Eva Ejlersen Wæhrens’s research while affiliated with University of Southern Denmark and other places

Background Stress, particularly prevalent during adolescence, is linked to negative outcomes like anxiety and depression. Without support, it can impact education, employability, and social relations as it is closely associated with resilience and adaptive capacity. However, it is unknown how adolescents who experience stress perceive and engage in daily occupations. Aims/Objectives To explore occupations among adolescents aged 16–20 years, reporting feelings of stress. Specifically, to investigate if adolescents reporting feeling stressed experience challenges related to daily occupations including self-care, household chores, work/school, and leisure. Additionally, to determine, if they consider these occupations significant, and if there are differences between younger and older adolescents? Material and methods : This study was designed as a cross-sectional online survey including Danish adolescents aged 16 to 20 years, who had experienced stress within the past month. Results A total of 322 respondents participated in the study, reporting a range of occupations as both significant and challenging. Among these, schoolwork emerged as particularly prominent. Notable age-related differences were observed in the perceived significance of occupations. Conclusions/Significance Stressed adolescents face challenges in daily occupations across all four categories, highlighting the importance of managing time and resources to support occupational balance. Age-related differences suggest the need for context-specific support.

Background The assistive technology (AT) service delivery process is complex and includes a comprehensive assessment of the citizen’s situation to inform decision making. This assessment is required by Danish law to ensure that citizens receive solutions matched to their needs, including other services than the AT. Aim To investigate how Danish occupational therapists, involved in the AT service delivery process, perform the comprehensive assessment. Material and methods The study is a cross-sectional survey. The target population was occupational therapists providing AT through the AT service delivery process in municipal units. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results The sample included n = 206 Danish occupational therapists completing the questionnaire. Participants represented the five regions in Denmark. Variations were seen across age, years of working experience, and years in current position. Fifty nine percent of the participants often used telephone interviews, and 74% reported to do home visits to gather information as part of the assessment process. During home visits, participants typically combined methods of interview and observation. Most participants reported not using standardised assessment tools, or not using them in their full length. Almost 80% reported having no guidelines about tool(s) to be used at their workplace. Overall, participants were satisfied with the assessment process. Conclusions When Danish occupational therapists perform comprehensive assessments to ensure that citizens receive solutions matched to their needs, including other services than the AT, the assessment approach and methods employed vary across therapists, since local guidelines for assessment and the use of standardised assessment tools are sparse. Significance To support a high-quality comprehensive assessment process, also ensuring a sustainable client-centred process, a standard minimum guideline is recommended within the Danish AT service delivery system.