Mehdi Rassafiani | Charles Sturt University (original) (raw)

Papers by Mehdi Rassafiani

Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences, Aug 29, 2012

Archives of Rehabilitation, Jul 10, 2015

Concept Analysis of Occupational Therapy Handling in the Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Hybrid M... more Concept Analysis of Occupational Therapy Handling in the Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Hybrid Model Hamid Dalvand 1, Mehdi Rassafiani 2, *Seyyed Ali Hosseini 3, Seyyed Ali Samadi 4, Hamid Reza Khankeh 5 1. Department of Occupa􀆟onal Therapy, School of Rehabilita􀆟on, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. 2. Pediatric Neurorehabilita􀆟on Research Center, Department of Occupa􀆟onal Therapy, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilita􀆟on Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Occupa􀆟onal Therapy, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilita􀆟on Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of Nursing Educa􀆟on, School of Nursing, Faculty of Life and Health Science, University of Ulster, Jurdan Stown, Northern Ireland. 5. Department of Nursing, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilita􀆟on Sciences, Tehran, Iran A B S T R A C T Objective: This study aimed to analyze the concept of occupational therapy handling in the children with cerebral palsy from the perspective of occupational therapy instructors and clinicians in Iran. Materials & Methods: In this qualitative study, using hybrid model to clarify the concept of handling through three phases. For the theoretical phase, attributes of handling were recognized through a review of the literature (until February 2014), and six in-depth semi - structured interviews, two observations and one panel of experts were conducted for the fieldwork to develop attributes from the data and to verify those identified from the literature review. In the third phase attributes and final analysis of handling were extracted from the first and second phase. Results: The results were classified in five main categories that were identified as: (1) care of child, (2) management of treatment, (3) manual techniques, (4) education of activities of daily living (ADL), and (5) lifting and carrying. Core attributes of handling include 'control, safety, transfer and positioning'. Conclusion: It seems that the results of this study may help in clarifying the concept of handling in children with CP. In addition, by identifying the process, barriers and facilitative factors, and the concept of handling, occupational therapy instructors and therapists will be able to design and run their educational activities based on scientific findings which can provide them with the necessary conditions for education, learning and proper execution of handling in occupational therapy. Keywords: Child, Cerebral palsy, Handling, Occupational therapy,

International journal of therapy and rehabilitation, May 2, 2018

Background/Aims: There is no tool in Persian to examine quality of life for adolescents with cere... more Background/Aims: There is no tool in Persian to examine quality of life for adolescents with cerebral palsy based on their specific conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the caregivers' report of the Quality of Life questionnaire for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP QOL). Methods: In this psychometric measurement study, the CP QOL (caregivers' report) was translated into Persian, and then its content validity, and construct validity were examined. A convenience sample of subjects including 82 parents of adolescents with cerebral palsy (13–18 years) were recruited for this study. Then, the relationship between the participants' quality of life and their level of gross motor and hand function was assessed. Findings: Internal consistency for all the questions of the questionnaire were high (0.78–0.92). There was also a significant and weak correlation between all domains of quality of life and the adolescents' gross motor function and manual abilities. Conclusions: The Persian version of the caregivers' report of the CP QOL-Teen has acceptable content validity. It is a useful tool for evaluating the quality of life of adolescents with cerebral palsy.

PubMed, 2015

Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of chronic disability that restricts part... more Objective: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of chronic disability that restricts participation in daily life for children. Thereby, it is comprised of quality of life. Quality of life (QOL) measures have been a vital part of health outcome appraisals for individuals with CP and to obtain empirical evidence for the effectiveness of a range of interventions. The CP QOL-Child is a condition-specific QOL questionnaire designed for children with CP to assess well-being rather than ill-being. Materials & methods: Forward and backward translations of the CP QOL-Child were performed for: (1) the primary caregiver form (for parents of children with CP aged 4-12 years); and (2) the child self-report form (for children with cerebral palsy aged 9-12 years). Psychometric properties assessment included reliability, internal consistency, and item discrimination, construct validity with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) was done. SPSS was used to analyze the results of this study. Results: A sample of 200 primary caregivers forchildren with CP (mean = 7.7 years) and 40 children (mean = 10.2 years) completed. Internal consistency ranged from 0.61-0.87 for the primary caregivers form, and 0.64-0.86 for the child self-report form. Reliability ranged from 0.47-0.84. Item discrimination analysis revealed that a majority of the items (80%) have high discriminating power. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a distinguishable domain structure as in the original English version. Moderate associations were found between lower QOL and more severe motor disability(GMFCS; r = .18-.32; p < .05 and MACS; r= .13 - .40; p < .05). The highest correlation between the primary caregiver and child forms on QOL was in the domain of functioning and consistent with the English version. Conclusion: Content validity, item discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the Persian version of the CP QOL- Child were all acceptable. Further study of concurrent validity of this version is needed.

Archives of Rehabilitation, Mar 10, 2013

Journal of Clinical Research, Mar 20, 2017

Introduction: Mothers play an important role in the daily life of their children with cerebral pa... more Introduction: Mothers play an important role in the daily life of their children with cerebral palsy (CP). In this regard, maternal well-being can have a profound effect on the healthiness of their children and also their families. Therefore, this study aimed to explore facilitating and barring factors to the healthiness of mothers of children with CP. Methods: In this qualitative study which was conducted in Tehran a conventional qualitative content analysis was employed. Data were gathered from 25 individual interviews with 15 mothers of children with CP, 7 Iranian rehabilitation experts, a child with CP, an aunt of a child with CP and a father of a child with CP. The sampling technique used was the purposive sampling. The main sources of data were in-depth semistructured interviews. Constant comparative analysis was employed for data analysis. Results: Three categories emerged from the analysis of the data, including: characteristics of mother-child, other influential people on the healthiness; resources and environmental accessibility. Conclusion: The results showed that key factors for maintaining mothers' healthiness include: mother-child healthiness status, people having direct contact, resources and environmental accessibility. These factors are suggested to be taken into consideration in providing health maintenance services.

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Feb 1, 2018

Background Mothering co-occupations in caring for children with cerebral palsy (CP) are very chal... more Background Mothering co-occupations in caring for children with cerebral palsy (CP) are very challenging for mothers but play an important role in the daily life of children with CP. This study aimed to explore the mothering co-occupations process in caring for children with CP at home in an Iranian context. Materials and Methods A grounded theory approach was recruited using semi-structured interviews. The participants were 14 caregivers, 3 children with CP, 5 occupational therapists, 1 physiotherapist and 3 managers of rehabilitation centers. Participants selected through purposeful sampling followed by theoretical sampling and was continued until saturation. Trustworthiness of the study was examined throughout credibility, transferability, conformability and dependency. The Data were analyzed base on the Corbin and Straus method (2008). Results The results were grouped into seven main categories: motherly care, coping with unusual cooccupation, confusion with the roles being played, trying to meet special care needs, managing dynamic co-occupations, continuing care and an inefficient environment. "Coping with unusual cooccupation" was extracted as the core concept. Conclusion Understanding the challenges of caring for a child with CP and the experiences of mothers when engaging in caring with their child can also help them to be empowered for achieving the proper management and effective care. The results of this research could provide a broader perspective to therapists; rehabilitation managers and policy makers for understanding the needs, meeting challenges and concerns of caregivers and children with CP, for a comprehensive plan for caring of children with CP.

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Mar 1, 2014

Objective: This study was to determine the impact of home adaptation on developmental stage of ch... more Objective: This study was to determine the impact of home adaptation on developmental stage of children with cerebral palsy aged 15-60 months old. Materials & Methods: In this experimental single-blinded study, forty children with cerebral palsy (15-60 months old) were recruited from some of Tehran clinics based on inclusion criteria, and after matching for child age, type of clinic, type of cerebral palsy, IQ score, GMFCS level and number of occupational treatment sessions, the children were assigned randomly into two groups: intervention and control. For data collection, a Demographic Information Questionnaire and Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) Test were used. Data were collected in two steps: before the intervention and 3 months after intervention. For intervention, the researcher went to participants' home and explained the training related to handling for caregivers and adapted home in a 4-hour session. During 3 months, researcher would follow up to implement the intervention. Finally data were analyzed using 1sample k-s, independent sample t test, 2independent samples, general linear model. Results: There was significant differences in developmental level in total of two groups in 3 months after intervention than before intervention (p<0.015). Conclusion: In this study it is concluded that home adaptation and handling training on caregivers in home improves developmental stage in 15-60 months old cerebral palsy children.

Journal of Rehabilitation

Objective The current study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of Contextual I... more Objective The current study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of Contextual Intervention Adapted For Autism Spectrum Disorders (CI-ASD) in occupational performance of developing ASD children and their mothers' self-efficacy. This intervention includes three components of mothers' coaching, children's sensory processing patterns, and social support of mothers. It is presented through group training sessions and individual coaching sessions using reflective questions and discussions for mothers. This intervention helps mothers to find ways to achieve their therapeutic goals. Materials & Methods This is a single-subject pilot study with ABA interrupted time-series design. The study was conducted on three mothers of children with ASD referred to Navid-e-asr rehabilitation center in Tehran, Iran in spring 2017. The participants were selected based on the inclusion criteria (children aged 3-10 years and having at least one sensory processing problem, mothers with a school diploma or higher and having sufficient ability to understand and speak Persian). We conducted the study for 18 weeks in three stages. At the first stage (baseline), the participants received Treatments As Usual (TAU) for 4 weeks. During the intervention (stage 2), besides TAU, the participants received CI-ASD for 10 weeks, including two sessions of group training for one week and 9 sessions of individualized coaching for 9 weeks. At stage 3 (follow-up), the participants received TAU again for 4 weeks. The intervention was performed by occupational therapists with 20 years of experience in the field of pediatric rehabilitation. Measurements were performed at four phases: before stage 1 (pre-test 1), after stage 1 (pre-test 2), after stage 2 (post-test), and after stage 3 (follow-up). We measured the child's occupational performance by the Canadian occupational performance measure and goal attainment scaling questionnaires. The mothers' self-efficacy was measured by the parent self-efficacy measure. We conducted a semi-structured interview after completing the intervention period to explore the acceptability of treatment and participants' experiences. The data are reported in the form of tables, graphs, and visual analysis of different stages of research. Results Two of three mothers showed considerable improvement in terms of children's occupational perfor

International Journal of Life Science and Pharma Research

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of aquatic therapy program on functional ba... more The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of aquatic therapy program on functional balance and walking capacity in children with cerebral palsy. The sample consisted of six children (4 boys and 2 girls) with cerebral palsy. The average age of the participants was 7 year 4 months Â± 1y 2mo (Mean Â±SD). All the children were able to walk independently with or without assistive devices. Gross Motor Function Classification System levels of the participants were I to III. This scale divides walking ability into 5 levels. The aquatic program lasted for 8 weeks and twice per week. Each session lasted for 50 minutes, comprising 10 minutes of warm-up and stretching and 40 minutes of walking in the pool at different levels of water depth. Each child started walking at nipple height water every five minutes the depth of water was decreased by 1 inch. Functional balance (pediatric balance scale) and walking capacity (1minute walk test) were evaluated before and after intervention. C...

Iranian Journal of Ageing, 2014

ObjecƟ ve The purpose of the present study was to analyze the concept of occupaƟ onal therapy han... more ObjecƟ ve The purpose of the present study was to analyze the concept of occupaƟ onal therapy handling in the children with cerebral palsy from the perspecƟ ve of occupaƟ onal therapy instructors and clinicians in Iran. Materials and Methods In this qualitaƟ ve study, the hybrid model was used in three phases to analyze the concept of handling in the children with cerebral palsy. In the theoreƟ cal phase, we conducted a review of relevant arƟ cles published unƟ l the year 2014 in authenƟ c databases. In the fieldwork phase, the sampling was done randomly through deep and semi-structured interviews with six clinical therapists and meeƟ ng with the presence of 11 therapists and two observaƟ ons in clinic. Then, the results were written and the content was analyzed. In the final phase, the two previous phases were generally analyzed. Results The results were classified in five main categories as: (1) care of child, (2) management of treatment, (3) manual techniques, (4) educaƟ on of ac...

Arak Medical University Journal, 2016

TITEL: Exploring the Process of Mothering Handling Training for the Child with Cerebral Palsy at ... more TITEL: Exploring the Process of Mothering Handling Training for the Child with Cerebral Palsy at Home Author(s): Hamid Dalvand, Mehdi Rassafiani, Seyed Ali Hosseini *, Seyyed Ali Samadi , Hamid Reza Khankeh Associate Professor, Educational Department of Occupational Therapy, Pediatric Neuvorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , alihosse@gmail.com Study Type: Original Atricle | Subject: General | Received: 2015/07/5 - Accepted: 2015/11/10 - Published: 2016/02/17 Abstract Background: Mothering handling plays an important role in the daily life of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their mothers, so that the greatest amount of handling of children with CP is done by the mothers at home. The study aimed to explore the process of mothering handling in the children with CP at home. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory methodology in Tehran. The purposeful sampling followed by t...

Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies, 2017

Author Address 1. PhD Candidate, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and ... more Author Address 1. PhD Candidate, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2. Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3. Associate Professor, Dept. of Neurology, School of Medicine, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran; 4. Associate Professor, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 5. Faculty Member, Department of occupational therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran. *Corresponding Author Address: Department of occupational therapy, faculty of rehabilitation sciences, Hamedan University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Fahmideh Avenue, Hamedan, Iran. *Tel: +98 (81)38381571; *E-mail: saharnurani@yahoo.com

Iranian Journal of Child Neurology, 2020

Objective The current study aimed to examine the effect of the combined administration of active ... more Objective The current study aimed to examine the effect of the combined administration of active vestibular interventions and occupational therapy on balance and the relationship between balance changes and Activity of Daily Living in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP). Materials & Methods Twenty-four children with Spastic CP, at the level I and II (according to the “Gross Motor Function Classification System) aged 7-12 years were enrolled and randomly assigned into control and intervention groups. Pediatric Balance Scales and Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency II were employed to assess the functional balance changes as well as Force Plate (eyes closed and open) to assess changes in the parameters of balance (e.g. center of pressure excursion). The activity of Daily Living was assessed by “Activity Scales for Kids (performance version)”. Participants in the intervention group received active vestibular intervention for 20 min and a regular occupational therapy...

Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies, 2016

Author Address: 1. MSc in Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, The Universit... more Author Address: 1. MSc in Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, The University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran; 2. PhD in Occupational Therapy, Iranian Research Center on Aging, The University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran; 3. PhD in Occupational Therapy, Department of Occupational Therapy, The University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran; 4. PhD in Occupational Therapy, Iranian Research Center on Aging, The University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran; 5. PhD in Occupational Therapy, Iranian Research Center on Aging, The University of social welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran. *Corresponding Author Address: Varamin, Dolat street, Rezvan street, Rezvan 5 allay, Number 8;* Tel: 02188772507; E-mail: Mgh_2394@yahoo.com

Journal of Rehabilitation, 2020

Objective: Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Due... more Objective: Cerebral Palsy is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Due to the increase in the number of students with Cerebral Palsy (CP) entering ordinary schools and facing problems with independent functioning, there is a need for a valid and comprehensive assessment tool for their successful entry as well as providing a proper treatment plan. The School Function Assessment (SFA), by measuring many school-related functional skills, can identify the strengths and weaknesses affecting the students’ independence and participation in school assignments. It has 320 items and three main parts of participation, task support, and activity performance. The test score can be reported in general or based on each part, separately. The purpose of this study is to examine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the SFA in children with CP. Materials & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with methodological design. The study population consists of ...

Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2020

Background: Mothers of moderately to severely affected children with cerebral palsy (CP) have to ... more Background: Mothers of moderately to severely affected children with cerebral palsy (CP) have to spend a long time to take care of their children. This time-consuming responsibility affects their physical and psychosocial health. Therefore, mothers as caregivers are required to receive special training to take care of their children. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a developed web-based intervention for daily care training of children with CP on their mothers' quality of life (QOL), anxiety, depression, stress, and their musculoskeletal pain. Methods and procedures: This study was a single blind randomized controlled trial. 91 mothers of children with CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III, IѴ, and Ѵ, who aged from 4 to 12 years were assigned to the intervention and control groups using block randomization. Mothers in the control group received their routine face to face occupational therapy intervention and mothers in the intervention group received 12 weeks web-based intervention. QOL, depression, anxiety, stress, and pain were measured before and after the intervention in both groups. Outcomes and results: The results of analysis of covariance showed that after controlling the mean score of pretest of pain, the mean score of post-tests in the intervention and control groups was significantly different (P < 0.05). The mean scores of physical health and total QOL scores of post-tests in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group with controlling pretest scores. Conclusions and implications: Designed web-based intervention affects the caregivers' QOL and pain significantly. This intervention can be used to provide daily care training for mothers of children with CP.

Early Child Development and Care, 2020

The purpose of the study was to evaluate fineand gross-motor development and basic cognitive skil... more The purpose of the study was to evaluate fineand gross-motor development and basic cognitive skills in 3-18 month-olds in relation to home factors, age and weight. Three hundred and seventy mother-child dyads were recruited. For age, two groups were analyzed: 3-11 months and 12-18 months. Motor and basic cognitive skills were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3). Home were evaluated using the Affordance in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS). In the 3-11 month old group regarding home factors, 'daily activity' predicted fineand gross-motor skill. Results for the 12-18 month old group were different; gross-motor toys (GMT) and fine-motor toys (FMT) were significant predictors of motor and basic cognitive skills. Our findings suggest that during the first year, parental stimulation was a primary component, whereas toy availability during the second year played an important role in overall developmental status.

Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 2017

Studies around the world have shown that having a child with disability impacts a mother's time u... more Studies around the world have shown that having a child with disability impacts a mother's time use. The purpose of this study was to compare the time use of mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with mothers of typically developing children. Methods: Eighty-four Iranian mothers (42 with ASD children and 42 with typically developing children) completed the Mothers' Time Use Questionnaire (MTUQ). Results: Mothers of ASD children spent more time doing childcare activities (P<0.001), but no significant differences were found in time spent in self-care, rest/sleep, leisure, household chores, job or social participation activities. Furthermore, quality and enjoyment of daily activities were significantly lower in mothers of children with ASD compared to mothers of typically developing children. Discussion: Mothers of ASD children are more prone to having an imbalanced life. Hence, there is a need for occupational therapists to work in partnership with mothers to support their occupational engagement and life satisfaction.