Dr.Rassafiani Mehdi

 

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MEHDI  RASSAFIANI

IROTA Delegate to WFOT (First Alter)

Department of Occupational Therapy,

The University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

Kodakyar St, Daneshjo Blvd, Evin, Tehran, Iran, Post code: 1985713831

Tel work + 98 (21) 2218 0063 mrassafiani@yahoo.com m.rassafiani@uswr.ac.ir

 

 

Education

 ·    PhD in Occupational Therapy, 2006 The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Dissertation: “Expert Occupational Therapists’ Decisions about the Management of

Upper Limb Hypertonicity in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy”

·    Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, 1997 The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Thesis: “Power strength in school aged children”

·    Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, 1990 Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  

Awards and Honours/Appreciation

 ·    Ministry of Health and Education Scholarship (Iran) to study in PhD program,2002-2006.

 ·    Service award for servicing the clients; Assistant Director for Therapeutics and Rehabilitation, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2001.

·    Service  award  for management  of the Department  of Occupational  Therapy; President, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, 1996.

 

Membership

·    Iranian Occupational Therapy Association (IROTA).

·    Iranian Occupational Therapy Evaluation and Examination Board

·    IROTA Alternative Delegate to World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).

·    The Society of Judgement and Decision Making.

Research Experience

 

Chief  investigator:  CP  Quality  of  life  instrument:  investigating  its  validity  and reliability in Persian, 2009-present.

Senior Research Assistant: Research project: Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project (DP0664847), Teachers Reporting Child Sexual Abuse: Towards Evidence-based Reform of Law, Policy and Practice), School of Early Childhood, Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology, 2007-present.

·     Developing   a   new   research   questionnaire   in   eight   sections   including knowledge,  attitude  and  scenarios  sections.  The  process  of  development attitude scale will be submitted to a peer reviewed journal in the near future.

·     Designing   and   completing   three   pilot   studies   to   validate   the  research questionnaire.

·     Designing a database for data entry to reduce errors.

·     Using statistical analysis software (i.e., MLwiN and SPSS) to investigate the percentage of variance at teacher and school levels (multilevel analysis).

·     Submitting one manuscript for publication.

Project officer: Working on two research projects include: “clients’ use of splints prescribed  by occupational  therapists”  and  “the  effectiveness  of  hand  splints  for people with acquired brain injury” (Supervisour: Dr Jodie Copley, University of Quensland), 2007.

·     Analysing qualitative focus group data,

·     Analysing quantitative data analysis at both a participant group and individual case study level

·     Constructing  a  literature  review  on  the  barriers  and  supports  to  clients  in carrying out therapists’ recommendations.

Doctoral Research: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Queensland,

2002-2006  (Research  adviser:  Dr  Jenny  Ziviani,  Dr  Sylvia  Rodger,  Dr  Lenard

Dalgleish).

·     Studying “Expert Occupational Therapists’ Decisions about the Management of  Upper  Limb  Hypertonicity  in  Children  and  Adolescents  with  Cerebral Palsy”

·     Designing  five research phases  that  involved: identifying  influential factors and appropriate measures for each factor; and developing 90 case scenarios (vignettes) to investigate the influential factors on therapists’ decision making, using mix quantitative and qualitative methods.

·     Using  advanced  data  analysis  such  as  regression  and  cluster  analysis  to identify influential factors, as well as a novel empirical approach (CWS) to examine therapists’ level of expertise and its predictors.

·     Publishing  five peer-reviewed  papers in national  and international  journals, and seven oral and poster presentations.

·     Power Strength in School Aged Children (6-11 year old) in Tehran.

·     A Pilot Study on Stereognosis of Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Research assistant: Studying physical problems of exceptional students, Organization of Exceptional Children, Tehran, Iran, 1997.

Single  case  study:  An  innovative  method  called  Band  Therapy:  A  Technique  for improving balance in clients with cerebral palsy, 1995.

 

 

Research Interests

 

·    Occupational therapy for clients with neurological condition.

·    Research methodology and quantitative data analysis.

·    Survey questionnaire design and development.

·    Evidence based practice.

·    Case vignettes and scenario development for use in research and education.

·    Upper limb: development, and management.

·    Clinical reasoning (clinical judgement and decision making).

 

Teaching Experience

 

Assistant  Professor:  The Department  of Occupational  Therapy,  The  Universit y of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 2008-present

·        Teaching research methodology to Master’s and Doctorate students.

·        Teaching Evidence Based Practice

·        Director of the Research Committee, Department of occupational therapy.

·        Supervising and Advising Masters students in their research projects

 

Lecturer: Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, the University of Jordan, 2002.

·       Teaching two occupational therapy subjects - Occupational Therapy Skills I, and Occupational Therapy Physical Applied I.

·       Preparing clinics for student field practice.

·       Reviewing the occupational therapy curriculum.

·       Sourcing tools and equipment for the department of occupational therapy.

  

Lecturer,   Clinical   Instructor:   The  Department   of  Occupational   Therapy,   The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 1994-2002.

·       Advising Masters Students in their thesis projects.

·       Serving as a member of the departmental and university research

committees.

·       Managing the Department of Occupational Therapy.

·       Supervising students in clinical fieldwork.

·       Establishing the Bachelor degree in the university department.

·       Organising clinical fieldwork for students.

·       Preparing educational workshops for graduates.

·       Reviewing the occupational therapy curriculum as a committee member.

 

Clinical Instructor, Associate Lecturer: The Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,1990-1994.

·       Teaching occupational therapy subjects including “sensorimotor approaches”, and “principles of occupational therapy”.

·       Supervising students in clinical settings.

 

University and Professional Services

  

·    Member of the Research Committee, Department of Ergonomy, 2009-present

·    Member of Paediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Centre, 2009 - present

·    Iranian Occupational Therapy Evaluation and Examination Board, 2009-present

·    Review Board: International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 2008-present.

·    Participation  as  a Rater  in the  McMaster  Online  Rating  of Evidence  System,2007-present.

·    Alternate  delegate  to  World  Federation  of  Occupational  Therapists  (WFOT),2006-present.

·    Member of the scientific committee  of the First Seminar  for Training Families with Exceptional Children, Tehran, Iran, 2010.

·    Member of the scientific committee of Congress on Down’s Syndrome, Tehran, Iran, 2010.

·    Member  of  the  scientific  committee  of  the  Congress  on  People  with  Visual Impairment, Tehran, Iran, 2009.

·    Member of the scientific committee  of 14th  Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2009.

·    Reviewer - OT Australia 23rd National Conference & Exhibition, 2008.

·    Reviewer- Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 2007-present.

·    Reviewer – World Federation of Occupational Therapist (WFOT) 14th  Congress,2006.

·    Member of the Iranian Occupational Therapy Association Board, 1998-2002.

·    Coordinator,   Rehabilitation   Responses   Centre  (for  people  with  disabilities), Faculty of Rehabilitation  Sciences,  Iran University of Medical Sciences,  1992-1993.

·    Consultant, the Organization of Exceptional Children (rehabilitation program for physically handicapped students), Tehran, Iran, 1997.

·    Member  of the scientific  committee  of 8th  Congress  of Occupational  Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2001.

·    Scientific member of Second Congress of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran,2000.

·    Member  of the scientific  committee  of 7th  Congress  of Occupational  Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2000.

·    Member of the scientific committee of 6th Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1998.

·    Member of the scientific committee of 5th Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1997.

·    Executive secretary of 5th Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1997.

·    Member of the scientific committee of First Congress of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tabriz, Iran, 1996.

·    Member of the scientific & executive committee of 4th Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1996.

·    Executive secretary of Third Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran,1995.

·    Member of the scientific committee of Third Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1994.

·    Member of the scientific & executive committee of Second Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1994.

·    Member of the scientific & executive committee of "Rehabilitation & Society Congress", Tehran, Iran, 1993.

·    Member of the executive committee of the First Seminar on Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran, 1991.

 

Publications

 

·    Rassafiani, M; Sahaf, R (2010) Single Case Experimentl Design: An overview, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 17:6, 285-289.

·    Walsh, K; Rassafiani, M; Mathews, B; Farrell, A; Butler, D (2010) Teachers’ attitudes toward reporting child sexual abuse: Scale development and testing, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19:3, 310-336.

·    Rassafiani, M (2009) Is the length of experience an appropriate criterion to identify level of expertise? Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Volume 16, Number 4, May 2009 , pp. 247-256(10) DOI:10.1080/11038120902795441].

·    Kuipers, K; Rassafiani, M; Ashburner, J; Griffin, J; Worley, L; Moes, L; Fleming, J; Copley, J (2009) Do clients with acquired brain injury use the splints prescribed by occupational therapists? A descriptive study. NeuroRehabilitaion,24:4, 365-375

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (2009) Identification of occupational therapy clinical expertise: Decision making characteristics, Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 56:3, 156-166.

·    Rassafiani, M., Copley, J., Kuipers, K. and Sahaf, R. (2008) Are explanatory randomized controlled trials feasible in rehabilitation? International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 15:11: 478-479.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S (2008) Perceived level of disability: Factors influencing therapists’ judgment for clients with cerebral palsy, Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 18:1, 12-19.

·    Walsh, K., Bridgstock, R., Farrell, A., Rassafiani, M., Schweitzer, R. (2008) Case, teacher and school characteristics influencing teachers’ detecting and reporting of child physical abuse and neglect: Results from an Australian survey, Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 32:10, 983-993.

·    Burgess, T; Rassafiani, M; Copley, J (2008) Factors associated with the acquisition of expertise in upper limb hypertonicity management, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71:8, 329-328.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (2008) Occupational therapists’ decision making in the management of clients with upper limb hypertonicity, Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 15:2, 105-115.

·    Rassafiani, M; Zeinali, R (2007) History of occupational therapy in Iran, World Federation of Occupational Therapists website, http://www.wfot.org/intLiaison.asp?id=article.

·    Rassafiani, M; Zeinali, R (2007) Occupational therapy in Iran, World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 55, 50-51.

·    Rassafiani, M (2007) Occupational performance model (Australia) - Model illustration, http://www.occupationalperformance.com/index.php/au/node_112/model_illustrat ion (translated to Farsi).

·    Rasafiani, M; Karbalaynouri, A (2007) Occupational performance model (Australia) – Definitions, http://www.occupationalperformance.com/index.php/au/node_112/definition (translated to Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (2006) Managing upper limb hypertonicity: factors influencing therapists’ decision, British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(8), 373-78.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S (2006) Occupational therapists decision making in three therapy settings in Australia, Asian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 5, 29-39.

·    Yaryari, F; Rassafiani, M; Karimlo, M; Pashazadeh Azari, A (2001) Evaluation of motor skills and neuromuscular function in children with ADHD. Exceptional Children Journal, 1, 17-34 (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M; Rezai, M (2000) Philosophical basis of occupational therapy.Journal of Iranian Occupational Therapy Association, 13, 17-23 (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M (1999), CP balls, Journal of Iranian Occupational Therapy Association (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M (1992), Different types of standing posture in spastic diplegia.Journal of Physical Therapy Department, The University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M (1992), Occupational therapy for children, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, This is a Module and practical Manual for the course that I taught (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M (1991), Sensorimotor approaches, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, This is a Module and practical Manual for the course that I taught (Farsi).

·    Rassafiani, M (1991), What we should know about mental retardation. Faculty of rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, A booklet for community teaching (Farsi).

  

Academic Presentations and Workshops

 

·    Rassafiani, M; Tajrishi, M (Panel presentation) Family to Family Training: Problems and Solutions of Families of Preschool Children with Down’s Syndrome, Congress on Down’s Syndrome, Feb 2010.

 ·    Rassafiani, M; Hojjat, M (oral presentation) Family to Family Training: movie making, First Seminar for Family Training with Exceptional Children, Feb 2010.

·    Rassafiani, M; Sahaf, R; Sortiji, H; Hajhidari, F (workshop) Systematic scientific search, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Feb 2010.

·    Rassafiani, M (Workshop) Training families with cerebral palsy: Handling children with cerebral palsy in daily activities, 2009

·    Rassafiani, M, Sortji, (workshop) Systematic scientific search, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, 2009.

·    Sahaf, R, Marshal, A, Bartlett, H, Rassafiani, M, (poster presentation) Is depressive symptoms as a barrier to participation in physical activity among older people?, XIXth World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2009.

·    Rassafiani, M, Ziviani, J; Rodger, S (oral presentation) Perceived level of disability: Factors influencing therapists’ judgment for clients with cerebral palsy, 3rd International Cerebral Palsy Conference, Sydney, Australia, 2009.

·    Walsh, K, Mathews, B, Rassafiani, M, Farrell, A, Butler, A, (poster presentation) Development and Initial Validation of a Scale to Measure Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Child Sexual Abuse, ISPAN, 2008.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Identification of occupational therapy clinical expertise: decision making characteristics, 4th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Conference, Hong Kong, 2007.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S (oral presentation) Factors influencing expert decision making in the management of upper limb hypertonicity of clients with cerebral palsy, Australian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Australia (AusACPDM Conference), Adelaide,2006.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S (oral presentation) The influence of practice context on occupational therapists’ decision making in the management of UL hypertonicity, OTs in Arms, OT AUSTRALIA Qld conference Brisbane, Australia, 2005.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (poster presentation) How many years clinical practice is required to become an expert occupational therapist?, 39th Japanese Occupational Therapy Congress and Expo, Tokyo, Japan, The Journal of Japanese Association of Occupational Therapists, Vol 24, Supl, p. 24, 2005.

·    Rassafiani, M (panel discussion) Future research trend in OT in Iran, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 2004.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (oral presentation) Classification of factors which influence occupational therapists’ decision making in the management of upper limb hypertonicity, 10th Iranian Occupational Therapy Conference, Tehran, Iran, 2004.

·    Rassafiani, M; Ziviani, J; Rodger, S; Dalgleish, L (oral presentation) Factors influence occupational therapists’ decision in the management of upper limb hypertonicit y: A preliminary results, 8th State Conference, Queensland, Australia, 2004.

·    Rassafiani, M; Yazdani, F (workshop) Pre-feeding skills, The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences and Welfare Organization, Tehran, Iran, 1998.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Band therapy (case study) - a technique to improve upright position in clients with cerebral palsy, First Gulf Congress in Medical Rehabilitation, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 1997.

·    Rassafiani, M; Yazdani, F (oral presentation) Role of occupational therapy in improving the function of nutrition of the child, The 4th Iranian Nutrition Congress, Tehran, Iran, 1996.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) History of sensorimotor approaches to treatment of children with cerebral palsy and analysis of their principles, First Congress of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1993.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) The planning of therapy for children with cerebral palsy, First Congress of Cerebral Palsy, Tehran, Iran, 1993.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Cat technique – an innovative technique to improve standing posture in children with CP, Third Congress of Physiotherapy, Tehran, Iran, 1992.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Effects of play on children, Second Specialized Seminar on Export toys, Tehran, Iran, 1992.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Normal posture, First Congress on Ergonomic & Health of Spinal Column, Tehran, Iran, 1992.

·    Rassafiani, M (oral presentation) Analysis of principle of Bobath approach, First Seminar on Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran, 1991.

·    Rahbar, S; Hosseini, S A; Rassafiani, M (workshop) Methods of handling of children with cerebral palsy at home for parents and caregivers, Iran University of Medical Science, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 1990.

 

 

Supervising Honours and Higher Degree Students

 

·    Supervisor, Nasherolahkami, M (Master OT student), Influence of multisensory intervention on upper limb function of children with cerebral palsy, 2009

·    Advisor, Dehghan, (Master Orthotics and prosthesis student), 2009

·    Advisor, Pazoki, (Master OT Student) relationship between quality of life, depression, and activity of daily living in people following stroke, 2009.

·    Adviser, Burgess T. (honours student), Relationship between year of experience and level of expertise, The University of Queensland, Division of Occupational Therapy, Brisbane, Australia, 2006.

·    Associate supervisor of Master thesis, Study of hand function of children with hearing impairment in Tehran, The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation  Sciences,  The Department  of Occupational  Therapy,  Tehran, Iran, 2001.

·    Associate supervisor of Master thesis, Akbarfahimi, M, Normalization of the EDPA test in Tehran, The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, The Department of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2001.

·    Associate supervisor of Master thesis, Vojdani, F, A Comparative study of hand stereognosis of children with downs syndrome and normal children aged 10 year, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran, 2000.

·    Associate supervisor of Master thesis, Pashazadeh, F, Assessment motor skills & neuromuscular function of 7-10 year old school children with attention deficit hyperactivity, The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, The Department of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 2000.

·    Associate supervisor of Master thesis, Ghahari, S, The effects of activity therapy on unilateral neglect and ADL of hemiplegic patients after stroke, The University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, The Department of Occupational Therapy, Tehran, Iran, 1998.

 

Workshops Attended

 

·    Practical measurement  and multilevel analysis in the psychosocial  sciences, Australian Consortium for Social and political Research Inc (ACSPRI), The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia,14-25 January 2008.

·    First Aid and CPR, Brisbane, Australia, Dec 2006.

·    Managing    challenging    students,    Occupational    Therapy    Division,    the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 31st March 2006.

·    Conflict  resolution  for  clinical  educator  workshop,  Occupational  Therapy Division, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 28th April 2006.

·    Applied   behaviour   analysis   (ABA),   Australian   Behavioural   Intervention Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 25th March 2006.

·    Goal   directed   training   of   hand   function   course,   La   Trobe   University, Melbourne, Australia, 17-18th March 2004.

·    Play and the art of therapy, Australian Association of Occupational Therapy, Queensland, Australia, 8th October 2003.

·    Early detection and early intervention,  The University of Social Welfare  & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, International Child Neurology Association (ICNA).Tehran, Iran15, 17-20th October 2000.