Research Projects
Project 1 - An audit of a new occupational therapy service in St. Bridget's Hospital, Ardee, Co Louth.
Summary
On the initiative of clinical staff in St. Brigid’s Hospital Ardee, a draft proposal outlining a new occupational therapy service for the hospital was prepared in September 2007 by Dr. Siobhan MacCobb, and Ms Joan Brangan, Discipline of Occupational Therapy.
The aims were:
- To introduce an occupational therapy service to clients in Ardee Adult Mental Health Service which would improve client's skills in managing their mental health, wellbeing and lifestyle.
- To measure change in each service user through the use of relevant outcome measures, interviews and observation.
The HSE agreed to employ two occupational therapists for a period of 6 months, beginning in mid November 2007. As part of this review, research was carried out towards the end of the six month pilot project to determine the extent to which the occupational therapy service met its target objectives from the perspectives of service users and staff. Results are currently being analyzed but appear to be overwhelmingly positive from both client and staff perspectives.