Daleen Casteleijn

Dedicated professor with a passion for inspiring students and enhancing departmental growth. Proven track record of implementing innovative teaching methods and leading departmental initiatives. Committed to advancing the department, enhancing teaching practices, and updating course curriculum. Strong background in both research and teaching, with a focus on fostering a dynamic learning environment.

• OTX322: Occupational Therapy in psychiatry. (Module coordinator)
• OCX 100: Occupational Science, Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, and Activity analysis.
• OTX100: Occupational therapy basic foundations.
• OTX212: Occupational therapy in mental health.
• OTX 402: Occupational Therapy in Mental health. (Module coordinator)
• Occupational Therapy in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders, MSc.
• Research methodology course for Health care professionals, MSc first year and Honours,
• Interprofessional learning, Fourth year OT and Physio, 2nd year Nursing, 5th year medical, 3rd year Pharmacy.

• WITS Faculty Research award, 08/2014, For dedication and achievement in research.
• Vona du Toit Memorial Lecture Award, 07/05/12, For outstanding contribution in the field of Occupational Therapy.

OTX212, Involvement with communities for work integrated learning outcomes, OTX322, Re-introduced communities such as residential care facilities for people with disabilities and older persons willing to work with the University of Pretoria.  

Delivered workshops to health care professionals in South Africa and the UK through online training modules and in-person workshops.

Contribute to CPD activities through webinars.

• Citizenship: RSA
• Date of Birth: 01/08/61
• Gender: Female
• Place of Birth: Mpumalanga

Research outputs in Teaching and Learning:

1. Du Plooy E, Casteleijn D, Franzsen D. 2024. Personalized adaptive learning in higher education: A scoping review of key characteristics and impact on academic performance and engagement. Heliyon e339630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39630

2. Roos R, Van Aswegen H, Casteleijn D, Thurling C. (2022) Translation of suction and manual hyperinflation skills training into clinical practice - Perceptions of a once-off pre-clinical high-fidelity ICU simulation activity to undergraduate physiotherapy students. South African Journal of Physiotherapy 78 (1) a1830. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v78i1.1830

3. Pitout, H; Adams, F; Casteleijn, D and Du Toit, S. 2022 Factors to consider in planning a tailored undergraduate interprofessional education and collaborative practice curriculum: A scoping review. S. Afr. j. occup. ther. vol.52, n.1 pp.78-95 http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2022/vol52n1a9.

4. Olivier B, Verdonck M & Casteleijn D. Digital technologies in undergraduate and postgraduate education in occupational therapy and physiotherapy: a scoping review. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 2020, 18(0):1-30. DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-D-19-00210.

5. Pitout H, Adams F, Casteleijn D. Use of the logic model to develop and implement an interprofessional module for undergraduate healthcare students at a University in South Africa: A study protocol. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2019 vol 33 (3): 295-297 https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2018.1515192

6. Olivier B, Verdonck M, Casteleijn D. Digital technologies in occupational therapy and physiotherapy undergraduate and postgraduate education: a scoping review protocol, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 2017 vol. 15(11): 2624-2629

7. Freeme J, Casteleijn D, De Bruyn J, Millan F, Singh A, Sonday. Developing an undergraduate stroke rehabilitation curriculum appropriate for South African occupational therapy: a survey and panel discussion. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2014 vol 44(1), 68 – 74.

8. Casteleijn D & Steyn C. E-learning tools in a first year module for occupational therapists. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2010 supplement to vol 40 (2), 11 – 15.

9. Olivier M, Oosthuizen L & Casteleijn D. Occupational therapy students’ contribution towards enabling potential in a semi-rural community. Work: Journal of prevention, assessment and rehabilitation. Special issue 2007 vol 29 (1), 63 – 68

10. Buys T & Casteleijn D. Preparing for Work Practice: Under- and postgraduate student training at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). Work: Journal of prevention, assessment and rehabilitation. Special issue 2007 vol 29 (1), 25 - 29.

Research-related publications 2020 - 2025

1. Alford, AJ, Casteleijn, D, & Robertson, LJ. (2025). Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale–Expanded version: Construct validity using Rasch model analysis. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 31(0), a2343. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v31i0.2343

2. Janse Van Rensburg MNS, Casteleijn D, Scheibe A. (2024).Evaluating Client Functioning in a Harm Reduction Program in South Africa: Insights from a Tool Derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences. Vol 5 1445176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2024.1445176

3. McAdam JC, Casteleijn D, Franzsen D. (2024). .Identifying the gap in assessing activities of daily living in resource-constrained rural settings: An integrative review of existing frameworks and instruments. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(3). https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2024/vol54no3a8

4. Masango J, Casteleijn D, Adams F, Rauch van der Merwe T. (2024). Occupational Therapy practice in psychiatry day hospitals: A Scoping Review. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(3). https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2024/vol54no3a5

5. Meyer, A. F., Casteleijn, D., & Silaule, O. (2024). The therapeutic impact of occupational therapy groups on the activity participation of persons with major depressive disorder in an acute mental health setting. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(1). https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2024/vol54no2a3

6. Maboko, D., Armstrong, S., & Casteleijn, D. (2024). Patient perceptions of nurses’ cultural competence in public sector hospitals in Gauteng. Health SA Gesondheid, 29, 13 pages. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2499

7. Monareng L, Casteleijn D, Franzsen D. (2024). The occupation of self-employment in South African informal microenterprises. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy; 54 (1) http://dx.doi.org/10.17195/2310-3383/2024/vol54no1a4

8. Silaule O, Casteleijn D, Adams F, Nkosi NG. 2024. Strategies to Alleviate the Burden Experienced by Informal Caregivers of Persons with Severe Mental Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review. Interact J Med Res2024;13:e48587 doi: 10.2196/48587

9. Casteleijn D, Uys K, du Plooy E, Buys T, Lister H & de Bruyn J: Occupational adaptation of occupational therapists in a global crisis: Lessons learned from a Q-methodology study, Journal of Occupational Science, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/14427591.2023.2291795

10. van Niekerk K, Balbadhur R, Casteleijn D, D'Oliviera J, Msimango H, Uys K. The lived experiences of South African occupational therapists regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their wellness. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2023; 53(3): DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2023/vol53n3a6

11. Bastable K, Cooke P, Harvey L, Olarte V, Casteleijn D, Dada S. 2023. Changing the Story: The Evaluation of a Leadership Development Programme for Vulnerable and Deaf Youth in South Africa. Social Sciences.; 12(11):631. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12110631

12. Adams F, Casteleijn D. 2023. Assessment of participation in collective occupations: Domains and items. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy 53(2), 86-94. https:/doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2023/vol53n2a9

13. Buys T, Casteleijn D, Heyns T, Untiedt H. 2022 A reflexive lens on preparing and conducting semi-structured interviews with academic colleagues. Qualitative Health Research. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/10497323221130832

14. Ramodise N, Casteleijn D, Du Plooy E, Msimango H, Ramodike V. 2022Occupational therapists’ perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on their clients in Gauteng, South Africa - a qualitative retrospective study. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy 52(3), 24-33. https://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2022/vol52n3a4

15. Deegbe, D. A., Tshabalala, A. M., Aziato, L., & Casteleijn, D. 2022 Meanings of quality of life among people living with epilepsy in Ghana; a qualitative exploratory study. Epilepsy & Behavior, 129, 108527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108527

16. Gradidge PJ-L, Casteleijn D, Palmeira A, Maddison R, Draper CE (2022) Employee perceptions of non-communicable diseases health risks, absenteeism and the role of organisational support in a South African pharmaceutical manufacturing company. PLoS ONE 17(12): e0279008. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279008

17. Silaule O, Casteleijn D. 2021 Measuring change in activity participation of mental health care users attending an Occupational Therapy programme in Rural South Africa. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy 2021; 51(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2021/vol51n3a8

18. Gradidge P, Draper C, Casteleijn D, Palmeira A. Pharmaceutical workers’ perceptions of physical activity and healthy eating: a qualitative study BMC Research Notes 2021; 14:350 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-021-05765-8

19. Uys K, Casteleijn D, van Niekerk K, Balbadhur R, d’ Oliveira J, Msimango H, The impact of COVID-19 on occupational therapy rehabilitation services in South Africa – a qualitative study. South African Health review, 2021 2021(1), 13-20. https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/ejc-healthr-v2021-n1-a17

20. Monareng LL, Franzsen D, Casteleijn D, van Biljon H. The application of the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability to self-employment in South African informal microenterprises. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy2021; 51(2): 74-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2021/vol51n2a10

21. Joseph RY, Casteleijn D, van der Linde J and Franzsen D. Sensory Modulation Dysfunction in Child Victims of Trauma: a Scoping Review. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma 2021; pp.1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-020-00333-x

22. Camp A, Casteleijn D & Thupae D. Responsiveness of the Activity Participation Outcome Measure in adult patients with Traumatic Brain Injury in an acute private neurological rehabilitation setting in South Africa: a case report. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2020; 50(2): 70 – 76. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2020/ vol50no2a9

23. Van Niekerk L, Casteleijn D, Govindjee A, Grobler S, Holness W, Oberholster N, Conceptualising disability: Health and legal perspectives related to psycho-social disability and work. South African Journal of Ethics and Health Law. 2020;13(1):43-51. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.2020.v13i1.689

Masters students

1. M Jansen. M Occ Ther (UP). Tailoring the model of creative ability to patients with diabetic foot problems.

2. J Freeme. MSc OT (WITS). The training and practice in neurological rehabilitation theories in the occupational therapy management of stroke patients in South Africa.

3. R du Plessis. M Occ Ther (UP). Factors influencing the creative participation of people living in an inner city/

4. L Michell. MSc OT (WITS). Initial investigation into the factors related to employment of individuals living with a spinal cord injury in a specific South African population.

5. C Rice. MSc OT (WITS). The development of an assessment protocol for activity participation in those suffering from mental illness.

6. C Brooke. MSc OT (WITS). Selected psychometric properties of the activity participation outcome measure to describe trends in a forensic population of mental health care users.

7. A Camp. MSc OT (WITS). The responsiveness and relevance of the activity of the participation outcome measure in patients with traumatic brain injury in an acute neurological rehabilitation setting.

8. O Silaule. MSc OT (WITS). Routine measurement of outcomes for mental health care users attending occupational therapy.

9. Q Nepaul. MSc OT (WITS). The association between substance abuse, psychosis and activity participation in adults: a retrospective record review.

10. S Pillay. MSc OT (WITS). Responsiveness to change and convergent validity of the activity participation outcome measure (APOM) in adolescent mental health care users.

11. L Monareng. MSc OT (WITS). The activity participation profile of self-employed individuals in informal micro-enterprises in a low resourced community.

12. A Meyer. MSc OT (WITS). Change in activity participation of mental health care users with major depressive disorder attending occupational therapy groups. .

13. N Doorasaamy. MSc OT (WITS). Clinical utility of commonly used neurocognitive tests in assessing occupational performance in Functional Capacity Evaluation.

14. A Prior. MMed (Psychiatry). Construct Validity of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale – Expanded Version in a South African community psychiatry setting using Rasch Model Analysis.

15. H van der Walt. M Occ Ther (Neurology). Occupational performance and participation of older persons with dementia in a South African context - a case study. 1

PhD students

1. HJ Loubser. PhD (WITS). The validation of nursing measures for patients with unpredictable outcomes.

2. F Adams. PhD (WITS). Development of descriptors for domains and items for collective participation in occupations.

3. W Sherwood. PhD (WITS). An investigation into the theoretical construction of effort and maximum effort as a contribution to the theory of creative ability.

4. H van Biljon. PhD (WITS). Transforming the vocational rehabilitation services of occupational therapists in Gauteng public healthcare through action learning action research.

5. J Jansen van Rensburg. PhD (WITS). The development and validation of a quality of life assessment instrument for cancer patients in South Africa.

6. J McAdam. PhD (WITS). Development and validation of the rural activities of daily living manual handling sort.

7. J van der Linde. PhD (WITS). The development of a screening instrument to identify sensory integration difficulties in children from low socioeconomic environments.

8. L Jacobs. PhD (WITS). The Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Neurodevelopmental Supportive Care Training Programme Related to Preterm Infants in the South African Public Health Sector.

9. D Maboko. PhD (WITS). Development of a Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument for Unit Managers in Public Sector Hospitals in Gauteng.

10. M Owamahoro. PhD (WITS). Development of an instrument to assess self-management barriers among patients diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes in Rwanda: a mix-method study.

11. D Deegbe. PhD (WITS). Development and validation of a quality-of-life tool for people living with epilepsy in Ghana.

PHD students

1. E du Plooy. PhD (WITS). Personalized adaptive learning intervention for student learning profiles in an undergraduate Occupational Therapy curriculum.

2. H Msimango. PhD (UP). Development of standard intervention guidelines for self-sufficiency for clients in a substance-use harm reduction programme in Tshwane, South Africa.

3. M Visser. PhD (UFS). Towards the development of a hand function assessment instrument for South African preschool children 

4. L Meyer. PhD (Stellenbosch). Understanding how the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability (VdTMoCA) could enhance
leadership development in Primary Healthcare South Africa

Masters students

1. C van der Westhuizen. MOT  (UP). Probing work readiness as occupational therapy construct in the context of school-to-work transition

2. H Jonas. MOT (UP). The impact of a CBT programme on personality disorders.

3. D Schutte. MOT (UP). The association of work participation and coping strategies: an occupational therapy perspective in a military context.

4. A van Rooyen. MOT (UP). Occupational therapists’ key competencies in supporting school-to-work transitioning of learners with intellectual disability.

5. I Burger. MOT (UP). Work readiness   skills of employees with intellectual disability: an exploration of   employer’s perceptions

I have developed a strong and diverse research portfolio, with particular expertise in instrument development and the validation of both new and existing measures. My work focuses on establishing the psychometric properties of assessment and outcome tools, drawing on advanced methodologies such as the Rasch Measurement Model, factor analysis, and Q-methodology. I am proficient in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and have applied these in a range of contexts, including case studies, scoping reviews, evidence mapping, and implementation research. This methodological versatility has enabled me to generate meaningful, practice-relevant evidence across a variety of health-related fields, contributing to the development of reliable tools and frameworks that inform policy, education, and clinical practice.

Membership in national and international bodies

• Editorial Committee of the British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Chairperson of the Vona and Marié du Toit Foundation in South Africa
• Member of the Occupational Therapy Association of SA (OTASA)
• Member of the World Federation of OTs (WFOT)

Patent

I developed the Activity Participation Outcome Measure (APOM), an outcome measure for tracking activity participation in mental health in my PhD. Its psychometric properties were tested using Item Response Theory and the Rasch Measurement Model, positioning it as a rigorously validated clinical tool.

The APOM was patented in 2019 with patent number 2018/01814. The South African Database of Functional Medicine (SADFM) owns 50% of the patent.

Together with participating clinicians, we established and maintained a national and international APOM database with over 900 cases. This data is analysed to inform evidence-based practice in mental health and neurological conditions in OT.

Technical reports

Validity of the Harmonised Assessment Tool for Adult Disability Grants. This report was the outcome of contract research done for the Department of Social Development with Tender no: RFQ 01/2014 and Ethical clearance number M141046.

National presentations

• OTASA Virtual National Congress OT for changing context. July 2024. 12 presentations of pre- and postgraduate students related to the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability
• OTASA 35thNational Congress, Johannesburg, July 2016. Oral presentation: Validation of the Harmonised Assessment Tool for assessment of eligibility for disability grants and free health care in South Africa.
• OTASA 34th National Congress, Cape Town, April 2014. Workshop: Using routine measurement of outcomes in occupational therapy.
• OTASA 33rdNational Congress, Durban, July 2012:

     o Vona du Toit Memorial Lecture: The stepping stones from input to outcomes: an occupational perspective.

     o Oral presentation: Advantages of routine outcome measurement

International presentations

• 18th World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, Paris, France. July 2022. Poster presentation: Levels of Creative Ability and Violence: Understanding the Relationship in Secure Settings
• 6thInternational VdTMoCA Conference, July 2019, London, UK. Workshop presentation: Assessment of task concept – theory and practice.
• College of Occupational Therapy Annual British Conference, June 2013, Glasgow Scottland: Oral presentation: The levels of Creative Ability as a measure of activity participation - fact or fiction?
• EU project International Closing Congress: Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation 31 May – 2 June 2017, Istanbul, Turkey. Invited speaker: Occupational therapy contribution towards employment of people with disabilities.
• 5thInternational VdTMoCA Conference, 18 July 2017, London, UK

     o Becoming evidence based: The VdTMoCA in outcome measurement – D Casteleijn & O Silaule

     o Could the levels of Creative Ability be applied to supervision and development of staff in the workplace? – S Wilson & D Casteleijn

• World Psychiatric Association 2016 Congress, 18 – 22 November 2016. Cape Town. The Psychometric Properties Of The Activity Participation Outcome Measure For Mental Health Care Users - A Rasch Analysis
• 6thInternational Rasch Conference, Cape Town, 12 – 14 Jan 2015. Oral presentation: The psychometric properties of the Activity Participation Outcome Measure for mental health care users: A Rasch analysis.
• 4th International Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability Occupational Therapy Conference: “Making connections, making a difference”. Birmingham UK, 8 July 2015. Oral presentation: The Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability (VdTMoCA) and evidence-based practice – results from routine outcome measurement studies.
• 6th Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Congress: “Doing well together”. Rotorua, New Zealand, 14 – 17 September 2015. Oral presentation: The application of the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability in routine outcome measurement.
• 16th World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress, Yokohama, Japan. Jun 2014. Oral presentation: Best practice to demonstrate the impact of Occupational Therapy services in mental healthcare users.
• 3rd Creative Ability Conference, Hamilton House London, June 2013. Oral presentation: The psychometric properties of the Functional Levels Outcome Measure (FLOM.)

1. NRF Thuthuka. Validation of the Activity Participation Outcome Measure (APOM), 3 yrs. R540 000

2. Contract   research – Dept of Social Development. Validation of the Harmonised Assessment Tool, 3 yrs. R500 000

3. Carnegie WITS Diaspora programme with alumi from Northampton University. Alignment of the VdTMoCA with the ICF – a Q-Methodology study and other research activities, 5 yrs. R300 000

4. Technical Assistance for Increasing the Employability of People with   Disabilities Europe Aid/136449/IH/SER/TR - Turkey

Training in   the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability to enhance employability of people   with disabilities in Turkey

6 weeks. R75 000

5. Leeds University (Research lead). Impact of  COVID-19 on occupational therapists’ mental health: a  mixed method study in South Africa

18 months. R37 000

6. The Internal staff Grant at UP: Research Development Programme for new staff members. Developing minimum standards of training for the Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability, 1 Year, R50000

• External examiner of 11 dissertations from University of the Free State, University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch
• Internal examiner for 10 WITS MSc reports and dissertations
• External examiner of five PhD theses from the University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch and University of the Freestate

I am a regular reviewer of articles for the SA Journal of OT (SAJOT), the British Journal of OT (BJOT), Occupational Therapy International (OTI), Occupational Therapy in Mental health, South African Journal of Psychiatry and Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (HQLO), 12 in total since 2018.