Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Research Articles

Role of occupational therapy in person-centred dementia care: Exploring family member and clinician perceptions.

This study aimed to explore the role of occupational therapy in dementia facilities using a person-centred model of care, from the perspective of family members, occupational therapists and multidisciplinary health professionals. A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted, and all data were evaluated using thematic analysis. Semi-structured interviews were completed with eight family members and five multidisciplinary health professionals. Four occupational therapists practising in dementia care also provided qualitative data via an online survey. The analysis identified two key themes around perceptions of occupational therapy in person-centred dementia care. These themes were (1) the poorly defined scope of the occupational therapy role and (2) the perceived features of the occupational therapy role. While the perceptions and experiences of participants varied, the scope of this role is currently poorly defined. Occupational therapists in this setting commonly facilitate positive social interaction and present-oriented occupational engagement with residents and are also recognised as building workforce capacity with multidisciplinary colleagues. Without a clearly defined scope of practice, the role of occupational therapy in enabling health and well-being for people with dementia cannot be coherently articulated. This could lead to underutilisation of occupational therapy services, and lost opportunities for residents to experience improved health and well-being.

School Administrators’ Perceptions of Occupational Therapy’s Role in General Education Initiatives

ABSTRACT The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 has outlined an expanded role for school-based occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) as specialized instructional support personnel in general education. However, OTPs have continued to be viewed as related service professionals under special education due to barriers of high caseloads and decreased administrative support. This study sought to understand school administrators’ perceptions of occupational therapy’s role in general education initiatives. A qualitative sample of ten Connecticut school administrators was utilized to answer the research question. Data was acquired through individual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis indicated three key themes which include school administrators highly regard OTPs, believe occupational therapy’s role should be expanded in general education, and are open to occupational therapy’s full scope of practice in the educational setting. However, administrators noted time and budget barriers hindered OTPs’ role expansion to support general education initiatives.

Evaluation of the Educational Environment Based on the Perception of Occupational Therapy (OT) Students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran (2013 - 2020)

Background: The evaluation of educational environments is the key to achieving a student-centered and qualified curriculum. Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the educational environment in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran, focused on occupational therapy (OT) students, using the Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire for incoming students of 8 years (2013 - 2020). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical, and applied study was carried out on two occasions in 2017 and 2021. The students' perspectives of the 4incomings between 2013 to 2016 (group 1) and another four incomings between 2017 to 2020 (group 2) were evaluated. SPSS software (version 23) was utilized for data analysis. Results: The average total score of the educational environment questionnaire for all 136 students was 102.301 ± 20.607. There was a statistically significant difference in the perception of students in these two groups. The results showed better quality in the total score of the educational environment and all subdomains of this questionnaire in group 2 with a P-value of < 0.05. Conclusions: It seems that OT students’ perception shows a semi-favorable to favorable circumstance regarding the educational environment in SUMS. The incoming OT students from 2017 to 2020 in SUMS have reported more favorable conditions in all aspects of the educational environment than the incoming students from 2013 to 2016. Students' perspectives were more negative after passing their years of studying at the university. Serious reforms in the educational environment of OT at SUMS are needed.

Arab healthcare professionals’ knowledge and perception of occupational therapy

BackgroundOccupational therapy (OT) services are not widespread and not well-represented or integrated into many healthcare settings. As a result, OT is not available at many clinical and rehabilitation institutions, which has led to both poor access and reduced knowledge and benefit from OT in many countries worldwide and in the Arab region.ObjectiveTo examine Arab healthcare professionals’ level of knowledge and perception of OT in an attempt to identify what action is required to enhance awareness and promote OT profession.MethodsA descriptive online survey was conducted for healthcare professionals from different disciplines and Arab countries to obtain their knowledge and perceptions of OT.ResultsA total of 281 healthcare professionals completed the survey (57% were male). Of the total, only 96 (34.2%) have had worked with OT before, 144 (51.2%) were uncertain about the main domain of OT, 98 (34.9%) were not fully aware of the diverse OT healthcare work settings and different health conditions handled by OT, and 126 (44.8%) were not sure about the difference between OT and physical therapy (PT). Almost two third of the sample (187; 66.5%) were not satisfied with their knowledge of OT, 195 (69.4%) showed interest in learning further about OT, and 209 (74.4%) agreed that OT plays a vital role in the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. There were significant associations between the participants’ knowledge of OT and their specialty (p = 0.01) and years of experience (p = 0.02).ConclusionMost Arab healthcare professionals perceive OT as playing a vital role in the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. However, OT is not clearly understood and healthcare professionals are not well-educated about OT services and benefits. There is an emerging need to educate healthcare professionals on the focus areas of OT practice. Promoting and advocating for OT is key and crucial.

A Study on the Perception of Occupational Therapy Among General High School Students Nationwide: Based on the 2021 Online Survey

A Study on the Perception of Occupational Therapy Among General High School Students Nationwide: Based on the 2021 Online Survey

A student centered interprofessional awareness program to increase knowledge and improve attitudes about substance use disorder

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) constitute a national public health crisis resulting in nearly 91,000 overdose related deaths annually. Negative attitudes and stigma within the general population, as well as healthcare professionals, towards individuals with SUDs present a barrier to identification and treatment. SUD related training programs exert a positive influence on the attitudes of health care professionals. To evaluate the impact of a SUDs training seminar on the attitudes and perceptions of occupational therapy, pharmacy, and physician assistant students towards individuals with SUDs, as well as the perceived value of interprofessional education and collaboration. Two standardized assessments were utilized to determine the course impact on knowledge and attitudes regarding interprofessional teams and stigma related to SUDs after completion of a 2-day interprofessional seminar. Analysis of the survey responses revealed statistically significant changes in all factors related to participants’ values and understanding of Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) compentencies as well as many of the factors regarding attitudes towards SUDs and their treatment. The activities incorporated in the two-day seminar were effective in exerting statistically significant changes in student knowledge of interprofessional teams and attitudes towards SUDs.

Marketing the Profession: The Influence of Non-Traditional Psychosocial Fieldwork on Perceptions of Occupational Therapy

Current literature examines nontraditional occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork experiences from the students’ perspective while investigating the professional identity within these settings. There is a lack of research from the perspective of other professionals working with students in these settings. This qualitative study identified six themes from interviews with non-OT professionals working in psychosocial settings: OT is a holistic/client-centered profession, individual professional growth, common skills of an OT, benefits of OT, student preparation, and sustainability of services. Results indicate that nontraditional fieldwork heightened awareness of the OT profession and marketed its value in community-based psychosocial settings.

Persons With Dementia and Their Caregivers' Perceptions About Occupational Therapy and Telehealth: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Occupational therapy (OT) services provided in the home to a person with dementia can decrease caregiver burden by targeting home modifications, functional performance, and safety. One method to deliver these services is through telehealth. The use of telehealth is expanding rapidly, but there is a current lack of evidence to support the use of telehealth to deliver OT services to persons with dementia. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of persons with dementia and their caregivers about the use of telehealth to receive OT services. A qualitative descriptive design was used. Results provided themes in three domains: dementia journey, skills for technology use, and perceptions of OT. Each participant identified a unique journey through awareness, challenges, and adaptive strategies as they adjusted to a life with dementia. The skills for technology focused on current usage and perceptions about technology. Participants had limited knowledge of OT but did appreciate the role it has in dementia care. The themes identified in the study provide support for further exploration of the use of telehealth in OT for persons with dementia and their caregivers.

High School Transition Team Members’ Perception of Occupational Therapy–Conducted Transition Assessments

Abstract Date Presented 4/20/2018 Most of a sample of special educators indicated that occupational therapists can conduct transition assessments to create postsecondary transition plans for adolescents with disabilities. By addressing occupational performance, vocational interests, sensory processing, and self-determination, occupational therapists can analyze students’ strengths, interests, deficits, coursework, and postsecondary goals for housing, education, training, and employment. Primary Author and Speaker: Christopher Trujillo Additional Authors and Speakers: Mikaela Carr, Meghan Poach

Occupational Therapy Early Intervention in Indiana and Contiguous States

Objective: This study examined the reasons why a particular discipline is chosen to provide early intervention services within the states of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky, the perception of the personnel that determines appropriate disciplines, and the personnel understanding of that discipline’s scope of practice. Method: A total of 72 early intervention personnel from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky completed an online survey. IRB approval was obtained prior to the initiation of the study. Results: Some determiners of early intervention services perceive an overlap in the services offered by occupational therapy and developmental therapy. Some participants acknowledged that occupational therapy services are underutilized; however, most believed services were utilized appropriately. Conclusions: The perception of occupational therapy and developmental therapy scopes overlapping can result in a lack of referrals to the best discipline for a child’s need. Some barriers may exist to receiving occupational therapy in early intervention.

Perceptions of fieldwork in occupational therapy.

There are few studies in occupational therapy that compare the perceptions of supervisors and students regarding quality clinical placement programmes, and those that exist indicate substantial differences in the perceptions held by each group. This pilot study was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive design, with a single questionnaire distributed to occupational therapy students and clinical supervisors. A total of 40 questionnaires were returned: 17 from students and 23 from clinical supervisors. Differences were found between the perceptions of occupational therapy students and clinical supervisors in response to four topics: preparation from the university for their placements; consistency across placement sites; instances of supervisors seeking feedback from students; and the burden associated with the placement-related workload for clinicians. Differences were found between the perceptions ofoccupational therapy students andclinical supervisors in response to four topics DISCUSSION: Different perceptions around preparation from universities and consistency across placement sites relate to the existing roles of each group: students are more aware of university preparation and clinical supervisors are more aware of organisational inconsistencies in their respective usual work environments. The discrepancy in the perceived seeking of feedback from students has also been reported in student debriefing sessions. The burdens perceived by clinical supervisors appear to be influenced by a belief that clinical education is an additional duty rather than a core role.

A Phenomenological Study on the Perception of Occupational Therapists Practicing in the Emergency Department

Background: The purpose of the study was to increase the scope of knowledge regarding the perception of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working in the emergency department (ED). A literature review identified a gap in knowledge of OT practitioners working in the ED. Methods: The 10 participants in this study were registered and licensed OT practitioners working at five acute-care settings with experience working in the ED in Pennsylvania hospitals. A qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of participants’ lived experiences. Results: Using qualitative data analysis program Atlas.ti 7®, the central themes discovered were discharge recommendations that ensure patient safety, the next step, lack of education, and factors affecting the future of OT in the ED. The roles identified by participants included performing safety assessments, recommending equipment, and education. The perception of OT practitioners regarding other health care professionals was that OT services were positive and beneficial to staff. Conclusion: The OT practitioners reported a positive perception of their work, including quality of patient care with regard to patient safety and decreasing return visits to the ED. It is believed that OT in the ED will expand in the future; however, limitations include lack of education and physical organization of the ED.

Patients’ and caregivers’ perceptions of occupational therapy and adapting to discharge home from an inpatient palliative care setting

Introduction There is limited research into the role of occupational therapy in discharge planning in palliative care. This study aimed to explore patients’ and caregivers’ perceptions of occupational therapy in the context of discharge home from an inpatient palliative care setting. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and caregivers following discharge home from inpatient palliative care. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and data was thematically analysed. Results Five caregivers and three patients were interviewed. Three main themes emerged: (1) shared roles in discharge planning; (2) perceived benefits of occupational therapy; and (3) adapting to discharge home. Patients and caregivers viewed occupational therapy as the practical help needed to achieve discharge. They had difficulty differentiating between professional roles and perceived the discharge process as a shared responsibility between themselves and the clinicians. Adapting to discharge home involved coping with the uncertain and unexpected, where limited understanding of professional roles meant participants did not know who to seek assistance from. Conclusion Occupational therapy was viewed as the practical help needed for discharge home from a palliative care setting. Clinicians need to take primary responsibility for understanding each other’s roles and providing information on who can assist after discharge.

Practitioners’ Perceptions of Occupational Therapy in Middle School Settings

Abstract Date Presented 4/17/2015 In this qualitative study, we explored the practices of occupational therapists working in middle schools to identify current trends in an effort to ascertain what would be considered best practice for adolescents in middle schools as well as to support therapists in understanding their roles in this setting.

Parents’ Perceptions of Occupational Therapy Provided in Group-Based Sensory Motor Therapy

Parental perceptions of occupational therapy intervention are important in understanding the benefit of therapy programs for the child and family. Teacher’s involvement may further help in the classroom, gym class, and playground. The purpose of this article is to describe a novel approach to a group-based sensory motor therapy program that entailed using a one-way mirror and parental feedback regarding their participation and that of their children. A retrospective review of a preliminary program evaluation of a group-based sensory motor porgram was conducted. Parents were asked to rate components of the program on a five-point ordinal scale and qualitatively list the perceived benefits of the group for their child and themselves. Forty-three parents completed the questionnaire. The respondents mean satisfaction (range = 4.4–4.9) was excellent. The parents’ qualitative feedback was organized into five categories for the perceived benefits of the group both for their child and for themselves. Parental invovlement in group-based sensory motor therapy that allows them to observe together behind a one-way mirror is beneficial for them and their children. A similar model conducted in schools may benefit teachers and students.

Foundations for work-related practice: occupational therapy and physiotherapy entry-level curricula

Aims/background: Occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) curricula content and preparedness for work-related practice and occupational health and safety (OHS) are not well documented. This study aimed to identify content and other elements of entry-level curricula in 23 OT and 17 PT programmes from Australia and New Zealand, and to identify educators' perceptions of OT and PT graduates' preparedness for work-related practice and OHS topics. Method: A telephone survey collected curricula content as well as teaching and assessment methods from 19 OT and PT work-related practice educators. Educators reported perceptions of new graduate preparedness for 22 topics in the field of work-related practice identified in an earlier study. Results included descriptive statistics and thematic analyses. Findings: Educators reported a high rate of inclusion (81%) of work-related practice topics in curricula. The main teaching method was theory (99.5%) and other methods included hands-on practical work with students and fieldwork with clients. Educators reported similar assessment processes across programmes. New graduates were prepared for practice with minimal supervision in the majority of topics (81%). Conclusions: Work-related practice content was included strongly and consistently in OT and PT entry-level curricula. However, as the majority of content was embedded in other courses, topics may not have been explicit and identifiable to students. New graduates were perceived to be prepared for practice with minimal supervision. This finding will assist employers to understand new graduates' preparedness for practice and needs for further development. Preparedness for practice in this field was similar to expectations of preparedness for other practice areas.

An Investigation of the Satisfaction and Perception of Fieldwork Experiences Among Occupational Therapy Students

Objective Fieldwork practice is an essential part of education in occupational therapy (OT). For an OT educator, it is crucial to understand students’ perceptions and satisfaction of fieldwork practice to raise its overall quality. Methods Students’ perceptions and satisfaction of their fieldwork were measured with the students’ fieldwork satisfaction assessment. The assessment contains three subscales: the degree of satisfaction with the clinical setting, supervisors, and the improvement of professional knowledge. A total of 67 senior-year OT students from six universities in Taiwan were recruited. The students’ overall perceptions of and satisfaction with their fieldwork were obtained. Results Results indicated that the level of satisfaction was high among students (mean ± standard deviation = 3.94 ± 0.52). In addition, students had relatively lower satisfaction with the hospital environment (3.57 ± 0.48). Students who considered pre-fieldwork preparation to be necessary often had higher satisfaction (4.05 ± 0.51) with fieldwork experience than those who considered it unnecessary (3.61 ± 0.47; p = .004). Our results showed that students practicing in the field of physical disabilities were more satisfied with their fieldwork than were students in the field of psychiatric disabilities (p = .003). Students’ perception of OT was a significant predictor for students’ degree of satisfaction with fieldwork (p < .001). Conclusion To elevate the quality of the clinical education of OT students, educators may improve the facilities and spaces in the hospital departments.

Educators' Perceived Role of Occupational Therapy in Secondary Transition

The purpose of this study was to gain information regarding special educators' perceptions of occupational therapy's role in secondary transition planning in the state of Arkansas. Non-experimental design, using survey methodology with open-ended questions, was used to explore participants' responses to the topic. Forty-one participants who attended a statewide transition conference completed the survey over a two year period. Using exploratory analysis, the responses were examined for common constructs and reported quantitatively. Limited involvement of occupational therapy in secondary transition services was reported but respondents seemed to be fairly knowledgeable of the possible roles of occupational therapy in this area. In addition, the participants were receptive to the possibility of the inclusion of occupational therapy in the process. The results provide implications and possibilities for future growth in this area of practice.

Occupational therapy students’ perceptions of occupational therapy

An understanding of students' perceptions of occupational therapy on entry is required to recognise how professional socialisation occurs through curriculum. Findings pertain to a qualitative study investigating students' perceptions of occupational therapy upon entry to two occupational therapy programmes in Australia. Students commencing Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and Masters of Occupational Therapy Studies programmes participated in the study (n = 462). A purpose-designed questionnaire was distributed to students in the first lecture of each programme. Preliminary analysis comprised identification of keywords/phrases and coding categories were generated from patterns of keywords. Frequency counts and percentages of keywords/phrases within categories were completed. Students' responses were categorised as 'what' occupational therapists do; 'how' they do it; 'why' they do it; and 'who' they work with. In 'what' occupational therapists do students frequently described 'helping' people. Both undergraduate and graduate entry masters students used the term 'rehabilitation' to describe how occupational therapy is done, with graduate entry students occasionally responding with 'through occupation' and 'modifying the environment'. Students perceived the 'why' of occupational therapy as getting back to 'everyday activities', with some students emphasising returning to 'normal' activities or life. Regarding the 'who' category, students also thought occupational therapists worked with people with an 'injury' or 'disability'. Students entered their occupational therapy programmes with perceptions consistent with the general public's views of occupational therapy. However, graduate entry students exposed to a pre-reading package prior to entry had more advanced occupational therapy concepts than undergraduate students.

Ein Weg zur Lebenskompetenz: Präventives ergotherapeutisches Handeln an der Regelschule

INTRODUCTION: German occupational therapy increasingly opens to preventive projects. Currently there are only few concepts and guidelines for preventive projects in German schools. OBJECTIVE: Coverage of the methodical actions of six occupational therapists, who are doing preventive work at schools, and creation of occupational recommendations for schools - these topics were in the focus of the study in question. METHOD: As the method of data collection we chose semi-structured, guideline based interviews with experts. Evaluation of data was based on the qualitative content analysis by Glaser and Laudel. RESULTS: The methods of the occupational therapists involved in the study proved to be diverse. Nevertheless similarities are visible, e. g. the funding of projects or interdisciplinary labor. CONCLUSION: All in all, it is crucial to dissociate from the rehabilitative perception of occupational therapy to strengthen preventive work at schools.