Ecology of Human Performance (EHP)

Question 1

Development

Answer 1

Development

•Looked for a mechanism to highlight context
•Wanted an interdisciplinary model
“occupation” not used
•Inclusion of intervention options

Question 2

Link between Ecology and OT

Answer 2

• Ecology is concerned with interrelationships of organisms &; their environments
• OT is interested in interrelationship of humans &; their context &; effect on performance
• Therefore The Ecology of Human Performance is concerned with the interrelationship of humans with the environment in contexts & the effect on participation in occupations

Question 3

Primary theoretical postulatefundamental to EHP

Ecology

Answer 3

Ecology, or the interaction between person and the environment, affects human behavior and performance; and that performance cannot be understood outside of context.

Question 4

Core Constructs

Answer 4

Person
Task
Context
Performance

Question 5

PERSON

Answer 5

Includes: 
	Past experiences 
	Personal values/ interests 
	Sensorimotor skills 
	Cognitive skills 
	Psychosocial skills 
Person brings these things to the tasks 
Influence what tasks are chosen 
Person is embedded within the context (tootsie roll center of a Tootsie Pop)

Question 6

CONTEXT

Answer 6

Conditions in which the person exists and performs – 2 primary types of context
Temporal context
Chronological age, developmental stage, life cycle, health status
Environment
Physical dimensions
Social dimensions
Cultural dimensions

Supports or hinders the person 
Interacts with the person and serves as a lens resulting in performance 
Considers availability of: 
	Materials 
	People 
	Resources 
Expectations and norms of performance

Question 7

TASKS

Answer 7

Objective sets of behaviors combined to allow for engagement in performance

Behaviors are determined by the demand of the task

Combinations of tasks represent responsibilities of roles

Defined differently and have different meaning by different people

Question 8

PERFORMANCE

Answer 8

Interaction between the person and the context

Interactions serves as lens which dictates the performance range

Tasks within the performance range are available to the person

Question 9

What is the Performance Range

Answer 9

The scope of action available to a person for engaging in occupation (tasks).
It is determined by the interaction of the person & the context

Potential to perform many tasks
Person uses skills and abilities
Person uses the context to support performance
Interaction of skills & abilities with context results in performance

Question 10

What can limit a person’s performance range ?

Answer 10

Limited skills & abilities 
          Developmental delays 
          Physical limitations 
          Cognitive limitations 
            Social skills 
           Mental illness 

Limited context
Homeless
Environmental limitations
Social limitations

Question 11

Occupational Therapy Intervention within EHP

Answer 11

Therapeutic intervention is a collaboration among the person, the family and the occupational therapist directed at meeting performance needs.

Five Alternatives for Therapeutic Intervention 
	Establish or Restore 
	Alter 
	Adapt 
	Prevent 
	Create

Question 12

Establish or Restore (remediate)

Answer 12

Improve person’s skills and abilities to be able to increase performance and participation

• Strengthening
• Endurance
• Muscle Tone
• Range of Motion
• Problem solving skills

Question 13

Alter

Answer 13

Selecting a context that enables the person to perform with current skills and abilities

Therapist does not set out to correct person or envirnment

Seeks the best match between the person and contexts available

Question 14

Adapt

Answer 14

Therapist designs a more supportive context for the persons performance

Change to current context

Question 15

Prevent

Answer 15

Intervene to prevent occurence of maladaptive performance in context

Change course of events- address person, context, and or task variables

Question 16

Create

Answer 16

Creating circumstances that promote more adaptable or complex performance in context

Does not assume that disability is present

Difference between prevent and create

Question 17

EHP Assumptions

Answer 17

It is impossible to understand the person without also understanding the person’s context

Persons influence contexts and contexts influence persons

A person’s performance range is determined by the transaction between the person and the context

It is through engagement in tasks that person and contexts transact

Question 18

EHP Perspective on Independence

Answer 18

The use of assistive devices or other person does not mean a person is dependent

Intervention strategies that adapt or alter the environment are not reserved for use only when restorative interventions have failed

Question 19

Summary

Answer 19

Need to look at the person through context

Performance range may be decreased by limitations in skills & abilities and/or limitations in context

5 Types of therapeutic intervention strategies

Question 20

2 primary types of context

Answer 20

2 primary types of context 
	Temporal context 
		Chronological age, developmental stage, life      cycle, health status 
	Environment 
		Physical dimensions 
		Social dimensions 
		Cultural dimensions

Question 21

Five Alternatives for Therapeutic Intervention

Answer 21

Five Alternatives for Therapeutic Intervention 
	Establish or Restore 
	Alter 
	Adapt 
	Prevent 
	Create