Country members/ Sweden / Newsletter
Background The Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists (FSA) has established a grant award in the name of Inga-Britt Lindström to recognize her long commitment and unwavering effort as the president of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists from 1978 until 2008. During this time, Inga-Britt Lindström has promoted occupational therapy – the development of teaching, research and clinical practice – with great dedication in Sweden and throughout the world. The award foundation is based upon annual allocations from FSA as well as contributions from individual FSA members and other interests in Sweden. Grant Applicants FSA invites applications from foreign occupational therapists and occupational therapy students. The grant is offered to individuals or teams from countries where occupational therapy is under development. Purpose and use The purpose of the grant is to support the development of occupational therapy in the applicant’s native country. It’s function is intended to promote the obtaining of knowledge of occupational therapy through participation in national and international workshops, seminars and conferences, as well as travel to Sweden for education, research and/or practical studies. Thus, the grant is anticipated to be used to supplement in part the costs associated with activities such as: - expenditures incurred during studies in Sweden at the doctorate or masters level related to research and education in occupational therapy. - presenting an abstract at WFOT or COTEC congresses. - visits to Sweden aimed at gathering extensive knowledge of occupational therapy practice. - attending relevant courses/seminaries in occupational therapy in their native country. Duration of grant period The activity/project should be carried out during 2010 or 2011. Application The application should contain an accurate description of the use of the grant and expected positive results. A specific application form has to be filled out (see enclosure). Closing date for the application submission is September 1, 2010. Any application received after this date will not be considered. A curriculum vitae should also be enclosed with the application form. The grant The maximum amount of the grant is 10 000 Swedish kronor (SEK) per year. A selected jury including Inga-Britt Lindström, will choose the winner/s/ of the grant. The grant winner/s/ will be provided a certificate recognizing their achievement. Payment of grant The grant is allocated to the applicant after the activity/project has been carried out. Notification of grant recipient The grant recipients will be notified in writing. The grant will be awarded at the FSA General Council Meeting in November 2010. Report - Publicity After the activity/project has been carried out, the applicant is obliged to present a written project report including conclusions and results. The report should be sent within two months after the implementation. The applicant also allows FSA permission to publish a shortened version of the report in the FSA member journal and on the FSA website. Questions Please contact Tina Sandulf at the FSA office, Box 760, 13124 Nacka, Sweden, e-mail: tisa.fsa@akademikerhuset.se or phone: +46 8 466 24 48
News from Sweden Febr 2009
A significant change in the life of occupational therapy in Sweden occurred recently when Inga-Britt Lindtröm, stepped down from her position as the president of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists on the 31th of Dec 2008. Inga-Britt has been president for more than 30 years. Inga-Britt’s trademark of excellence and outstanding performance throughout her career has had a significant impact on OT development in Sweden, primarily through promotion of the profession and through education of occupational therapists. She has also had a substantial impact on global perspectives concerning the profession. Her long standing and continued contributions particularly in Latvia, Estonia and Russia are well documented.
Her contributions to the development of occupational therapy were formally acknowledged in 2001 when the Latvian Association of Occupational Therapists awarded her the title of Honorary Fellow and nominated her for the award “Honorary Doctor of RSU in 2005.
She is, as well, an honorary member of the Academic Association of Estonian Occupational Therapists. In 2005 the Russian Association of Occupational Therapists awarded her with the title Honorary Fellow. And formally she was presented with the Honorary Fellow award in 2008 at the WFOT Council Meeting.
Inga-Britt lobbied politicians and medical staff as well as university and government representatives diligently, explaining the relevance and need of occupational therapy in all societies. She was, without doubt, pivotal in ensuring the development and sustainability of the occupational therapy profession both within and outside of Sweden’s borders.
During her presidency, Inga-Britt has actively aided in developing our growing profession from a college education to a respected university discipline. Today in Sweden, occupational therapy is well recognized as a practice built on sound scientific foundations. Association membership has grown over the years from approximately 500 members to today’s nearly
10, 000 members. In addition, more then 90 % of all Swedish occupational therapists are association members, this, in great part, due to Inga-Britts’ devoted work.
Recognised academics and occupational therapists from within Sweden and from around the world celebrated Inga-Britt on November 13-15, 2008 during a dinner party at our General Council Meeting.
Delegates from all over Sweden were also present at this General Council Meeting and a new strategic agenda for the coming years 2009- 2016 were approved as well as the adoption of our strategic plan of action for the years 2009 – 2010. This strategic plan, based on an agenda for the future; a sort of map of the world around OT, attempts to identify future needs for occupational therapy. Focus areas such as economy and politics; education and research; society and culture; patient/clients; and working life are investigated followed by statements. Based on this map, five strategy areas have been identified that outline future demands on the profession. These five areas are Professional services; Requirement and demand; Work satisfaction; as well as Strengths; and Services of the association. The strategic agenda is available in English on our webpage: www.fsa.akademikerhuset.se/english
New elections were held at the meeting, Lena Haglund, Associate Professor at the University of Linkoping was elected as president and Kajsa Sandberg and Karin Söderberg were elected as new vice presidents of the Swedish association. A further eight delegate were elected for two years. Agneta Carlsson, was re-elected as COTEC delegate.
Today in Sweden, new guidelines for health care practice from a general perspective are under development. Guidelines for stoke have already been updated and formally presented. Guidelines for anxiety and depression and range of motion disabilities are presently under construction. Many occupational therapists are involved in updating and developing these guidelines. The association considers such guidelines very important for the future of our profession; by using recommendations in these guidelines we can profile the value of our contributions and improvements to the health care service of tomorrow.
The Swedish Occupational Therapy Forum (At-forum), arranged by the Swedish OT association opens in the beginning of May and lasts for three days. During the first two days, presentations, mini seminars and posters are presented. On the third convention day special seminars and lectures from graduating specialists in occupational therapy will be held.
News from Sweden in September 2008
The studies at the eight OT programmes in Sweden have started in August. This autumn the OT programmes offered in total 284 admission places. 445 students have applied for these places in the first place. For all counties it is important to have many student applicants for the programmes. The FSA are working intensively in different ways, in order to market the OT programmes in Sweden. Recently, we updated the folder “Guide to the OT educational programmes”, which is presenting the opportunities of our profession and information from the eight study places. This folder is spread to study counsellors in Sweden and at different student trade fairs.
In Sweden 100 OT’s now have defended their doctor’s thesis! The 100rd was Christel Leufstadius at Lund University, with the doctor thesis named “Spending my time - time use and meaningfulness in daily occupations as perceived by people with persistent mental illness”. This event was given special attention with a jubilee seminar in August.
This autumn the FSA also has started the fifth specialist education programme for occupational therapists with 11 course participants. The specialist education contains 40 credits/weeks and consists of obligatory and optional courses divided between courses related to the profession, functions and specialists. Up today, we in all have 35 council certified specialists in occupational therapy in Sweden.
In Sweden we will held the annual Day of Occupational Therapy on 16 October. The theme of the day will be “Balance”. The aim of this day is to spread the knowledge about OT’s and the profession. Hopefully this, together with other efforts, leads to greater demand for OT’s and higher salary for their important work. A special number of our member journal will be published. Prior to this event we will also publish a separate enclosure in one daily newsletter in Sweden.
Much of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists’ work is focused on our Council Meeting, which will be held by the middle of November, with representatives from all 31 local branches. Items for the agenda will, among other things, be: decision about the strategic agenda for the year of 2009-2016 as well as the strategic plan for 2009-2010, proposals for future projects: equality, education and research and OT efforts for the client’s relatives.
News from Sweden in May 2008
Much of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists’ work is right now focused on our Council Meeting, which will be held in November, with representatives from all 31 local branches. Items for the agenda will, among other things, be: decision about the strategic agenda for the year of 2009-2016 as well as the strategic plan for 2009-2010, proposals for future projects: equality, education and research and OT efforts for the client’s relatives.
The Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists arranges a Specialist training in clinical competence. The Specialist training contains of 40 credits/weeks and the final course “The professional role as specialist” is carried out by our association. We now have 35 Council certified specialists in occupational therapy in Sweden with the speciality in following areas: Health care (20), Development disabilities (8), Work (6) and Ageing (1). In Sweden about 100 OT’s have defended their doctor’s thesis.
The Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists has together with the Swedish Physiotherapy Association launched a new study circle with the theme “Conversation about open prioritisations”. The study material handles with questions as priority work, the ethical platform, ICF as support and reflecting discussions.
In our member journal we have, so far, had three interesting themes this year: “Towards a new rehabilitation chain for persons on the sick-list” (a national work on Governmental level), “Activity and communication with computer aids” and “Aging care – increased cooperation between different health care professions”.
In Sweden we will held the annual Day of Occupational Therapy on 16 October. The theme of the day will be “Balance”. The aim of this day is to spread the knowledge about OT’s and the profession. Hopefully this, together with other efforts, leads to greater demand for OT’s and higher salary for their important work.
At last, we would like to welcome you all to Stockholm on 24-27 May 2012. The Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists has been appointed as host nation for the 9th European Congress of Occupational Therapists in 2012. Please follow the information on the website www.cotec2012.se
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Annual OT day in October 2009
On the 15th of October 2009, the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists (FSA) and the OT’s in Sweden, had our annual Occupational Therapy Day. “Creative Solutions” was the theme of the day. Articles related to the theme were published in our journal. The articles exemplified how occupational therapy students cooperate with engineering students to design new products. We also published a number of stories that creatively describe how clients and their occupational therapists solve problems. The journal’s theme number was printed in large quantities and distributed as promotional material designed to inform others of our profession. The day was observed in many different ways. In some districts, guest speakers lectured on specific topics and in northern Sweden lectures were sent digitally to places where distance is great between OT’s. The day’s activities concluded with “flash mobs” in different cities. This initiative came from our student association.
Course for members holding union positions
In autumn 2009 FSA offered all OT’s, who work as presidents at local levels, or who hold other union positions, a one week course in union work. 68 occupational therapists participated in total and the course was greatly appreciated by all. It is our belief that pivotal local members should meet and discuss the future of our field in order for OT’s to best serve society. These volunteers contribute greatly to the work of the association.
An increase in the number of FSA members in 2009
Happily, the number of FSA members was increasing with 2,5% in 2009. The number of student members increased the most - the student recruitment efforts gave good result. By the end of 2009 we had 9.700 members of whom the “working OT’s” are 7 832.
Education and research in Sweden
We have now reached the level of 10 full professors in Sweden. As well, two universities were occupational therapy research is very active, have received large scholarships for the next 4 years. One of these research departments is lead by renowned occupational therapy professor, Lena Borell at the Karolinska Institute. Furthermore, our former union president, Inga-Britt Lindström, has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg.
In Sweden we now also have 46 Council Certified Specialists in Occupational Therapy. The information about the FSA course “Specialist Training in Clinical Competence”, has been translated info English and can be found on our website www.fsa.akademikerhuset.se – see headline English.
The COTEC congress in Stockholm in 2012
The planning work for the COTEC congress in Stockholm on 24-27 May 2012 is now in action. The information about the congress can be followed on website: www.cotec2012.se .
Changes in the Swedish social security system
The concept of work ability has been under nationwide investigation primarily due to changes and limitations in our social security system. How the result of investigations will influence work for our profession is yet unknown. It is considered a prioritised area for our association to actively follow up.
Guidelines for treatment for different diagnoses
Guidelines for treatment for different diagnoses are still under progress. FSA is strongly involved in this process. Currently on the agenda is the investigation of treatment methods for people with dementia and psychosis.
Lena Haglund
President of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists
The Inga-Britt Lindström grant award 2010