Pioneering occupational therapy and occupational science: Ideas and practitioners before 1917

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe concept of using occupation with patients or clients was well established by the time the founders of the American professional organization met in 1917, but the origins that focus on using occupation as a change agent for individual patient benefit remain unclear. Therefore the questions for this paper are: (1) When did occupation begin to be used as a change agent for individual benefit? (2) Who were the people that first advanced the notion of occupation as a potential positive change agent? and (3) What were their ideas about how occupation could be applied? The answers were found by searching the journal literature using multiple terms, about 25, related to the concept of occupation since the term “occupational therapy” did not appear in print until 1915. Ninety-five articles were located published in North American between 1897 and 1916. Six early practice models were identified by terms used in the authors’ publications: institutional occupation, diversional occupation, work cure, habit training, specialized workshops and invalid occupation. The authors of the articles were organized into four professional groups: physicians, other professionals (psychologists, nurses, and artists), occupation workers, and occupational therapy personnel. Selected individuals from each group were reviewed along with a sample of their work. The earliest identified published example among the authors was the occupation of gardening, initiated in 1896 but not published until 1917. The earliest identified article describing the value of occupation was published in 1897.