Occupational therapy in primary care: Results from a national survey: L'ergothérapie dans les soins primaires : Résultats d'un sondage national.

Abstract

To support integration of occupational therapy in primary care and research in this area, it is critical to document examples of occupational therapy in primary care. This study describes occupational therapy roles and models of practice used in primary care. An electronic survey was sent to occupational therapists across Canada. Participants were identified using purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Respondents ( n = 52) were almost exclusively working on interprofessional teams. Intervention was provided most frequently to individual clients, and services were provided both within the home/community and in the clinic. Occupational therapists offered a range of health promotion and prevention services, predominantly to adults and older adults. A number of supports and barriers to the integration of occupational therapy were identified. A growing number of occupational therapists are working in primary care providing a broad range of services across the life span.