Browsing by Author "Yucel, Hulya"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2

How Have Occupational Therapy Services Been Delivered During the COVID-19 Pandemic
(Nova Southeastern Univ., 2024) Yucel, Hulya; Aydoner, Selen
The provision of traditional healthcare services has encountered obstacles due to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The inability of healthcare professionals and clients to survive the pandemic and the inadequacy of personal protective equipment have created uncertainties regarding the appropriate practices for addressing individuals' health conditions. Furthermore, the field of rehabilitation, including occupational therapy, has experienced changes in the delivery of traditional practices. Therefore, this review aimed to examine occupational therapy services delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the literature review, the most commonly provided services by occupational therapists during COVID-19 were discussed and a total of 87 references were accessed. These services were grouped under the headings of acute/intensive care unit, post-COVID-19, telerehabilitation, preventive mental health, school-based occupational therapy, occupational therapy education, and ergonomics. It was seen that occupational therapists had several challenges during the pandemic. They had to adapt their interventions according to the new conditions and so they have frequently used technology. It is crucial for the effectiveness of the rehabilitation that occupational therapy services continue in challenging and unexpected situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It is necessary to strengthen future occupational therapy practices based on standards through collaboration among occupational therapists. It is believed that this review will shed light on the role and importance of occupational therapy during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
Relationship of Handwriting Skills With Cognitive Functions and Sensory Processing in the Older Adults
(Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2025) Sirma, Gamze Cagla; Yucel, Hulya
Aims: Handwriting involves complex processes, including cognitive function and sensory processing. Cognitive function and sensory processing change with aging. However, the relationship between these parameters remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between cognitive function and sensory processing with handwriting skills in the older adults. Methods: Fifty-six community-dwelling individuals aged 65-75 years completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and handwriting tasks. Results: The mean age was 70.62 +/- 3.49 years. The strongest correlations were observed between MoCA and the handwriting subtest. Low registration, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding were positively correlated with handwriting subtests. Moreover, the results showed that these skills were also predictive of older adults' handwriting skills (p < 0.05). Conclusions: It is crucial for occupational therapists and physiotherapists to integrate handwriting skill assessment into their clinical settings in terms of its relationship with cognitive and sensory processing.