UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Soeker, Shaheed"

Browsing by Author "Soeker, Shaheed"

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The adaptation of the model of occupational self-efficacy for returning individuals living with tuberculosis to work
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Jainodien, Ayesha; Soeker, Shaheed; Smith, Mario
Tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB have been identified as one of the largest health problems in the world, and notably recognized as a big issue in democratic South Africa. Socio-demographic factors such as poverty and unemployment were identified to be major contributing factors to the epidemic. Individuals with TB reportedly have poor levels of occupational self-efficacy and found it challenging to return to work after prolonged hospitalization. The Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy (MOOSE) has been used effectively to assist individuals with traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) to return to work. Adaptation of the MOOSE was recommended for application with other syndromes associated with long hospitalization and absence from work. The aim of the study was to adapt the MOOSE for clients living with tuberculosis and to aid them in returning to work. The study was conducted through exploratory research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten purposively selected key informants from private and public health facilities in the Western Cape. The data was analysed through thematic analysis from which six themes emerged. Themes One, Two and Six describe the barriers experienced by the participants when returning to work following their diagnosis of PTB or MDR-TB. Theme Three, Four and Five discussed the factors that facilitate the resumption of the worker role for the PTB and MDR-TB survivors. The findings of this study were used to inform the adaptation of the MOOSE for use with patients living with TB. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BMREC) of UWC. Permission was given by the Department of Health to conduct the study on the clinical platform. All ethics principles were upheld.
Best practice interventions for improving executive functioning in individuals returning to work post traumatic brain injury: A systematic review
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Hutchinson, Lauren; Soeker, Shaheed
The recovery process for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be lengthy and taxing on the patient, family and healthcare resources. Part of this recovery process includes interventions for the improvement of executive functioning (EF) required for high level functioning such as return to work (RTW). However, evidence for best practice interventions to improve EF for RTW post TBI is lacking. Randomised control trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions for EF for RTW post TBI are available but have not been synthesised. The review aimed to determine the best practice interventions for improving EF for successful RTW post TBI. Method: A systematic review using a predetermined search strategy to find relevant titles published from inception to June 2020 in six electronic databases (EBSCOhost and PUBMED [both including MEDLINE]; CINAHL, Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews, OT Seeker, and Taylor and Francis Online) was conducted following ethics approval by the Institutional Ethics Review Board.
Determinants of return to work and the development of a return to work programme for stroke survivors in Osun state, Nigeria
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Olaoye, Olumide Ayoola; Soeker, Shaheed; Rhoda, Anthea
Background: Stroke is acknowledged globally and among Nigerian rehabilitation researchers as a public health problem that leave half of its survivors with significant neurological deficits. The attendant sequelae of stroke affects the functional ability, limits activity performance and participation of stroke survivors within the community. The inability to re-establish pre-existing roles after stroke further poses additional challenges on the society, friends and families of the stroke survivor with regards to cost and burden of care. Although stroke disrupt the career pathway of working age survivors briefly, recurrently or permanently; a systematic pathway that facilitates job placement and retention at work for stroke survivors could reduce the devastation and burden caused by unemployment following stroke. As this vocational rehabilitation pathway and programme is currently unavailable for stroke survivors, this study aimed to design a RTW intervention programme that could facilitate the work re-entry for stroke survivors in the state of Osun, Nigeria. Method: The study utilized a multi-phase mixed method research design that was guided by the Intervention Mapping (IM) framework to achieve its objectives. This consisted of three iterative phases that informed one another with the findings culminating into the developed return to work programme for stroke survivors in Osun State. Phase one used a convergent mixed method parallel approach to obtain baseline information on the RTW process, the impairments, activity limitation, and the participation restrictions experienced by stroke survivors in Osun state, Nigeria in two distinct stages that involved a cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews. The cross sectional survey administered questionnaires that included the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Brief Core Sets for vocational rehabilitation (VR) and the Work Impact Questionnaire (WIQ) using the face to face method. Descriptive statistics such as measure of central tendencies and frequencies as well as inferential statistics such as logistic regression analysis were performed on the questionnaire data. The qualitative study involved concept mapping using in-depth interviews with stroke survivors who have and those that have not RTW. The transcripts from the in-depth interviews were analysed using the thematic content method. Phase two entailed a scoping review of literature that reported on interventions aimed at facilitating RTW of stroke survivors. The last phase of the study involved a Delphi study with experts in the field of stroke and vocational rehabilitation. The Delphi survey was conducted over three rounds with the final draft of the RTW programme emerging at the third round. Results: Two hundred and ten stroke survivors with mean age 52.90±7.92 responded to the quantitative stage of the phase thereby yielding a response rate of 76.36%. Sixty three point eight percent of the respondents had returned to work with half of them in full time employment (32.9%) while 36.2% had not returned to work. The majority of the respondents identified that travel to and from work (43.8%) and access at work (43.3%) had an impact ranging from ‘quite a bit’ to ‘extreme’ on their ability to work on the WIQ. The results from the quantitative stage further showed that more than ten percent of the respondents experienced complete problem in four components of activity and participation domains of the ICF brief core sets for VR and these include remunerative employment (21.4%), acquiring new skills (17.1%), non-remunerative employment (16.7%), as well as acquiring, keeping and terminating jobs (14.3%). Similarly, energy and drive functions (41.9%) and higher level cognitive function (36.2%) were indicated as culminating in moderate to severe problems in more than a third of the respondents while the “performance of complex interpersonal relationship” and “exercise tolerance function” resulted in no or little difficulty for the respondents. The findings from the logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of side of body affected by stroke (left), type of vocational rehabilitation programme, symptoms of stroke, environment, body function impairments as well as activity and participation problems were the factors that predict RTW after stroke. The logistic regression model significantly explained 55.0% to 75.4% of the variance in RTW after stroke and correctly classified 89.0% of all the cases/respondents. Results from the qualitative stage of the first phase suggests the lived experience of returning to work after stroke to have entailed three themes that was represented by a concept map. The first theme revealed that “it was difficult to live with stroke” for the survivor. The second theme revealed that the stroke survivors’ environment could either worsen or lessen the difficulty experience while the third theme highlighted the various issues that directly impacted on the resumption of worker role of the participants. The scoping review phase (phase two) identified that RTW interventions for stroke survivors falls into three core components which includes 1) intervention components that interface with the stroke survivor; 2) intervention components that interfaced with the workplace and; 3) components that describe strategies of implementation. These core components are interventions that could guarantee an effective RTW for strokes survivors when included in a RTW programme. In the third phase which was the concluding phase of the study, 13 experts in the field of stroke and vocational rehabilitation unanimously agreed at the third round of Delphi that the content of RTW programme for stroke survivors should include an assessment phase, work intervention training phase, work test placement phase and clients full participation in worker role phase that will span a 12 week duration. The developed RTW programme, conceptualized as Stroke Return to Work Intervention Programme (SReTWIP) was designed to be individually tailored to meet the need of the stroke survivor and implemented by an interdisciplinary team that will include the OT and PT as key members. Equally, the stroke survivor is expected to be involved in the decision making process throughout the duration of the SReTWIP. And finally, the programme is to be coordinated by a case manager who will be a member of the interdisciplinary team. Conclusion: It can be concluded that 63.9% of stroke survivors in Osun State, Nigeria return to work. Problems pertaining to lack of energy and drive functioning; higher level cognitive functioning; acquiring new skills; handling stress and psychosocial demands; travel to and from work and access were the common body impairments and problems with activities and participation restrictions that the stroke survivors encountered. Similarly, the study concludes that a multi-faceted programme, the SReTWIP, comprising of four interconnected phases of interventions that targets multiple factors such as personal and environment factors influencing work resumption is likely to be more effective in facilitating quick RTW after stroke.
The development of a model to enhance entrepreneurial skills of women with acquired brain injury
(University of Western Cape, 2021) Darries, Zareena; Soeker, Shaheed
Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a major public concern since the consequences thereof are far reaching as the long-term effects can be different for each individual and can impact on their lives in different ways. Individuals with ABI can experience both short-term and long-term cognitive, emotional, physical as well as behavioural changes that can make community reintegration and resumption to work more challenging. The particularly low return to work (RTW) outcomes for individuals sustaining ABI have been well documented, showing that women with ABI are at a greater risk of not returning to work compared to men with ABI. In the last decade South Africa demonstrated a disability prevalence rate of 7.5%, indicating that disability was more prevalent among women compared to men. As a result of the limited opportunities in the formal labour market in South Africa, opportunities for women in general and those with ABI entering the job market remains low.
The experiences and perceptions of individuals with stroke about the usefulness of the model of occupational self efficacy in a rural setting
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Smith, Melissa; Soeker, Shaheed
Individuals diagnosed with stroke particularly in rural communities have a poor return to work rate. Vocational rehabilitation has been used as an intervention strategy with various types of clients with disability or injury in order to improve their work skills. The aim of the proposed study is to describe the experiences and perceptions of individuals diagnosed with stroke about the usefulness of the Model of Occupational Self Efficacy in assisting them in returning to their worker role particularly in a rural setting. Eight participants were purposively selected from the data base of a local hospital and semi structured interviews were conducted with the participants until saturation occurred. Furthermore, two focus groups were conducted with eight participants. A key informant was also interviewed to assist the researcher with a different perspective and to avoid bias. The data was analysed by means of thematic analysis into codes, categories and themes. Trustworthiness was ensured by means of credibility, applicability, transferability and conformability. Informed consent and confidentiality was ensured. Permission was obtained from the UWC research committee and from the Department of Health. Four themes were merged from the findings: Theme one: Obstacles which affects the return to work of CVA Participants in a rural community. Theme two: Establishing a strong belief in functional ability through occupation. Theme three: Adaptation strategies that enhances the work participation of stroke survivors in a rural community. Finally Theme four: The MOOSE enables transition to the worker role in a rural context. The findings revealed that the participants experienced a loss of their former self thus affecting their worker identity as they were no longer able to experience the gratification of fulfilling their worker role. This was due to the participants not being aware of the return to work options that they had. After the stroke the participants battled with not only overcoming their condition but also the stigma which the community and their employers had of stroke. Overcoming the stroke event and returning to work required that potential barriers and facilitators be identified by the participants and the researcher. The study also identified adaptation strategies that the participants utilised in order to overcome the barriers and assist the participants to have a smoother transition into the workplace. In conclusion the findings of the study revealed that the participants suffer a loss of their former abilities and undergo a loss of their self-esteem. As a result of the loss, participants struggled to return to work not only due to their loss of abilities but also their lack of knowledge regarding return to work and stroke. The findings indicated that there should be more education regarding the stroke that needs to be conducted in communities via media such as local newspapers, local radio stations, clinics and hospitals. The findings of the study may assist Occupational Therapy practitioners to improve services in a rural community for stroke survivors and improve the facilitation of the return to work process after stroke. The MOOSE facilitates motivation for participants to regain their self-esteem and thus move forward to resume a worker role.
An exploration of the experiences and perceptions of employers and caregivers of individuals with mild-moderate traumatic brain injury returning to work
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Ganie, Zakeera; Soeker, Shaheed
An estimate of 89 000 cases of new traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are reported annually in South Africa. South African legislation advocates for the employment of persons with a disability. Individuals with mild-moderate TBI that do qualify to return-to-work (RTW) often do not have access to vocational rehabilitation (VR) and, as a result, return to the occupational therapy work assessment units for Disability Grant assessments. Not having the necessary insight and understanding about the condition influences the affected individual’s chances of returning to work. Failing to return to work results in dependency on a caregiver. The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of employers and caregivers of individuals with mild traumatic brain injury returning to work after completing a VR programme, using the Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy. A purposive sample comprising employers and caregivers of 10 individuals with mild TBI was selected. Semi-structured interviews were completed and data manually managed, with confidentiality and anonymity strictly ensured. The findings of the study were analysed by means of thematic analysis, from which five themes emerged. Themes one and two described the employers’ and caregivers’ experiences and perceptions that hindered the RTW process. Theme three related to the enabling aspects they derived from engaging in the VR process, along with the individual with mild-moderate TBI. Themes four and five presented the coping strategies that aided the employer and caregiver in playing a continued role in the RTW process. The International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF) was used to conceptualise the findings and interpret the perspective of the barriers, enablers and coping strategies as seen through the lens of the employer and caregiver. The results of the study can be used to help individuals with TBI adapt to the work environment, as well as inform policy development regarding social grants and access to rehabilitation services for TBI survivors. Occupational therapists (OT) using the MoOSE should regard the employer and caregiver as key role players during therapy. Employers should gain a better understanding of TBI and allow for sick leave during rehabilitation. Caregivers would benefit from finding or establishing a support network for themselves, and by connecting with employers of the individual with TBI in order to understand the individual’s work environment.
Exploring the challenges that women with traumatic brain injury experience in their work environment after vocational rehabilitation
(University of the Western Cape, 2015) Darries, Zareena; Soeker, Shaheed
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has enjoyed extensive research and several therapeutic modalities, approaches and models have been developed where the main outcomes are focused on the successful return to work of individuals with brain injury. Research into women with TBI has, however, been negligible compared to research into the young adult male population. Gaining insight into how women with traumatic brain injury participate in their work environment would contribute valuable feedback to clinicians utilising return to work approaches and models. The study aimed to explore the challenges women who sustained TBI experience in the work environment after vocational rehabilitation. A qualitative research design was used to explore these experiences and perceptions from ten female participants. The method of data collection used to access the experiences and perceptions of the participants was in-depth semi-structured interviews. Furthermore semi-structured interviews were conducted with two occupational therapist, who were selected as key informants. The data from the study was analysed using thematic analysis. The study further aimed to obtain the participants` perceptions and experiences of barriers and facilitators as well as adaptation processes that influenced their ability to resume their work roles. Four themes originated from the findings of this study. Theme one describes the barriers experienced by women with TBI while returning to work in the form of barriers to work participation for women with TBI, loss of functional capacity hindering return to work, experiences of negative stigma and exploitation in the workplace, and contextual hindrances in the form of parental roles as well as public transportation systems. Theme two describes the factors that facilitated the resumption of the work role for women with TBI. Reestablishing a worker identity by means of vocational rehabilitation, utilising the Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy (MOOSE) as an approach, enabled the women with TBI to overcome their barriers and return to work. Theme three describes an inherent adaptation process where participants could come to terms with their losses, accept the present self and aspire towards a future self, by utilising personalised response approaches to overcome demands and challenges in the work context as well as experiencing success at work by adapting to the work environment. Theme four describes the participants’ views of changes needed in the rehabilitation program and services as well as policies that would aid in the quick return of women with TBI to productive roles. These suggestions are discussed as attainable through developing a multi-dimensional rehabilitation program for women with TBI as well as partnering with relevant stakeholders in the promotion of work opportunities for women with disabilities. The Model of Occupational Adaptation (MOA) was used as a framework to interpret the findings of this study; the barriers, facilitators and adaptation process were assessed as they impact on the experiences of the women with TBIs return to work. The return to work of the women with TBI was not observed only to be influenced by the personal characteristics but also by the environmental context within which the return to work process took place.
Exploring the experiences of abused woman and their participation in entrepreneurial skills training programmes as a tool for empowerment of the self and their families in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Hlapa, Pamphilia Motopja; Soeker, Shaheed
South Africa as a country currently has the highest level of unemployment, as well as the utmost frequency of gender based violence perpetrated on women. This study explored how the use of an entrepreneurship development programme can be used to empower unemployed women with histories of abuse. While most women in South Africa have experienced some abuse in their lifetime, the burden of unemployment can render them helpless and disempowered. Most of them, raising their children alone while unemployed and living in poverty, experience life as a struggle with the inability to afford and provide life's basic necessities for themselves and their families. In an attempt to improve their quality of life, these women will look for help and assistance from any organisation that promises to offer them opportunities to remove themselves from poverty situations. With the existence of many NGOs that offer programmes geared towards empowering unemployed women, particularly those with vulnerability, there is always a need to ensure that such programmes deliver as promised. Therefore, it became necessary to explore whether women exhibit evidence of being empowered through skills after participating in a women empowerment programme.
Exploring the experiences of abused woman and their participation in entrepreneurial skills training programmes as a tool for empowerment of the self and their families in the Western Cape
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Hlapa, Pamphilia Motopja; Soeker, Shaheed
South Africa as a country currently has the highest level of unemployment, as well as the utmost frequency of gender based violence perpetrated on women. This study explored how the use of an entrepreneurship development programme can be used to empower unemployed women with histories of abuse. While most women in South Africa have experienced some abuse in their lifetime, the burden of unemployment can render them helpless and disempowered. Most of them, raising their children alone while unemployed and living in poverty, experience life as a struggle with the inability to afford and provide life's basic necessities for themselves and their families. In an attempt to improve their quality of life, these women will look for help and assistance from any organisation that promises to offer them opportunities to remove themselves from poverty situations. With the existence of many NGOs that offer programmes geared towards empowering unemployed women, particularly those with vulnerability, there is always a need to ensure that such programmes deliver as promised. Therefore, it became necessary to explore whether women exhibit evidence of being empowered through skills after participating in a women empowerment programme.
Exploring the experiences of rehabilitated stroke survivors and the perceptions of stakeholders with regard to stroke survivors returning to work in South-West Nigeria
(University of the Western Cape, 2013) Olaoye, Olumide Ayoola; Soeker, Shaheed; Olaogun, M O B
Stroke has been identified as a global cause of neurological disability with a resultant burden shared not only by the survivor but also by the society. The resumption of one’s role as a worker after having a stroke is an important rehabilitation goal. South-West, Nigeria has experienced high incidence and prevalence of stroke leaving a quarter of survivors with severe disability and difficulty in community integration after rehabilitation. As a disability resulting from a stroke could be viewed as being a dynamic interaction between the health condition and contextual factors, a client-centred approach should be focal to stroke management to facilitate return to work. Therefore, it became necessary to explore the return to work process from stroke survivors and stakeholder’s perspective in order to understand the challenges stroke survivors face while adapting to their worker roles, to improve service design and delivery as well as to facilitate the return to work after having a stroke. The study was aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of rehabilitated stroke survivors and perceptions of stakeholders about stroke survivors returning to work in South-West Nigeria. A qualitative research design was used to explore these experiences and perceptions from nineteen participants that comprised of nine stroke survivors, two key informants (rehabilitation specialists) and eight caregivers of the respective stroke survivor. Two methods of data collection were used by the researcher to access the perceptions and experiences of the participants. The researcher made use of focus groups with the caregivers while in-depth interviews were conducted with the stroke survivors and rehabilitation specialists. One pilot testing in-depth interview and eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with the stroke survivors and rehabilitation specialists while two focus group discussions were held with the eight caregivers consisting of four participants per group. The data from the study was analysed using thematic analysis. All data were managed manually. The study was further aimed at obtaining participants` perceptions and experiences of barriers and facilitators as well as adaptation processes that influenced the stroke survivors’ ability to resume their worker role. The findings were revealed in five themes. Theme one and two describes the barriers experienced by the stroke survivors while returning to work in the form of loss of former self and returning to work is a struggle. The resumption of the previous worker role by the stroke survivors was construed to be a contest which entails a struggle between the survivor, survivor’s job characteristics, rehabilitation intervention and stigma from the society. Poor access to rehabilitation interventions, inadequacy of treatment and poor insight of the stroke survivor regarding condition, job characteristics as well as social stigma related to the condition were observed as factors that posed great challenges to the participants. Theme three describes the factors that facilitated the resumption of the worker role for the stroke survivors. Engagement in rehabilitation as well as social support enabled the stroke survivors to overcome the barriers and returning to work. Theme four describes the adaptation strategies that enable the return to work for the stroke survivors. Theme four was described by an intrinsic adaptation process that involves the acceptance of the illness and being motivated to return to work and an extrinsic adaptation process that involves gradual work exposure, workplace and home adaptation. Theme five describes the participants’ perception of changes needed in the rehabilitation services and policies that would facilitate the quick return to work of the stroke survivor. Promoting participation of stroke survivors in work through government policies was observed to be a necessary recommendation for the study. These were seen to be achievable through the improvement of rehabilitation resources, enabling access to rehabilitation through financial assistance, change of the regulatory environment to accommodate for the disabled and the initiation of health promotion through public awareness campaigns in the community regarding stroke. The Person Environment Occupation model of occupational performance was used as a framework to interpret the findings of the study; the barriers, facilitators and adaptation process was placed into perspectives as they impacted on the experience of the stroke survivors ‘resumption of their worker role. The resumption of the worker role of the stroke survivors was observed not only to be influenced by the individual characteristics of the survivors but also by the environmental context within which the return to work process took place.
Exploring the perceptions and experiences of previously homeless persons regarding the impact of a work skills programme on their worker role
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) van der Pol, Petra; Soeker, Shaheed
Globally, high rates of homelessness exist and continue to grow, despite interventions offered by government and suggested by policy. Evidence suggests that long term intervention and vocational skill development can facilitate an escape from homelessness and support the transition of homeless persons into a worker role in the open labour market. Occupational therapists advocate for occupational justice in the lives of all individuals and therefore have a role to play in the intervention of the homeless who are experiencing disengagement in occupation, leading to a poor sense of well-being. The current study aims to describe and explore the experiences and perceptions of previously homeless individuals who escaped homelessness by means of a vocational skill development programme. The study explores the barriers and facilitators that the participants experienced in their change process and how the programme facilitated their adaptation to their worker role in the open labour market. A qualitative research design was employed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of ten participants who were purposively sampled. In addition, two occupational therapists were selected to participate as key informants. Written and informed consent was obtained and ethical standards were maintained throughout the study. The researcher collected data by recording semi-structured interviews, which were then transcribed. The transcribed information was analysed by use of thematic analysis, sorting the information into codes, categories and themes that emerged out of the findings. The themes looked at barriers experienced by the participants, facilitators experienced by the participants, motivational factors for engagement in the skill development programme and the usefulness of an occupational therapist as part of the intervention team. These themes were discussed, using the theory of Occupational Adaptation as well as the Trans-theoretical model of change. The researcher attempts to answer the objectives of the study by discussing the findings and themes that have emerged out of the data. Analysis of the findings suggest that if homeless persons are provided with vocational skill development, acceptance and support, mental health care and provision for sustenance needs, they can transition and adapt to a role in the open labour market and consequently experience an improvement in their sense of well-being. Occupational therapists are equipped to play an important role in the intervention of homelessness. Recommendations of the research focus on policy development, further research and intervention in homelessness. The researcher suggests that occupational therapy’s role in homelessness should be clearly defined and articulated. Research is also needed to prove the efficacy of long term development programmes as opposed to short term employment or training opportunities that may not prove to be sustainable.
I'm going back to work: perceptions and experiences of back rehabilitated clients regarding their worker roles
(University of the Western Cape, 2004) Soeker, Shaheed; Wegner, Lisa; Pretorius, Blanche; Dept. of Occupational Therapy; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
Clinical research has shown that patients experience difficulty in adjusting to their pre-morbid worker roles after they have been through a back rehabilitation programme. The pressure and competitiveness of modern day society to achieve competence and to survive has proven to be stressful, both for the injured and uninjured, the unemployed and employed. Back rehabilitation and the successful return of the injured worker to the workplace have been of great interest to industry for the last decade, due to the ever-increasing support of legislature for the injured. There is a range of medical interventions available but few of these achieve successful outcomes due in part to the fact that many intervention strategies do not take the patients perspectives into consideration. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore back rehabilitated clients perceptions and experiences of the challenges they face in adapting to their worker roles.
Meeting the occupational needs of recovering drug addicted adolescents
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Parker, Insauf; Soeker, Shaheed
The growing phenomenon of drug abuse has alerted the attention of health professionals, addiction counsellors, school educators, the media and community members. Susceptible sub groups of the population such as adolescents have been seriously affected as addiction destroys their identities, health, daily performance, family structure and ultimately results in social disintegration. Consequently, rehabilitation facilities have been established and addicts are entering the treatment system via referrals from school principals, the judiciary court or desperate parents and family members. Despite this, after having spent a reasonable amount of time and money in rehabilitation centres, relapse rates are significantly high and addicts are returning to treatment. The question was then raised as to whether recurrent relapses were as a result of their occupational needs not being met in treatment. To understand whether the occupational needs of these recovering adolescents are met, a true client-centred approach was employed. A descriptive approach was used within a qualitative research paradigm. The participants that were selected from four drug rehabilitation facilities in the Cape Town Metropolis, included 8 recovering drug addicted adolescents, 2 rehabilitation workers employed at two different facilities, and a sum of 26 parents of recovering addicts. Purposeful sampling was used for the adolescents and rehabilitation workers while convenient sampling was used for the parents. To access the perspectives and perceptions of the participants the researcher used individual semi-structured interviews for the recovering adolescents and drug rehabilitation workers, and focus groups for the parents. The data was analysed thematically using Lincoln & Guba’s (1985) method of qualitative data analysis. All data was managed manually. The objectives of the study explored perceptions of drug addicted adolescents with regard to relapse, to describe the barriers with regard to drug rehabilitation and their occupational needs, to reveal facilitators with reference to the recovery process, and to present suitable strategies which may improve drug treatment practice. Three themes were constructed based on the findings of the study. The themes were: 1) easy to get in, difficult to get out, 2) breakdown on life caused by drug addiction, and 3) moving forward towards recovery. Since adolescence is known as a transitional period characterised by identity development, adolescents are naturally influenced by their social and physical environment, particularly their peer groups at school and in the community. Consequently, adolescents enter treatment with numerous physical, psychological, social, intrapersonal, and legal needs. The constant pursuit of drugs and its lifestyle leads to dysfunction and imbalance in the individual’s daily performances with relapse remaining a common element in the recovery process. The lack of knowledge from participants pertaining to the concept of relapse was perceived as a barrier to recovery. The physical and social environment such as the general availability and accessibility of drugs in adolescent’s community, the unfavourable influence that peers and family relationships play, organisational challenges such as staff handling principles regarding their developmental stage and ineffective communication within the rehabilitation centre, and personal barriers including manipulative and behavioural difficulties, emerged as contra-indicative to the recovery process. Many of the recovering drug addicted adolescents were unable to cope with the array of needs and triggers, and found themselves relapsing and returning to the rehabilitation facility. Among the many facilitators as perceived by the participants, the actual programme at the rehabilitation centre was significant in promoting progress. If it included education groups, where clients are taught about substance abuse, relapse and how to restructure their lifestyle of recovery, it was deemed as beneficial. Another facilitator highlighted by the participants was the involvement of family by incorporating parent support sessions, and an interesting factor suc Recommendations for the study included that adolescents who abuse substances need to be treated very differently to adults or children, and that maintaining communication or a connection with them via aftercare for example, will enable them to sustain their sobriety outside of the rehabilitation facility. Since addiction affects the individual’s identity, roles, and habits on an occupational performance level it is paramount that treatment should be addressed from an occupation-based perspective in collaboration with existing evidence-based addiction models. Occupational therapists are uniquely equipped to deal with these components. h as including spirituality as a resource was raised as valuable in their recovery process.
Occupational self efficacy : an occupational therapy practice model to facilitate returning to work after a brain injury
(University of the Western Cape, 2010) Soeker, Shaheed; van Rensburg, Viki; Travill, Andre; Dept. of Sports, Recreation and Exercise Science; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
This qualitative study explored and described the lived experience of people with brain injuries with regard to resuming their worker roles. Based on the results, an occupational therapy practice model to facilitate return to work was developed. The theoretical framework of occupational science with emphasis on occupational risk factors informed the study. The research design was a theory generative design based on a qualitative, phenomenological, explorative and descriptive research approach utilizing the methods of theory generation as advocated by Chinn and Kramer (1999), Walker and Avant (2005) and Dickoff, James and Wiedenbach (1968).
The relationship between childhood exposure to substance use and substance use as an adult
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Herbert, Carmen; Soeker, Shaheed
It is a common fact that drug and alcohol abuse has become a complex problem with children in South Africa. There is also a risk that children of substance abusers will become substance abusers themselves. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between childhood exposure to substance use and substance use as an adult. The theory that was implemented in the study was the Social Learning Theory. The participants were obtained from an outpatient substance abuse treatment centre. A cross sectional study design was used whereby 192 participants were requested to complete an adapted version of the Child Exposure to Domestic Violence scale. The results of the study show that 48% of the respondents experienced exposure to substance abuse which they witnessed as a child. The results of the study indicated that past exposure to substance abuse accounted for a mean of 2.47. Respondents also responded in terms of exposure to parent/s that abused substances, which had a mean of 2.12. The results illustrated that there is a significant positive relationship between past experiences of substance abuse and current experiences of substance abuse within the total sample (r=.39, p:0.01). The study showed that for gender a positive relationship was found for males (r = .23, p:0.01) and for females (r = .34, p:0.01). In terms of family structure there was a significantly positive relationship, which for one parent was (r = .23, p: 0.05) and for two-parent families was(r = .38, p: 0.01). In conclusion early intervention strategies for children who are at risk and who are exposed to substance abuse, should be implemented.
The relationship between childhood exposure to substance use and substance use as an adult
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Herbert, Carmen; Soeker, Shaheed
It is a common fact that drug and alcohol abuse has become a complex problem with children in South Africa. There is also a risk that children of substance abusers will become substance abusers themselves. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between childhood exposure to substance use and substance use as an adult. The theory that was implemented in the study was the Social Learning Theory. The participants were obtained from an outpatient substance abuse treatment centre. A cross sectional study design was used whereby 192 participants were requested to complete an adapted version of the Child Exposure to Domestic Violence scale. The results of the study show that 48% of the respondents experienced exposure to substance abuse which they witnessed as a child. The results of the study indicated that past exposure to substance abuse accounted for a mean of 2.47. Respondents also responded in terms of exposure to parent/s that abused substances, which had a mean of 2.12. The results illustrated that there is a significant positive relationship between past experiences of substance abuse and current experiences of substance abuse within the total sample (r=.39, p:0.01). The study showed that for gender a positive relationship was found for males (r = .23, p:0.01) and for females (r = .34, p:0.01). In terms of family structure there was a significantly positive relationship, which for one parent was (r = .23, p: 0.05) and for two-parent families was(r = .38, p: 0.01). In conclusion early intervention strategies for children who are at risk and who are exposed to substance abuse, should be implemented.
The use of the Model of Occupational Self Efficacy in improving the cognitive functioning of individuals with brain injury: A pre- and post-intervention study
(IOS Press, 2017) Soeker, Shaheed
BACKGROUND: Individuals diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often experience major limitations in returning to work despite participating in rehabilitation programmes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine whether individuals who sustained a traumatic brain injury experienced improved cognitive functioning after participating in an intervention programme that utilizes the Model of Occupational Self-Efficacy (MOOSE). PARTICIPANTS: Ten (10) individuals who were diagnosed with a mild to moderate brain injury participated in the study. METHOD: The research study was positioned within the quantitative paradigm specifically utilizing a pre and post intervention research design. In order to gather data from the participants, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) was used to determine whether the individual with brain injury’s cognitive functioning improved after participating in a vocational rehabilitation model called the Model of Occupational Self Efficacy (MOOSE). RESULTS: All the participants in this study presented with an improvement in MOCA test scores. The results of the study revealed a statistically significant effect of the intervention (i.e. MOOSE) on cognitive functioning measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, F(4, 6) = 15.95, p = 0.002. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated that MOOSE is a useful model to facilitate the return of individuals living with a TBI back to work. It is also suggested that cognitive rehabilitative activities be included as part of the vocational rehabilitation programme.

Browsing by Author "Soeker, Shaheed"

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