the participants of the study is high enough. Occupational therapists were aimed at reaching their goals made by the study; they strived not only to identify the reading level of the population but also group people having quite different reading abilities and skills in order to compare and contrast their results.
According to the article reading level study, the results of the research appeared to be better when occupational therapists used multiple syllabic words for the testament. As it was shown in the research the usage of the difficult terminology and the involvement of the long multiple syllabic words increased the reading level of the participants. It was proved by the authors of the article that long medical or other professional terminology is not always difficult for reading and comprehension as was shown in the examples of the participants.
Further on, the information is devoted to the level of the written material. The authors managed to analyze the necessary structure of the written material. They stated that such material should have a clear balanced information and purpose. Very often written material is optimal because it helps the clients to get involved in the information necessary for their development and some problems solutions.
If the level of the written material is not very high and demands great efforts for development occupational therapists recommend the usage of the short sentence structure and short words in them. They also advise the usage of the illustrations for the effectiveness of the education which are to be located near the text of the reading. Special attention the authors devoted to the language of the written material provided for the reading:
- Clear simple language;
- The absence of the jargon;
- The usage of the second person and the active voice;
- Common phrases without the involvement of the specialized terminology;
The usage of the written material for the reading and comprehension analysis in everyday practice improves the educational level of the participants. The study carried out by the occupational therapists showed the reading and comprehension level of the population through the data provided is very specific and individual. Nevertheless, it underlined the main aspects of the analysis and showed the grade of cooperation between the occupational therapists and the clients of the study.
Influence on Personal Experience
The article under analysis appeared to be quite useful for the development of personal specialized skills which are important in the sphere of medicine. The authors managed to highlight the main methods used in the study; the techniques and peculiarities of the tests can be helpful for the conduction of some other researches and statistical studies related to the activities of occupational therapists. The information provided in the article contributed to the personal experience and described the main features of work with clients and the means of their education. Occupational specialists used all the specifics and methodologies in their cooperation with the participants which highlighted the peculiarities of their work.
Conclusion
The study provided by the authors managed to disclose statistical data as to the reading and comprehension level of the educational material provided by occupational therapists in different public hospitals. As the study has shown the level of reading is quite high; that is why there is no necessity to create other methods of education for occupational therapists. In the future, practitioners are to use techniques providing the analysis of the educational level, to be more exact the level of reading of the clients. The recommendations underlined by the study may improve the general level of people’s knowledge and the effectiveness of education promotion.
The activities of the occupational therapists taking into account the data of the research will be aimed at the conduction of new analysis and surveys in order to know the current educational level of the clients.
References
Griffin, Janelle, McKenna, Kryss & Tooth, Leigh. (2006). Discrepancy between Older Clients’ Ability to Read and Comprehend and the Reading Level of Written Educational Materials Used by Occupational Therapists. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Volume 60, Number 1.