TY - JOUR A1 - Bauernfeind, B. A1 - Aringer, M. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Kirchberger, I. A1 - Machold, K. A1 - Smolen, J. A1 - Stamm, T. T1 - Identification of relevant concepts of functioning in daily life in people with systematic Lupus Erythematosus: A patient Delphi exercise JF - Arthritis Care & Research N2 - Objective To identify the most important and relevant concepts of daily functioning from the perspective of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods We conducted a consensus‐building, 3‐round, electronic mail survey with SLE patients using the Delphi technique. The Delphi technique is a structured communication process with 4 key characteristics: anonymity, iteration with controlled feedback, statistical group response, and informed input. The concepts contained in the answers of the patients were extracted and linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results Of the total 225 participants, 194 (86.2%) completed the questionnaires from all 3 Delphi rounds. In total, after the third Delphi round, 307 concepts were identified. Ninety concepts (55 in the domain body functions and structures, 16 in activities and participation, and 19 in environmental factors) were considered relevant by at least 50% of the participants in the third round and linked to the ICF. Twelve concepts were considered important by at least 75% of the participants. Conclusion The high number of concepts resulting from this large‐scale patient Delphi approach underlines the great variety of SLE patients' problems in daily functioning. The results of this patient Delphi project supplement the findings of our focus‐group study in establishing a comprehensive overview of the patient perspective in SLE. KW - Systemic lupus erythematosus KW - Patient Delphi exercise KW - Functioning in daily life Y1 - 2009 UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/art.24165 VL - 61 IS - 1 SP - 21 EP - 28 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stamm, T. A1 - Van der Giesen, F. A1 - Thorstensson, C. A1 - Steen, E. A1 - Birrell, F. A1 - Bauernfeind, B. A1 - Marshall, N. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Machold, K. A1 - Smolen, J. A1 - Kloppenburg, M. T1 - Patient perspective of hand osteoarthritis in relation to concepts covered by instruments measuring functioning: a qualitative European multicentre study JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases N2 - Objective: To explore whether the concepts important to patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA) are covered by the most commonly used instruments measuring functioning. Method: A qualitative multicentre study using a focus group technique was performed in five European countries: Austria, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The qualitative data analysis followed a modified form of “meaning condensation” and used the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a theoretical framework. Finally, the concepts from the focus groups were compared with the content of the most commonly used instruments which had been identified in an earlier theoretical analysis. Results: Fifty-six people (51 women, mean (SD) age 62.7 (7.9) years) with hand OA participated in this study in two focus groups per centre. 63 concepts were extracted from the focus groups. Twenty-one (33%) of the 63 concepts were covered by at least one instrument. Psychological consequences, different qualities of pain, aesthetic changes and leisure activities are important concepts from the focus groups which were not covered by the instruments. The qualitative analysis revealed detailed descriptions of pain-concerning sensations, levels and a certain relation to activity, none of which were fully represented in the instruments routinely used. Conclusion: It was possible to combine the concepts of the focus groups from each centre into a common qualitative analysis. The concepts important to people with hand OA are not fully represented in the most commonly used instruments. KW - Hand osteoarthritis KW - Measuring functioning KW - Qualitative multicentre study Y1 - 2009 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.096776 VL - 68 IS - 9 SP - 1453 EP - 1460 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dür, M. A1 - Steiner, G. A1 - Stoffer, M.A. A1 - Fialka-Moser, V. A1 - Kautky-Willer, A. A1 - Dejaco, C. A1 - Ekmekcioglu, C. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Binder, A. A1 - Smolen, J. A1 - Stamm, T. A. T1 - Initial evidence for the link between activities and health: Associations between a balance of activities, functioning and serum levels of cytokines and C-reactive protein JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology N2 - Growing evidence shows interrelations of psychological factors, neurological and immunological processes. Therefore, constructs like a balance of activities, the so called “occupational balance”, could also have biological correlates. The aim of this study was to investigate potential associations between occupational balance, functioning, cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients suffering from a chronic inflammatory disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy people. Moreover, we wanted to explore potential differences in gender and employment status. A descriptive study in patients with RA and healthy people was conducted using the Occupational Balance-Questionnaire (OB-Quest) and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Serum levels of cytokines, such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8), interferon alpha (INFα), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), rheumatoid factor (RF) and of CRP were measured. Descriptive statistics, as well as Mann-Whitney U tests and Spearmen's rank correlation coefficients (rs) were calculated. One-hundred-thirty-two patients with RA and 76 healthy people participated. Occupational balance was associated with functioning, cytokines and CRP. The strongest associations were identified in the unemployed healthy-people sample with cytokines and CRP being within the normal range. For example, the OB-Quest item challenging activities was associated with IL-8 (rs = − 0.63, p = 0.04) and the SF-36 sub-scale bodily pain was associated with IFNα (rs = − 0.69, p = 0.02). The items rest and sleep (rs = − 0.71, p = 0.01) and variety of different activities (rs = − 0.74, p < 0.01) correlated with the SF-36 sub-scale social functioning. Employed and unemployed people differed in their age and CRP levels. Additionally, gender differences were found in two OB-Quest items in that fewer women were able to adapt their activities to changing living conditions and fewer men were overstressed. In conclusion, we found preliminary biological evidence for the link between occupation and health in that the concepts encompassed in the construct of occupational balance were associated with functioning, cytokines and CRP. KW - Autoimmune disease KW - Psychoneuroendocrinology KW - Inflammatory markers KW - Occupational balance KW - Measure KW - Immunology Y1 - 2016 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.12.015 VL - 65 SP - 138 EP - 148 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Ballert, C. S. A1 - Cieza, A. T1 - Setting up a cohort study of functioning: From classification to measurement JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine N2 - Objective: Cohort studies are an appropriate method for the collection of population-based longitudinal data to track people's health and functioning over time. However, describing and understanding functioning in its complexity with all its determinants is one of the biggest challenges faced by clinicians and researchers. Design: This paper focuses on the development of a cohort study on functioning, outlining the relevant steps and related methods, and illustrating these with reference to the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study (SwiSCI). Methods and results: In setting up a cohort study the initial step is to specify which variables are to be included, i.e. what to assess. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is valuable in this process. The second step is to identify how to assess the specified ICF categories. Existing instruments and assessments can then be linked to the ICF. Conclusion: The methods outlined here enable the development of a cohort study to be based on a comprehensive perspective of health, operationalized through functioning as conceptualized and classified in the ICF, yet to remain efficient and feasible to administer. KW - Disability and health KW - Cohort study KW - Epidemiology KW - International classification of functioning KW - Standardized Reporting Y1 - 2016 UR - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2030 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 131 EP - 140 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hinrichs, T. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Brinkof, M.W. A1 - Gemperli, A. T1 - Subgroups in epidemiological studies on spinal cord injury: Evaluation of international recommendations in the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine N2 - Objective: To test subgroups of a community-based sample of individuals with spinal cord injury, categorized by the application of current recommendations by the International Spinal Cord Society. Design: Community survey. Participants: Individuals with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury residing in Switzerland. Methods: Recommended subgroups of age, gender, years since injury, severity of injury and aetiology were tested against the following criteria: (i) distribution of participants across categories; (ii) within- and between-group variability with regard to selected outcomes of functioning and quality of life. Results: Data-sets for 1,549 participants (28.5% women; mean age 52 ± 15 years) were available for analyses. There was a number of participants in every subgroup, yet numbers were relatively small in the group with the shortest time since injury (< 1 year; n = 23) and in the oldest age group (≥76; n = 94). A high variability in some outcomes was detected between categories. All variables were predictive for most of the endpoints investigated. Conclusion: Recommended categorization could well fit the present sample. A minor concern was the low numbers of participants in some subgroups. KW - Classification KW - Disability and health KW - Health survey KW - International classification of functioning KW - Spinal cord injury Y1 - 2016 UR - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2029 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 141 EP - 148 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Ballert, C.S. A1 - Brinkof, M. W. G. A1 - Tennant, A. A1 - Post, M. W. M. T1 - Metric properties of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure - Self Report in a community survey JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine N2 - Objective: The Spinal Cord Independence Measure – Self Report (SCIM-SR) is a self-report instrument for assessing functional independence of persons with spinal cord injury. This study examined the internal construct validity and reliability of the SCIM-SR, when administered in a community survey, using the Rasch measurement model. Methods: Rasch analysis of data from 1,549 individuals with spinal cord injury who completed the SCIM-SR. Results: In the initial analysis no fit to the Rasch model was achieved. Items were grouped into testlets to accommodate the substantial local dependency. Due to the differential item functioning for lesion level and degree, spinal cord injury-specific sub-group analyses were conducted. Fit to the Rasch model was then achieved for individuals with tetraplegia and complete paraplegia, but not for those with incomplete paraplegia. Comparability of ability estimates across sub-groups was attained by anchoring all sub-groups on a testlet. Conclusion: The SCIM-SR violates certain assumptions of the Rasch measurement model, as shown by the local dependency and differential item functioning. However, an intermediate solution to achieve fit in 3 out of 4 spinal cord injury sub-groups was found. For the time being, therefore, it advisable to use this approach to compute Rasch-transformed SCIM-SR scores. KW - Functional status KW - Independence KW - Psychometrics KW - Reliability KW - Spinal cord injury Y1 - 2016 UR - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2059 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 149 EP - 164 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Ballert, C. S. A1 - Brach, M. A1 - Brinkhof, M. W. G. A1 - Cieza, A. A1 - Hug, K. A1 - Jordan, X. A1 - Post, M. W. M. A1 - Scheel-Sailer, A. A1 - Schubert, M. A1 - Tennant, A. A1 - Stucki, G. T1 - Toward standardized reporting for a cohort study on functioning: The Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine N2 - Objective: Functioning is an important outcome to measure in cohort studies. Clear and operational outcomes are needed to judge the quality of a cohort study. This paper outlines guiding principles for reporting functioning in cohort studies and addresses some outstanding issues. Design: Principles of how to standardize reporting of data from a cohort study on functioning, by deriving scores that are most useful for further statistical analysis and reporting, are outlined. The Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study Community Survey serves as a case in point to provide a practical application of these principles. Methods and Results: Development of reporting scores must be conceptually coherent and metrically sound. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can serve as the frame of reference for this, with its categories serving as reference units for reporting. To derive a score for further statistical analysis and reporting, items measuring a single latent trait must be invariant across groups. The Rasch measurement model is well suited to test these assumptions. Conclusion: Our approach is a valuable guide for researchers and clinicians, as it fosters comparability of data, strengthens the comprehensiveness of scope, and provides invariant, interval-scaled data for further statistical analyses of functioning. KW - Comparability KW - Epidemiology KW - Health information systems KW - Informed decision-making KW - Rasch analysis Y1 - 2016 UR - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2026 VL - 48 IS - 2 SP - 189 EP - 196 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Darzins, S. A1 - Magasi, S. A1 - Baptiste, S. T1 - The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF): Opportunities and Challenges to the Use of the ICF for Occupational Therapy JF - World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin N2 - The occupational therapy community has been receptive to the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) published in 2001. Building upon results of a survey (2008–2009) and subsequent workshop (2010) conducted by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists on the use and utility of the ICF for occupational therapists, this paper addresses some of the opportunities and challenges to strengthening the use of the ICF in occupational therapy practice. Attaining further clarity on the relationship of occupational therapy concepts and the ICF and developing crosswalk tables to exemplify linkages between occupational therapy terminology and the ICF will strengthen utility of the ICF for occupational therapy. Enhanced clarity about the concepts within occupational therapy that correspond to the ICF will ultimately assist other professions and disciplines in their understanding about occupational therapy and occupational therapists’ roles in health and related systems. KW - ICF KW - Occupational therapy KW - Standardization KW - Health care terminology KW - Rehabilitation Y1 - 2015 UR - https://doi.org/10.1179/2056607715Y.0000000003 VL - 71 IS - 2 SP - 108 EP - 114 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Ndosi, M. A1 - Nordenskiöld, U. A1 - Stamm, T. A1 - Persson, G. A1 - Andreasson, I. A1 - Lundgren-Nilsson, A. T1 - Rehabilitation provided to patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of three different Rheumatology clinics in Austria, Sweden and the UK from the perspectives of patients and health professionals JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine N2 - Objective: To explore patients’ and health professionals’ views of outpatient rehabilitation services for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in 3 different rheumatology sites across Europe. Methods: A qualitative multi-method study was conducted with patients and health professionals in Vienna (Austria), Gothenburg (Sweden) and Leeds (UK). Data collection was carried out during focus groups with patients and health professionals. Patients’ hospital records were integrated into the analysis. Data were analysed for site and findings were compared across sites. Results: A total of 20 patients and 20 health professionals participated in 12 focus groups. Although the 3 sites were all publicly funded university clinics, there were differences between sites regarding the structure and content of rehabilitation services. The themes that emerged in the focus groups were: referrals; continuity in rehabilitation; information provided to patients; patients’ organizations; documentation and communication amongst health professionals; interface between primary and specialist care; and prescription practices. Most themes were addressed at all 3 sites, but there were variations in the specifics within themes. Conclusion: Integration of patients’ and health professionals’ views on how rehabilitation services are coordinated and how (parts of) processes are set up elsewhere provide valuable information for the further optimization of rehabilitation services. KW - Delivery of Healthcare KW - Interdisciplinary Communication KW - Multi-centre study KW - Patient perspective KW - Rehabilitation Y1 - 2015 UR - https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1914 VL - 47 IS - 2 SP - 174 EP - 182 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Rudman, D. L. A1 - Shaw, L. T1 - Institutional ethnography: Studying the situated nature of human occupation JF - Journal of Occupational Science N2 - Institutional ethnographers and occupational scientists share a common interest in studying what people do in their daily lives. Institutional ethnographers start inquiry at the standpoint of people as they are situated in the actualities of everyday life and then turn their gaze from the individual to the social. We aim to outline in this paper some key tenets of institutional ethnography to argue its relevance for studying human occupation. More specifically, we posit that institutional ethnography provides a promising social theory and method to further understandings of the situated nature of human occupation. KW - Standpoint KW - Daily life KW - Power KW - Ruling relations Y1 - 2015 UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2013.813429 VL - 22 IS - 1 SP - 71 EP - 81 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Castrejon, I. A1 - Carmona, L. A1 - Agrinier, N. A1 - Andres, M. A1 - Briot, K. A1 - Caron, M. A1 - Christensen, R. A1 - Consolaro, A. A1 - Curbelo, R. A1 - Ferrer, M. A1 - Foltz, V. A1 - Gonzalez, C. A1 - Guillemin, F. A1 - Machado, P. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Ravellil, A. A1 - Scholte-Voshaar, M. A1 - Uhlig, T. A1 - van Tuyl, L. A1 - Zink, A. A1 - Gossec, L. T1 - The EULAR Outcome Measures Library: development and an example from a systematic review for systemic lupus erythematous instruments JF - Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology N2 - Objective: Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are relevant in rheumatology. Variable accessibility and validity of commonly used PROs are obstacles to homogeneity in evidence synthesis. The objective of this project was to provide a comprehensive library of “validated PROs”. Methods: A launch meeting with rheumatologists, PROs methodological experts, and patients, was held to define the library’s aims and scope, and basic requirements. To feed the library we performed systematic reviews on selected diseases and domains. Relevant information on PROs was collected using standardised data collection forms based on the COSMIN checklist. Results: The EULAR Outcomes Measures Library (OML), whose aims are to provide and to advise on PROs on a user-friendly manner albeit based on scientific grounds, has been launched and made accessible to all. PROs currently included cover any domain and, are generic or specifically target to the following diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, low back pain, systemic lupus erythematosus, gout, osteoporosis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and fibromyalgia. Up to 236 instruments (106 generic and 130 specific) have been identified, evaluated, and included. The systematic review for SLE, which yielded 10 specific instruments, is presented here as an example. The OML website includes, for each PRO, information on the construct being measured and the extent of validation, recommendations for use, and available versions; it also contains a glossary on common validation terms. Conclusion: The OML is an in progress library led by rheumatologists, related professionals and patients, that will help to better understand and apply PROs in rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. KW - Rheuma KW - Lupus erythematous KW - Outcome measures KW - Systematic Review Y1 - 2015 VL - 33 IS - 6 SP - 910 EP - 916 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Shaw, L. A1 - Rudman, D. L. A1 - Stamm, T. T1 - Negotiating disability in everyday life: Ethnographical accounts of women with rheumatoid arthritis JF - Disability and Rehabilitation N2 - Purpose: Drawing on data from a larger study, the aim of this paper is to illuminate how the everyday doings of women with disabilities are coordinated to and shaped by organizational processes and social context, particularly as these relate to the potential of being labelled disabled. Methods: An institutional ethnography was conducted with seven Austrian women diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interviews and participant observations were conducted, and texts about the historical development of disability policies were identified. Data analysis included grouping similar doings of participants together to subsequently explore links between what the women did and how their doings are shaped by disability policies and the social context. Results: The women, who participated in this study, spent time and effort to keep the disease invisible, resist disability and negotiate a disability pass. By drawing upon the historical development of Austrian disability policies, the interpretation reveals how this development infiltrates into participants’ lives and shapes their everyday doing. Conclusion: This study furthers understanding of how broader policies and practices, shaped over historical time, infiltrate into the daily lives of women with disabilities. It illustrates how full participation may not necessarily be a lived reality for people with disabilities at this point in Austria. Implications for Rehabilitation Maximising full participation for people with rheumatoid arthritis is important. This requires focusing not only on the bodily health of people with rheumatoid arthritis but also on their interaction with the social, cultural and political context in their daily lives. This requires also understanding how knowledge about disability is passed on from previous generations. KW - Employment KW - Policies KW - Rheumatoid arthritis KW - Women Y1 - 2014 UR - https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2013.800594 VL - 36 IS - 6 SP - 497 EP - 503 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Turner, S. M. T1 - Using institutional ethnography to explore how social policies infiltrate into daily life JF - Journal of Occupational Science N2 - The paper demonstrates how institutional ethnography provides a way forward for occupational scientists to understand how social policies shape and infiltrate people's daily lives and work. Institutional ethnography is a method of inquiry that starts in individual's experiences and from there traces how their experiences are coordinated to and become shaped within particular organizational processes and social relations. In this paper, we are specifically interested in how social policies, as higher order texts, shape the organizational processes and service agents' work at Labor Market Offices, and enter into the organization of people's everyday activities. We want to make visible how particular policies enter into the organization of the daily lives of women with rheumatoid arthritis who apply for unemployment benefits and ‘regulate’ what they can or may have to do, even though higher order policy texts are not immediately visible or actively referred to in the setting. We learn from the experiences of two women, who are of employable age, have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and live in a mid-sized city in Austria. KW - Ruling relations KW - Textual analysis KW - Occupational science KW - Employment KW - Labor market office Y1 - 2013 UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2013.808728 VL - 20 IS - 4 SP - 357 EP - 369 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dür, M. A1 - Steiner, G. A1 - Fialka-Moser, V. A1 - Kautzky-Willer, A. A1 - Dejaco, C. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Stoffer, M. A. A1 - Binder, A. A1 - Smolen, J. A1 - Stamm, T.A. T1 - Development of a new occupational balance-questionnaire: incorporating the perspectives of patients and healthy people in the design of a self-reported occupational balance outcome instrument JF - Health and Quality of Life Outcomes N2 - Background Self-reported outcome instruments in health research have become increasingly important over the last decades. Occupational therapy interventions often focus on occupational balance. However, instruments to measure occupational balance are scarce. The aim of the study was therefore to develop a generic self-reported outcome instrument to assess occupational balance based on the experiences of patients and healthy people including an examination of its psychometric properties. Methods We conducted a qualitative analysis of the life stories of 90 people with and without chronic autoimmune diseases to identify components of occupational balance. Based on these components, the Occupational Balance-Questionnaire (OB-Quest) was developed. Construct validity and internal consistency of the OB-Quest were examined in quantitative data. We used Rasch analyses to determine overall fit of the items to the Rasch model, person separation index and potential differential item functioning. Dimensionality testing was conducted by the use of t-tests and Cronbach’s alpha. Results The following components emerged from the qualitative analyses: challenging and relaxing activities, activities with acknowledgement by the individual and by the sociocultural context, impact of health condition on activities, involvement in stressful activities and fewer stressing activities, rest and sleep, variety of activities, adaptation of activities according to changed living conditions and activities intended to care for oneself and for others. Based on these, the seven items of the questionnaire (OB-Quest) were developed. 251 people (132 with rheumatoid arthritis, 43 with systematic lupus erythematous and 76 healthy) filled in the OB-Quest. Dimensionality testing indicated multidimensionality of the questionnaire (t = 0.58, and 1.66 after item reduction, non-significant). The item on the component rest and sleep showed differential item functioning (health condition and age). Person separation index was 0.51. Cronbach’s alpha changed from 0.38 to 0.57 after deleting two items. Conclusions This questionnaire includes new items addressing components of occupational balance meaningful to patients and healthy people which have not been measured so far. The reduction of two items of the OB-Quest showed improved internal consistency. The multidimensionality of the questionnaire indicates the need for a summary of several components into subscales. KW - Qualitative research KW - Rasch analysis KW - Occupational science KW - Patient perspective Y1 - 2014 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-12-45 VL - 12 SP - 45 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Stamm, T. A. T1 - The emergence of Occupational Science in Austria: An insider perspective JF - Journal of Occupational Science N2 - Occupational science has been discussed in terms of its relation to occupational therapy, its philosophical and theoretical foundations, and its international and interdisciplinary character over the past years. The disciplinary identity of occupational science in non-English speaking countries has not yet been debated in the literature. The aim of this article is to discuss occupational science as an emergent discipline in Austria, a German-speaking country. The discussion is divided into two parts. In the first part we engage in critical reflexivity to explicate the current development of occupational science in Austria by reviewing the disciplinary and historical context of occupational science and the related profession of occupational therapy, the educational and institutional influences as well as the influence of language. In the second part, we illustrate that occupational science is an emerging discipline in Austria by drawing on an ongoing research project: the Gender, Occupational Balance, and Immunology Study. By making explicit how occupational science has emerged, from our insider perspective, we aim to contribute to the further development of the disciplinary identity of occupational science nationally and internationally. KW - Critical reflexivity KW - Knowledge generation KW - Occupational balance KW - Occupational science Y1 - 2012 UR - https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2011.582833 VL - 19 IS - 2 SP - 127 EP - 137 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Shaw, L. A1 - Rudman, D. L. A1 - Townsend, E. T1 - Arthritis-related occupational therapy: Making invisible ruling relations visible using institutional ethnography JF - British Journal of Occupational Therapy N2 - Introduction: Occupational therapists' intention of enabling women with rheumatoid arthritis to participate in everyday life is fraught with challenges in everyday practice. Method: Inspired by institutional ethnography, this paper aims to make explicit how the work of occupational therapists in an outpatient rheumatology hospital setting is governed within invisible, ruling relations. An analytical description of the first author's clinical experience was a standpoint from which to explicate how occupational therapy is coordinated to the ruling relations of the Austrian health care system. Findings: Occupational therapy practice and research are ruled within a positivist, body-focused, medical apparatus, which renders largely invisible occupational therapists' knowledge of enabling people to engage in occupations that are meaningful to them. Conclusion: Occupational therapists have professional power that can be asserted by strategically using occupational therapy specific knowledge and language in textually mediated practices, from assessments and case files to media images, to give greater visibility and influence to the profession's work of enabling occupation. KW - Institutional ethnography KW - Rheumatology KW - Participation KW - Health care provision KW - Enabling occupation KW - Sociology of the profession Y1 - 2012 UR - https://doi.org/10.4276/030802212X13496921049707 VL - 75 IS - 10 SP - 463 EP - 470 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shaw, L. A1 - Jacobs, K. A1 - Rudmann, D. A1 - Magalhaes, L. A1 - Huot, S. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Mandich, A. A1 - Hocking, C. A1 - Akande, V. A1 - Backmann, C. A1 - Bossers, A. A1 - Bragg, M. A1 - Bryson, M. A1 - Cowls, J. A1 - Stone, S. D. A1 - Dawe, E. A1 - Dennhardt, S. A1 - Dennis, D. A1 - Foster, J. A1 - Friesen, M. A1 - Galheigo, S. A1 - Gichuri, J. A1 - Hughes, I. A1 - Isaac, A. A1 - Jarus, T. A1 - Kinsella, A. A1 - Klinger, L. A1 - Leyshon, R. A1 - Lysaght, R. A1 - McKay, E. A1 - Orchard, T. A1 - Phelan, S. A1 - Ravenek, M. A1 - Gruhl, K. R. A1 - Robb, L. A1 - Stadnyk, R. A1 - Sumsion, T. A1 - Suto, M. T1 - Directions for advancing the study of work transitions in the 21st century JF - Work N2 - Objectives: The purpose of this article is to share the details, outcomes and deliverables from an international workshop on work transitions in London, Ontario, Canada. Participants: Researchers, graduate students, and community group members met to identity ways to advance the knowledge base of strategies to enhance work participation for those in the most disadvantaged groups within society. Methods: A participatory approach was used in this workshop with presentations by researchers and graduate students. This approach included dialogue and discussion with community members. In addition, small group dialogue and debate, world cafe discussions, written summaries of group discussion and reflection boards were used to bring new ideas to the discussion and to build upon what we know. Findings: Two research imperatives and six research recommendations were identified to advance global dialogue on work transitions and to advance the knowledge base. Occupational justice can be used to support future research directions in the study of work transitions. Conclusions: Moving forward requires a commitment of community of researchers, clinicians and stakeholders to address work disparities and implement solutions to promote participation in work. KW - Work disparities KW - occupational justice KW - Occupational transitions Y1 - 2012 UR - https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-1438 VL - 41 IS - 4 SP - 369 EP - 377 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Salzberger, T. A1 - Stucki, G. A1 - Stamm, T. A1 - Cieza, A. T1 - Measuring Functioning in People with Fibromyalgia (FM) Based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)—A Psychometric Analysis JF - Pain Practice N2 - Objectives: Instruments to assess functioning in patients with FM vary considerably in their content and are often symptom‐specific. This study aimed to examine whether it is feasible to construct a psychometric‐sound clinical instrument to measure functioning in FM based on the Brief ICF‐Core‐Set for chronic widespread pain (CWP). Methods: Two hundred and fifty six people with FM completed the Brief ICF‐Core‐Set. The Rasch model was used for analysis. Once ordering of response options of ICF categories was ensured, the following properties were studied: fit of the ICF categories to the Rasch model, the targeting between ICF categories and a person’s abilities, unidimensionality, and reliability. Results: Six ICF categories were rescored due to disordered thresholds. Five ICF categories were removed due to high model‐misfit and differential item functioning (DIF) for gender. Scores from 46 participants were excluded due to extreme scores. The ICF categories included display consistency with an underlying unidimensional construct, are free of DIF for age, disease duration and gender, display excellent overall reliability, and cover a range of functioning difficulties. Conclusions: This study illustrates that it is possible to measure functioning as a unidimensional construct based on selected ICF categories from the components body functions, as well as activities and participation of the Brief ICF‐Core‐Set for CWP in patients with FM. KW - Fibromyalgia KW - ICF KW - Psychometric Analysis Y1 - 2011 UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00488.x VL - 12 IS - 4 SP - 255 EP - 265 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prodinger, Birgit A1 - Stamm, T. A. T1 - Self-reflection as a means for personal transformation: An analysis of women's life stories living with a chronic disease JF - Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research N2 - The aim of this secondary analysis is to explicate taken-for-granted practices in the health care system in which the life stories of six women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are embedded. A secondary analysis of life stories of six women with RA, which were assigned to a typology named "rheumatoid arthritis as a source for new challenges" (STAMM et al., 2008) in the primary narrative study, was conducted. The theoretical framework applied for the analysis was informed by feminist standpoint theory and feminist philosophy. In the present analysis, each of the women challenged established health care practices and the cognitive authority of medicine at a certain point in their life story reflections. Becoming more conscious about health care practices enabled the women to acknowledge their own knowledge and to make choices about their health. The findings challenge health care providers to engage in critical reflexivity to become conscious about and to transform taken-for-granted practices as embedded in larger systems and to create health care environments that enable dialogue between clients and health care providers. KW - Secondary analysis KW - Narratives KW - Feminist critiques on health care KW - Standpoint theory KW - Gender KW - Rheumatiod arthritis Y1 - 2010 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.17169/fqs-11.3.1379 VL - 11 IS - 4 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stamm, T. A. A1 - Machold, K. P. A1 - Smolen, J. A1 - Prodinger, Birgit T1 - Life stories of people with rheumatoid arthritis who retired early: how gender and other contextual factors shaped their everyday activities, including paid work JF - Musculoskeletal Care N2 - Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore how contextual factors affect the everyday activities of women and men with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as evident in their life stories. Methods: Fifteen people with RA, who had retired early due to the disease, were interviewed up to three times, according to a narrative biographic interview style. The life stories of the participants, which were reconstructed from the biographical data and from the transcribed ‘told story’ were analysed from the perspective of contextual factors, including personal and environmental factors. The rigour and accuracy of the analysis were enhanced by reflexivity and peer‐review of the results. Results: The life stories of the participants in this study reflected how contextual factors (such as gender, the healthcare system, the support of families and social and cultural values) shaped their everyday activities. In a society such as in Austria, which is based on traditional patriarchal values, men were presented with difficulties in developing a non‐paid‐work‐related role. For women, if paid work had to be given up, they were more likely to engage in alternative challenging activities which enabled them to develop reflective skills, which in turn contributed to a positive and enriching perspective on their life stories. Health professionals may thus use some of the women's strategies to help men. Conclusion: Interventions by health professionals in people with RA may benefit from an approach sensitive to personal and environmental factors. KW - Rheumatoid arthritis KW - Gender KW - Everyday activities Y1 - 2010 UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.168 VL - 8 IS - 2 SP - 78 EP - 86 ER -