Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Janna L. MacLachlan, Managing Editor, Occupational Therapy Now

Writing for Occupational Therapy Now: Your practice magazine

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

What is OT Now? • Official practice magazine for the Canadian Association of

Occupational Therapists • Six issues per year • All issues published in English and French • Consistently rated as a top CAOT member benefit • Began in 1999 • Replaced The National, CAOT’s newsletter publication

(1974-1998)

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

What is a practice magazine? OT Now is “written, edited and debated by Canadian occupational therapists who make the time to put their thoughts and practices on paper, challenge what they read, and in the long run, improve the overall practice of occupational therapy in Canada” (Clark Green, 1998, p. 2). Clark Green, M. (1998). Editorial: A comfortable end. The National, 15(6), 2.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

What is a practice magazine? • OT Now publishes a variety of articles that relay practical

information and association news to help advance excellence in occupational therapy practice, policy, research and education.

• OT Now fosters timely exchange of relevant, evidence-informed information.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

OT Now articles are: • Evidence-informed • Practical • Accessible • Timely • Interesting • Relevant to Canadian occupational therapy practice

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

OT Now articles are: • Formatted following APA (American Psychological

Association) guidelines for references, figures and tables • Roughly 1500 words in length (including references)

• Short reports of 500 or 1000 words are also welcomed • Longer articles may be accepted up to about 2000 words,

depending in part on the number of figures and tables included.

• Submitted in either English or French

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Comparing the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Now

CJOT OT Now Type of publication

Academic journal Practice magazine

Review process Double-blind peer-review

Mentoring style of review

Content Research findings and theoretical arguments

Interpretation and translation of knowledge, discussions of evidence from literature and experience

Length of articles

Full-length manuscripts: Must be between 4000-5000 words Brief report manuscripts: 1500-3000 words

Average article is 1500 to 2000 words

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Publishing work in both academic and practice publications • Please do! • Work cannot simply be republished in two places, but it is

possible to present different angles or applications of research results.

• Ensure you are clear on the copyright rules of all publications.

• An OT Now article can happen first. • E.g., preliminary ideas or program descriptions1

• An OT Now article can happen second, after research results are published. • E.g., in the form of a practice implications discussion, a case study,

etc. 2

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Who can be an OT Now author?

You! If you have something to share that would be of interest/benefit to Canadian occupational therapy practice, then you can submit to OT Now.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Who can be an OT Now author? • Front-line practitioners3 • Researchers4 • Educators5 • Fieldwork preceptors6 • Students7 • OTAs/support personnel8 • Clients/consumers9 • Stakeholders/collaborators10

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

What to write? • Imagine sitting down for coffee with a colleague to talk

about your perspectives or expertise you have gained. • What would you tell them? • What would they want to know that would help advance

their occupational therapy practice?

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Topics

• Aboriginal Peoples and Occupational Therapy in Canada

• International Connections • OT Then • Private Practice Insights • Sense of Doing • E-Health and Assistive

Technology

• KT & OT • Older Adults • Adults • Children and Youth • Mental Health • Rural and Remote Practice • Student Perspectives • Everyday Stories

OT Now has volunteer editors who review submissions on the following topics:

See topic descriptions and editor contacts at: http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=271

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

New topics • Four new topics to be added this year:

• Occupational therapist assistants/support personnel • Occupational therapy education and fieldwork • CJOT: Evidence for your practice (a regular space for knowledge

translation of CJOT articles) • Practice management and professional skills

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Types of articles • CAOT news and programs11 • Case studies12 • Discussion of current events13 • Reporting on program evaluation/quality improvement

project results14 • Reporting results of a scoping review15 • Practice recommendations gathered from experience16 • Discussion of an area of practice17 • Sharing a tool or resource that has been created18

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Types of articles (continued) • Applications of recent research or theory19 • Sharing favorite resources20 • Program descriptions21 • Reflecting on or applying concepts from a speaker22 • Personal reflections on an area of practice23 • History24 • Profile of a CAOT member25 • Discussions of socio‐cultural, political and economic

influences on occupational therapy practice26

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Resources to help you write - English • CAOT style guide

http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=1063 • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition) • Canadian Oxford Dictionary • Canadian Press

• Stylebook • Caps and Spelling

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

• Guide de rédaction de l’ACE à l’intention des auteurs francophones: https://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=1063&francais=1

• Dictionnaire Robert. Le petit Robert de la langue française, édition 2015

• Le guide du rédacteur, 2e éd. rev. et augm., Ottawa, Travaux publics et Services gouvernementaux Canada, c1996, 319 p.

• Marie-Eva de Villers. Multidictionnaire de la langue française. 5e édition Québec Amérique. 2015

Resources to help you write - French

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Resources to help you write - French • Banque terminologique de l’Office de la langue française

du Québec http://gdt.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca • Termium from The Government of Canada http://www.bt-

tb.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/btb.php?lang=fra&cont=001 • Guilloton, N., et Cajolet-Laganière, H. Le français au

bureau, 7e éd. rev. et augm. par Martine Germain et Noëlle Guilloton, Québec, Les Publications du Québec, c2014, 1024 p.

• Leclerc, J. Le français scientifique : guide de rédaction et de vulgarisation, Brossard, Linguatech, c1999, 377 p.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Tips to avoid common challenges • Be sure to cite anything that is not your own idea. • Back up statements with evidence. • Avoid copying and pasting multiple quotations. • Avoid using secondary sources. • Ensure you have a clear introduction and conclusion. • Be sure to include a purpose statement for your article. • Stay focused on topic. • Check that content progresses logically. • Use consistent terminology.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Strategies for finding time to write • Start with an outline of your ideas or a purpose statement.

• Run it by a topic editor or the managing editor.

• Get it down then get it right. • Don’t worry about it being perfect in the first draft.

• Aiming for a short report of 500 words may feel more achievable.

• Find a writing buddy. • Allocate an do-able regular writing time (e.g., 1 hour on

Friday afternoons).

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

When to make contact? • At any point that you would like to receive feedback. This

could be: • When you have an idea for an article that’s not yet fleshed out • When you’ve created a point-form outline • When you’ve drafted a rough early version of your article • When you’ve got a finished submission

• Contact a topic editor (http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=271) or the managing editor (otnow@caot.ca).

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

When to submit? • Regular issues - Whenever you like! Articles begin the

review process and once accepted are published in order of submission date.

• Theme issues – deadline as listed on call for papers. • Conference issue – articles are generally solicited, but if

you would like to contribute to this issue, send suggestions by April 1. (March 1 in 2016.)

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Annual schedule January/February March/April

Regular issue featuring submitted articles on various topics

Practice theme issue with a guest editor and call for papers

May /June July/August

Regular issue featuring submitted articles on various topics

Conference theme issue

September/October November/December

Consumer theme issue with a guest editor and call for papers

Regular issue featuring submitted articles on various topics

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Review process • Mentoring model of review

• Not blinded • Can include back and forth discussions, coaching • Process is intended to be welcoming and supportive • Editors may assist authors through a few rounds of editing • Often includes specific suggestions via “track changes” and

comment bubbles on the Word document • Especially beneficial for first-time authors

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Review process • Aim to provide authors with feedback within three months

of submission. • Following initial review, authors will receive one of the

following decisions: • Accept (normally with suggestions for minor edits) • Suggestion to revise and resubmit • Reject

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

What gets rejected? • Product endorsements • Articles that are not relevant to occupational therapy

practice in Canada • Articles containing strong bias or applying outdated

theories and literature

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Once article is accepted, then what? • Article is waitlisted for publication in next available issue. • Copy editing – a fine-tooth-comb check of the article is

done, focusing on grammar, spelling, format and clarity of writing.

• Layout is drafted and authors have an opportunity to check for final corrections.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Future of OT Now • Continue developing guidelines and resources for authors

and reviewers. • Continue working with students on placement with CAOT. • Possible evolution of our online edition. • Implement new strategies to decrease response time to

authors. • What do you want to see in OT Now’s future? As your

practice magazine, tell us what would be helpful to you!

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Thank you • If you would like to chat about submitting to OT Now,

contact Janna MacLachlan, managing editor: • otnow@caot.ca • 1(800) 434-2268, ext. 266 • OT Now drop-in discussion time: Tomorrow, May 29, on a couch

near the registration desk between 1:30 and 3:30.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Recommended sample articles (see footnote numbers in previous slides)

1. Giesbrecht, E., Best. K. L., & Miller, W. C. (2015). Pushing spokes for older folks: Two novel approaches for improving manual wheelchair use among older adults. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(1), 17-19.

2. Roots, R., Smith, L., Brown, H., Bainbridge, L., & Li, L. (2014). “All those things you never thought”: Perspectives from occupational therapists practicing in rural British Columbia. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(6), 26-28.

3. Petryk, A. (2014). An occupational perspective on child and youth mental health: Reflections from a school-based occupational therapist. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(3), 16-18.

4. Liu, L. (2013). 2013 COTF Lunch with a Scholar - Occupational therapy scholarship and information communications technology. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(4), 22-23.

5. Hébert, M., Beaudoin, J.-P., Grandisson, M., Al-Azourri, G., Thibeault, R., Tremblay, M., . . . Guitard, P. (2013). Preparing occupational therapy students for professional practice. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(3), 22-24.

6. Engel, L., Gillespie, H., & Lundberg, J. (2013). Integrated-split placement: Optimizing opportunities and enhancing learning. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(1), 24-26.

7. Altin Syed, N. (2013). Internship with the World Health Organization . Occupational Therapy Now, 15(1), 17-18.

8. Langendoen, T., Pleasance, C., Dyrkacz, A., & Heck, C. (2015). The post-professional education needs of support personnel in Ontario. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(2), 24-27.

9. Faid, P. (2014). Universal design: A consumer’s perspective. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(5), 26-28.

10. Sanderson, K. (2014). Getting to universal design for the public play space. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(5), 24-25.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Recommended sample articles (continued) 11. Belagamage, L., Lapointe, J., & McCarthy, N. (2014). CarFit: Helping mature drivers find their safest fit.

Occupational Therapy Now, 16(4), 7-8.

12. Won, D., & Stergiou-Kita, M. (2012). The PEO and Ready, Set, Go: Preparing clients to return to work following a burn injury. Occupational Therapy Now, 14(6), 23-25.

13. Thompson, S. (2014). Opening the door one lever handle at a time. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(5), 10.

14. Stier, J. , Barker, D., & Campbell-Rempel, M. A. (2015). Student accommodations in occupational therapy university programs: Requirements, present environment and trends. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(3), 16-18.

15. Klinger, L., Moore, B., Berardi, N., Miller, E., Lukman, N., & Golverk, D. (2014). Promoting accessible physical environments in post-secondary school settings through attention to universal design. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(5), 16-18.

16. Simmons, J. (2012). Setting your fees in private practice: How much are you worth? Occupational Therapy Now, 14(6), 20-22.

17. Watson, M., Garden, J., Swedlove, F., & Brown, C. A. (2014). Back to the basics: Sleep and occupation. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(6), 8-10.

18. Henderson, C., Johnson, C., Froese, D., Gregoire-Gau, C., Irvine, H., & Sommer, R. (2015). The Alberta Algorithm: Driving occupational therapy practice. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(1), 9-11.

19. Lam-Damji, S., Fay, L., Lockhart, J., & Hoffman, S. (2015). Moving constraint-induced movement therapy and bimanual therapy into practice. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(1), 14-16.

20. Seeberger, C. (2013). Christel’s five favorite free resources for running a private practice. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(6), 29.

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes

Recommended sample articles (continued)

21. Fry, D., Fox, B., & Donnelly, C. (2013). Traveling a New Road: A driving cessation group in primary care. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(5), 25-26.

22. Day, K., Vertes, J., Dekker, P., Rigby, P., Martin, A., Martin, J., . . . Graham, A. (2013). A community service initiative: Promoting the visibility of occupational therapy while enhancing the playfulness of child care providers. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(2), 29. 23. McVeigh, R. (2015). Mindfulness in practice: Developing an occupational therapy niche. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(3), 19-20. 24. Beaudoin, J.-P. (2013). Celebrating our past, honouring our predecessors: Regional stories from Ottawa and the Champlain Region. Occupational Therapy Now, 15(2), 16-18. 25. Green, P. (2015). Life Rolls On in Nova Scotia. Occupational Therapy Now, 17(1), 3-4. 26. Wright-St Clair, V., Laliberte Rudman, D., & Klinger, L. (2014). Time to advocate for policy promoting seniors’ occupational participation to enable aging well. Occupational Therapy Now, 16(3), 10-12.