Career Summary
Biography
Kylie completed her undergraduate degree with the University of Western Sydney, graduating with first class honours and Dean’s merit list credit. After graduating Kylie went on to work in Western Sydney as a community occupational therapist with young adults with lifelong conditions. Kylie’s work predominately focused on equipment prescription, home modifications and life skills. Kylie then went on to work as a project manager for a National Health and Medical Research Council funded occupational therapy research study. Kylie’s participation in this research project highlighted the need for further investigation of the measurement of older adults’ functional ability and also how the cost of practice can be evaluated. As a result, Kylie began her PhD in 2011 with the University of Sydney and was supported with an Australian Post-Graduate Scholarship.
Kylie combined her research studies with a post-graduate teaching fellowship with the University of Sydney. During this time Kylie gained valuable experience teaching both undergraduate and masters students in the areas of equipment prescription, home modifications, falls prevention, ageing, and evidence based practice.
Kylie has also worked clinically in acute care and in community low vision and blindness services as a senior therapist.
In 2017 Kylie took up a position as lecturer and course coordinator for Practice Education in occupational therapy. Kylie remains focused on research in ageing, measurement (psychometrics) of functional ability and translational research.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Sydney
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy), University of Western Sydney
Keywords
- Ageing
- Cost-effectiveness
- Measurement
- Occupational Therapy
- Translational research
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 111702 | Aged Health Care | 40 |
| 111717 | Primary Health Care | 30 |
| 111708 | Health and Community Services | 30 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Health Sciences Australia |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCCT2254 |
Beginning Occupational Therapy Professional Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/08/2017 - 24/09/2017 |
| OCCT4273 |
Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/08/2017 - 24/09/2017 |
| OCCT3161 |
Intermediate Occupational Therapy Professional Practice The Faculty of Health Science / The University of Newcastle / Australia |
Course Coordinator | 24/08/2017 - 24/09/2017 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cordier R, Joosten A, Clemson L, Wales K, 'The development of occupations across the lifespan', Occupational Therapy in Australia Professional and Practice Issues, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest 244-259 (2017) |
Journal article (7 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 |
Wales K, Lannin NA, Clemson L, Cameron ID, 'Measuring functional ability in hospitalized older adults: a validation study', Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-7 (2017) © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Purpose: To examine the internal consistency, construct validity and responsiveness of functional assessments t... [more] © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Purpose: To examine the internal consistency, construct validity and responsiveness of functional assessments tools when used with hospitalized older adults. Materials and methods: The functional ability of 66 patients was assessed using a semi-structured interview scale (n¿=¿16 tools). The assessment of motor and process skills was administered during hospital admission and again at three months post-discharge. Results: Tools showed poor-to-excellent internal consistency (a¿=¿0.27¿0.92). Of the tools that were internally consistent, only two demonstrated change: the Groningen activity restriction scale (GARS) (smallest detectable change [SDC] 11.68, effect size -1.59) and the modified reintegration to normal living scale (SDC 7.04, effect size -1.20). Validity was supported by strong correlations between the functional independence measure¿ (FIM¿) and the GARS, FIM¿ and Sunnaas activity daily living (ADL) index. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the GARS and the modified reintegration to normal living index (mRNLI) are internally consistent, valid and responsive to change over time when applied to a sample of hospitalized older adults. Further investigation of these tools in terms of inter and intra rater reliability in clinical practice is warranted.Implications for RehabilitationTherapists and researchers need to choose standardized functional assessments carefully when working with hospitalized older adults, as not all assessments are reliable and valid in this population.The GARS and mRNLI are valid and responsive functional assessments for hospitalized older adults.Activity and participation have been viewed traditionally as only one component of function. Therapists and researchers can use standardized assessments of function that are activity or participation-based.
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| 2016 |
Clemson L, Lannin NA, Wales K, Salkeld G, Rubenstein L, Gitlin L, et al., 'Occupational Therapy Predischarge Home Visits in Acute Hospital Care: A Randomized Trial', JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, 64 2019-2026 (2016)
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| 2016 |
Wales K, Clemson L, Lannin N, Cameron I, 'Functional Assessments Used by Occupational Therapists with Older Adults at Risk of Activity and Participation Limitations: A Systematic Review', PLOS ONE, 11 (2016)
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| 2015 |
Pike S, Lannin NA, Cusick A, Wales K, Turner-Stokes L, Ashford S, 'A systematic review protocol to evaluate the psychometric properties of measures of function within adult neuro-rehabilitation', Systematic Reviews, 4 (2015) © 2015 Pike et al. Background: Spasticity in the upper limb is common after acquired brain impairment and may have a significant impact on the ability to perform meaningful daily... [more] © 2015 Pike et al. Background: Spasticity in the upper limb is common after acquired brain impairment and may have a significant impact on the ability to perform meaningful daily activities. Traditionally, outcome measurement in spasticity rehabilitation has focused on impairment, however, improvements in impairments do not necessarily translate to improvements in an individual's ability to perform activities or engage in life roles. There is an increasing need for outcome measures that capture change in activity performance and life participation. Methods/Design: We will conduct a systematic review of the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure upper limb functional outcomes (activity performance and participation) in patients with spasticity. Assessments (n = 27) will be identified from a recently published systematic review of assessments that measure upper limb function in neurological rehabilitation for adults with focal spasticity, and a systematic review of each assessment will then be conducted. The databases MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE will be searched from inception. Search strategies will include the name of the assessment and the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) published search strategy for identifying studies of measurement properties. The methodological rigour of the testing of the psychometric quality of instruments will be undertaken using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) definitions of impairment, activity and participation will be used for content analysis of items to determine the extent to which assessments are valid measures of activity performance and life participation. We will present a narrative synthesis on the psychometric properties and utility of all instruments and make recommendations for assessment selection in practice. Discussion: This systematic review will present a narrative synthesis on the psychometric properties and utility of assessments used to evaluate function in adults with upper limb focal spasticity. Recommendations for assessment selection in practice will be made which will aid clinicians, managers and funding bodies to select an instrument fit for purpose. Importantly, appropriate assessment selection will provide a mechanism for capturing how applicable to everyday life the outcomes from individualised rehabilitation programs for the upper limb really are.
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| 2013 |
Laver K, Wales K, Clemson L, 'Effectiveness of pre-discharge occupational therapy home visits has yet to be evaluated; a definitive trial is feasible and warranted', Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 60 374-375 (2013)
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| Show 4 more journal articles | ||||||||
Conference (2 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Clemson LM, Lannin N, Wales K, Gitlin LN, Rubenstein L, Cameron ID, 'DISCHARGE PLANNING UTILIZING HOME VISITS COMPARED TO IN-HOSPITAL CONSULTATION, EFFECTS ON COST UTILIZATION, FUNCTION AND PARTICIPATION: THE AUSTRALIAN HOME TRIAL', GERONTOLOGIST (2015) | ||
| 2013 | Clemson LM, Lannin N, Wales K, Gitlin LN, Cameron ID, Rubenstein L, 'PREPARING OLDER ADULTS FOR SSFE DISCHARGE AND RESUMPTION OF MEANINGFUL DAILY ACTIVITIES: THE HOME INTERVENTION', GERONTOLOGIST (2013) |
Dr Kylie Wales
Position
Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health and Medicine
Contact Details
| kylie.wales@newcastle.edu.au |
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