Innovative Rehabilitation Solutions for Function and Participation Enhancement Lab
The overarching goal of the lab is to conduct innovative research in rehabilitation while focusing on Knowledge Translation (KT) of research findings into clinical practice in the field of rehabilitation. Research in the lab aims to deepen the understanding of various factors (body functions and structures, personal, cultural, environmental, and organizational factors) related to the daily functioning and participation of populations with various disabilities and diseases, ranging from acute conditions such as cancer, through chronic diseases like diabetes, physical orthopedic and neurological disabilities, and due to various traumatic injuries such as road accidents and war across the lifespan. Within the framework of the lab, we wish to add to the body of knowledge of occupation-focused and evidence-based therapy by developing and examining the effectiveness of occupation-focused rehabilitation interventions and innovative technologies in rehabilitation in ecological and controlled environments; and in my doctoral work, I developed and researched an occupation-based intervention program using tele-rehabilitation technologies. Independent of the postdoc, I established contact with leading researchers from abroad to continue deepening research in the field of occupational therapy and cancer. Today, collaboration continues with researchers in Israel and abroad, through the use of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods, including rigorous statistical analyses and qualitative interviews. In the future, I would like to integrate supervision, guidance, and research consultation for graduate students and expand research collaborations with researchers within and outside the faculty. Currently, several studies are being conducted within the lab: 1) a longitudinal study examining the effects of chemotherapy on the cognitive and daily functioning of cancer patients (comparison before and after chemotherapy, a follow-up study from the postdoc); 2) a study for the translation and validation of a questionnaire to characterize functional needs among cancer patients and the effectiveness of the questionnaire in identifying patients who need further evaluation and treatment in occupational therapy. The study is conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Indianapolis and the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the USA. For the next two years, additional studies are planned including: 3) development and examination of a Knowledge Translation (KT) process to improve the clinical use of tele-rehabilitation among occupational therapists in the healthcare system (a study based on a preliminary survey from the postdoc); 4) development and examination of the clinical application of a new hybrid rehabilitation software for practicing activities of daily living among people with orthopedic and neurological disabilities and following traumatic upper limb injuries. The requested equipment will enable the continuation and expansion of research to understand the various factors related to the daily functioning and participation of populations with various disabilities and illnesses both in the lab and in the person's natural environment or in the clinic (in rehabilitation) and for the development, examination of clinical application, and establishing evidence for rehabilitation software.