Assoc Prof Helen Buchanan
Qualifications
BSc (OccTher) MSc (OccTher) PhD UCT
Introduction
Associate Professor Helen Buchanan is currently the Head of the Division of Occupational Therapy, and an associate staff member of Cochrane South Africa. Helen’s teaching and research focus on evidence-based practice, practice improvement and hand rehabilitation. She is passionate about providing quality hand rehabilitation based on sound evidence and has a particular interest in work-related outcomes. Helen has published over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is a regular presenter at conferences. She is committed to building the occupational therapy profession and has served in various capacities, most notably as president of the Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA) and delegate to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). She is chairperson of the OTASA Publications committee and co-editor of the International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care. Helen serves on the advisory / editorial boards of the British Journal of Occupational Therapy and the WFOT Bulletin. She is passionate about education and is registered for a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education.
Areas of interest
Hand therapy, evidence-based practice, rehabilitation, occupation-based practice, occupational therapy education.
Current Research Projects
Work-related transitions after hand injury
EMpowering PAtients To Help themselves In Chronic Conditions (EMPATHICC)
The Occupational Therapy Academic Workforce Survey: An International Study
Publications
Buchanan H, van Niekerk L (2021). Work transitions after serious hand injury: Current occupational therapy practice in a middle-income country. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69: 151-164. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12777
Buchanan, H., Grimmer, K. (2021). Keyword parsimony—lessons from a scoping review. Systematic Reviews, 10(230). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01784-5
Buchanan, H., Van Niekerk, L., & Grimmer, K. (2020). Work transition after hand injury: A scoping review. Journal of Hand Therapy, 35(1), 11–23.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2020.10.007.
Ellman, E., Sonday, A., Buchanan, H. (2020). Transition from special school to post-school life in youth with severe intellectual disability: Parents’ experiences. South African Journal of Education, 40(Suppl. 2):Art. #1444, 9 pages. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v40ns2a1444
Uys M, Buchanan H, Van Niekerk L (2020). Work-related Transitions Following a Hand Injury: A Scoping Review. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 87(4):331-345. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417420946595
Buchanan H (2020). Editorial: Practice-based learning amidst a time of uncertainty. International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, 8(2): ii-iii. doi: https://doi.org/10.18552/ijpblhsc.v8i2.716
Ned L, Tiwari R, Buchanan H, van Niekerk L, Sherry K, Chikte U. (2020). Changing demographic trends among South African Occupational Therapists: 2002 to 2018. BMC Human Resources for Health, 18(22). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0464-3
de Klerk S, Jerosch-Herold C, Buchanan H, van Niekerk L (2020). Cognitive Interviewing during Pretesting of the Prefinal Afrikaans for the Western Cape Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire following Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation. Occupational Therapy International, vol 2020, Article ID 3749575. doi: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3749575
Uys M, Buchanan H, Van Niekerk L (2020). Return to work for people with hand injuries in South Africa: Occupational therapy strategies. South African Journal of Occupational, 50(2): 52-61. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2020/vol50no2a7
Du Toit SHJ, Baldassar LV, Millard A, Etherton-Beer CD, Buchanan HA, Du Toit S, Collier LJ, Cheung G, Peri K, Webb EA, Lovarini M. (2020). Embracing cultural diversity – engaging leadership to champion meaningful engagement for residents with advanced dementia. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology. 35(1), 49-67. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-019-09387-3
de Klerk, S., Jerosch-Herold, C., Buchanan, H., van Niekerk L. (2019) Shared decision making and the practice of community translation in presenting a pre-final Afrikaans for the Western Cape Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire: A proposal for improved translation and cross-cultural adaptation. Journal of Patient Reported Outcomes, 3(52). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41687-019-0144-z
Mshanga, D., Duncan, E.M., Buchanan, H. (2019). Occupational therapists’ perspectives on the implementation of client centred practice in Tanzania. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82(12): 732-742. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022619858859
Uys ME, Buchanan H, Van Niekerk L (2019). Strategies occupational therapists employ to facilitate work-related transitions for persons with hand injuries: a study protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open, 9:e027402. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027402
Van Stormbroek K, Buchanan H. (2019). Novice occupational therapists: navigating complex practice contexts in South Africa. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66(4): 469–481. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12564
World Federation of Occupational Therapists, von Zweck C, Alchouron C, Brandis S, Bressler S, Buchanan H, Clouston T, Cox C, Moreno L, Reistetter T, Zur A. (2019). Development of a quality indicator framework for occupational therapy. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 75(1):3-10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14473828.2018.155696
Buchanan H. (2018). Editorial. How is quality addressed within practice-based learning? International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, 6(2): ii-iv.
Du Toit S, Buchanan H (2018). Embracing Cultural Diversity: Meaningful Engagement for Older Adults With Advanced Dementia in a Residential Care Setting. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(6):7206205090p1-7206205090p8. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2018.027292
De Klerk S, Buchanan H, Jerosch-Herold C (2018). The validity and clinical utility of the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for hand injuries in developing country contexts: A Systematic Review. Journal of Hand Therapy, 31(1): 80–90.e1.doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2017.10.004
Van Stormbroek K, Buchanan H (2018). Hand health for all: do undergraduate occupational therapy hand curricula respond to the call? South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48(3): 3-11. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2017/vol48n3a
Williams E, Maseko L, Buchanan H (2017). Rehabilitation - strengthening advocacy for change. It's time to act. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47(3): 2. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2017/v47n3a1
Buchanan H (2017). Evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. In: S. Dsouza, R. Galvaan, E. Ramugondo (Eds.). Concepts in Occupational Therapy: Understanding Southern Perspectives. Manipal University Press, 316-339. ISBN: 9382460675.
Van Stormbroek K, Buchanan H (2017). Novice therapists in a developing context: Extending the reach of hand rehabilitation. Hand Therapy, 22(4): 141-152. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1758998317720951
Amosun S, Ndosi A, Buchanan H (2016). Locally manufactured wheelchairs in Tanzania – are users satisfied? African Health Sciences, 16(4): 1174-1181. doi: https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v16i4.37
Van Stormbroek K, Buchanan H (2016). Community service occupational therapists: thriving or just surviving? South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46(3): 63-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310=3833/2016/v46n3a1
Buchanan H, Jelsma J, Siegfried N (2016). Practice-based evidence: evaluating the quality of occupational therapy patient records as evidence for practice. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46(1): 66-74. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2016/v46n1a13
Buchanan H, Jelsma J, Siegfried N (2015). Measuring evidence-based practice knowledge and skills in Occupational Therapy – a brief instrument. BMC Medical Education, 15:191. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-015-0475-2
Buchanan H, Siegfried N, Jelsma J (2015). Survey Instruments for Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Behaviour Related to Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Therapy: A Systematic Review. Occupational Therapy International, 23(2):59-90. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/oti.1398
De Klerk S, Buchanan H, Pretorius B (2015). Occupational therapy hand assessment practices: Cause for concern? South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(2): 43-50. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2015/v45n2a7
Buchanan H, Lorenzo T, Law M (2015). Fostering evidence-based practice in community-based rehabilitation: Strategies for implementation. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(2): 56-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2015/v45n2a9
Green C, Hudson K, Wicht M, Willows C, Buchanan H (2015). The impact of the Human Occupation and Art Forms modules on first year occupational therapy students’ knowledge of and attitudes towards core constructs of occupation. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(1): 63-71. doi: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2015/v45no1a11
Buchanan H, Siegfried N, Jelsma J, Lombard C (2014). Comparison of an interactive with a didactic educational intervention for improving the evidence-based practice knowledge of occupational therapists in the public health sector in South Africa: a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 15:216. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-216
Buchanan H (2011). The uptake of evidence-based practice by occupational therapists in South Africa. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin, 64:29-38. doi: https://doi.org/10.1179/otb.2011.64.1.008