World Federation Of Occupational Therapists Research Articles

Developing a Global Strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce: a two-phased mixed-methods consultation of country representatives shows the need for clarifying task-sharing strategies

IntroductionOccupational therapy has been underdeveloped and often neglected in the global health workforce agenda, contrasting with the global rise of population needs for services. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is utilizing a research-based, multi-step process for developing a Global Strategy for strengthening the occupational therapist workforce. A multi-pronged scoping review, situational analysis, and expert input process enabled the drafting of a provisional Global Strategy. Here, feedback on that draft from representatives of WFOT member organizations was obtained and analyzed as one key intermediate step toward shaping the in-developing Strategy’s content and structure.MethodsTwo-phased, mixed-methods consultation consisting of: (1) online survey with score ratings and comments on the utility of each strategy and (2) four in-person focus groups discussions on low-scoring items involving a total of 76 representatives of WFOT member organizations. The focus group discussions were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach.ResultsStrategies involving ‘task shifting/task sharing’ or the ‘harmonization of workforce data-collection requirements’ received the lowest scores in the initial survey and were thereby addressed in the focus groups discussions. The overarching theme of the focus groups was the need to: “clarify, specify, and contextualize the strategies”, including: (1) “clarify the terminology and specify the application”, for example, describe the meaning of task shifting, specify which tasks can (and cannot) be shifted and to whom, to address concerns regarding scope-of-practice, service demand, and safety; and (2) “outline the context of need and the context for the implementation” of the strategies, elucidating why the strategies are needed and how they can be feasibly implemented across the different jurisdictional contexts.ConclusionWithin a mixed-methods consultation, WFOT representatives identified challenging topics on the draft workforce strategies and suggested methods to improve the Global Strategy, its acceptability, and implementation. The terms ‘task shifting/task sharing’ raised the greatest discussion among the profession leaders, when the strategy was not sufficiently clarified, specified, or contextualized.

Current Practice in Occupational Therapy for COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Conditions.

The onset of the pandemic highlighted the need for a review of rehabilitation practices to ensure coordinated, effective, and efficient services for people affected by COVID-19. This paper reports on a global survey highlighting the delivery of occupational therapy services to people with COVID-19/post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and makes recommendations to facilitate quality service delivery for this population. An online cross-sectional descriptive survey was developed and distributed to the global occupational therapy community via member organisations and communication channels of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists to collect information for this study. The survey obtained qualitative and quantitative data from respondents who were occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants regarding (i) demographic characteristics, (ii) work experience with persons with COVID-19 and PCC, (iii) modes of working, (iv) education and training, (iv) occupational therapy intervention provided to persons with COVID-19 and PCC, and (v) the perceived quality of the occupational therapy services provided. Findings indicate that respondents provided a range of occupational therapy interventions for people affected by COVID-19/PCC aligned with evidence-based practice guidelines. While respondents identified a strong role for occupational therapy and generally rated their services as effective, issues related to the accessibility of their services impacted quality and user satisfaction. The study highlighted the need to advocate for access to occupational therapy to facilitate engagement in desired and needed occupations for COVID-19 survivors. Other recommendations emerging from the findings include the need to develop, disseminate, and use research evidence for guiding services for people with COVID-19/PCC, create quality service standards, and ensure the availability of necessary resources and supports such as referral pathways and screening criteria, availability of staff, training, personal protective equipment, and assistive devices and technology.

Environmental sustainability: An exploratory study of the perceived knowledge, attitudes, and skills of occupational therapists practicing in Australia.

The threat of climate change to the health and wellbeing of the Australian population is well documented. Literature is emerging to support the role of occupational therapy in environmental sustainability. To date, the perspectives of occupational therapists practicing in Australia are yet to be explored. This study aimed to explore these perspectives, specifically occupational therapists' knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding environmental sustainability. A mixed methods study using a cross-sectional survey design and convergence model was undertaken. A survey was developed using closed- and open-ended questions drawn from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Guiding Principles for Sustainability. The online survey remained open from March to September 2021. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and inductive content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data. Merged integration was used to identify convergence and divergence between data sets and enable conclusions to be drawn. Responses were received from 37 participants. For occupational therapists practicing in Australia there appeared to be an incongruence between the importance of environmental sustainability in daily life compared to professional practice. In professional practice, there are several perceived barriers that are outside of the locus of control of the therapist. Therapists are motivated to engage in this concept but are unsure how to do so. Findings provide an initial understanding about environmental sustainability from the current perspectives of occupational therapists practicing in Australia. More structured guidance is required to integrate environmental sustainability considerations into professional practice. Future research should focus on developing a more in-depth understanding of the concepts preliminarily explored in this study.

Telehealth in Occupational Therapy in India

Background: Telehealth was first used in 1998 and refers to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to provide rehabilitation services at a distance. In 2014, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) acknowledged telehealth as an appropriate service delivery model for occupational therapy (OT) services. The WFOT published a telehealth position statement, which defined telehealth as “the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to deliver health-related services when the provider and the client are in different physical locations.” Objective: The purpose of this review was to analyze the empirical studies on teletherapy in OT over the past 20 years in India and then propose recommendations for future research. This review study was guided by the following research question: What literature exists on telehealth in OT in India? Study Design: A review of literature. Methods: A systematic process was used to search the literature for this review. First, the data sources were identified. The database included Scopus, PubMed, Eric, Emerald, EBSCO, and ScienceDirect, and gray literature (books, unpublished papers, doctoral dissertations, etc.) was done using Google Scholar. Quantitative and qualitative studies were included in the review using Petticrew and Roberts (2006) as the basis. The next step included criteria for assessing the quality of the studies. The search keyword strings were “occupational-therapy” AND “teletherapy,” OR “tele rehabilitation,” OR “telehealth,” OR “virtual-therapy,” OR “online-therapy,” OR “teleconsultation” AND “India,” which appeared in the title, abstract, or keyword fields. The third step included data interpretation and analysis findings. The publication descriptor data were summarized after critical appraisal, study period, research theme, and research method. Certain criteria were followed to select the studies like, only full text journal articles available in English, studies that were produced from January 2001 to December 2021. Recurring themes were identified from the empirical research. Results: We went through all the databases (PubMed, Scopus, Eric, Emerald, EBSCO, Science Direct, and APA Psycinfo) where the total number of identified articles from the searches of these databases was 2260. Duplicate references were removed. We further excluded articles by reading the title, abstracts, and complete articles of the study. The final number of articles in the analysis was five. Conclusion: This study helped to identify the gaps with the intent to inform practice, policy, and future research by comprehensively synthesizing evidence to map a broad, complex, or emerging field of telehealth in OT.

Situational analysis for informing the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce.

Occupational Therapists are needed for meeting the health, rehabilitation, and occupational needs of the population worldwide, but there is no strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce against a backdrop of an insufficient and inequitable supply worldwide. To perform a situational assessment of occupational therapy workforce development and research toward informing a global human resources strategy for the occupational therapy workforce strengthening. A multi-methods design incorporating Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis based on scoping review findings, workforce development frameworks, and expert feedback. Strengths included identified workforce research trends, gaps, and findings. Weaknesses included a shortage of workforce research, lack of uniform and readily available workforce datasets, absence of workforce research programs, over-reliance on descriptive and non-experimental research, lack of research on workforce topics (e.g., diversity), and lack of labor market or economic analyses. Opportunities are the availability of guidance and tools for strengthening the health and rehabilitation workforce worldwide, and increased membership from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Threats include the suboptimal funding of occupational therapy workforce research, the lack of occupational therapists data on international datasets and studies, suboptimal educational capacity in LMICs, lack of professional regulation and uniform workforce data collection in many contexts, and a perceived lower priority of this health workforce focused on health and wellbeing rather than medical outcomes. This SWOT analysis identifies strengths and opportunities to be seized and weaknesses and threats to be addressed by development of a strategy for the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce.

Occupational multi-level responsiveness: Describing the skills used by occupational therapists working with children seeking asylum in Australia

Background Children seeking asylum face occupational deprivation and human rights violations. No research has investigated how occupational therapists work with child asylum seekers. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists promotes the Canadian Model of Client-Centred Enablement (CMCE) for occupational therapists working to promote human rights. Aims/objectives This research investigates use of CMCE skills to investigate skills occupational therapists use when working with child asylum seekers in Australian immigration detention. Material and methods Interpretive description guided this investigation and purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 occupational therapists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analysed. Results Occupational multi-level responsiveness, an overarching practice skill, involved keying into individual, family and socio-political levels to respond to occupational injustices. A wide array of practice skills extending beyond the CMCE framework were used in a nuanced and interwoven manner spanning multiple levels. Conclusions Occupational multi-level responsiveness described occupational therapists working across macro-, meso- and micro-levels. Significance Understanding and enacting occupational multi-level responsiveness may support occupational therapists to plan and implement effective strategies when tackling occupational injustices. The skills identified may be applicable to other complex socio-political fields of practice. More research is needed. Further research should also investigate the occupational experiences of children seeking asylum. KEY POINTS Occupational therapists working with child asylum seekers in Australia take a multi-level approach, responding to individuals, families and socio-political structures. A three pronged approach to implementation of the occupational therapy practice process could support multi-level responsiveness to enhance practice that addresses occupational injustices. CMCE skills are not exhaustive and therapists discussed using other skills beyond those listed in the CMCE. Additional skills reflected humility and efforts towards more equal relationships between therapists and clients.

Platinum anniversary – 70 years of highlights and influences of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists

ABSTRACT The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) was inaugurated in 1952 (Paterson, C. F. (1994). The First International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists—Edinburgh, 1954. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(4), 116–120) and celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2022. The last 70 years have seen the growth and development of occupational therapy globally, with WFOT growing from 10 to 105 member organisations. While the important core principle of occupational activity (occupations) in our daily lives has remained constant in those 70 years, the approach, and how we do them has changed. As occupational therapists we have continued to adapt and change to meet the needs of the societies and cultures in which we work. The primary aim of this paper is to share some of the major highlights of the past 70 years, outlining the influences as reflected in the ongoing business of WFOT.

Current national and international updates on all India occupational therapists' association: Database of professionals for national health professionals register and 35th world federation of occupational therapists council meeting at Paris

Current national and international updates on all India occupational therapists' association: Database of professionals for national health professionals register and 35^th world federation of occupational therapists council meeting at Paris

Mapping the occupational therapy workforce research worldwide: Study protocol for a scoping review.

Human Resources for Health (HRH) research informs the development of evidence-based, population-centered HRH policies and practices. Occupational therapists are key human resources for meeting the health, rehabilitation, and occupational needs of the population worldwide. Yet, the global status of the occupational therapy workforce research remains unchartered. This study protocol depicts the methods to map out and synthesize the occupational therapy workforce research worldwide. Six scientific-literature databases and key international institutional websites will be systematically searched, complemented by snowballing searches and recommendations from key global, regional, or national representatives of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Two independent reviewers will screen titles-and-abstracts and then full-texts against the eligibility criteria, e.g., 10 categories of workforce research. Educational research, non-empirical papers, and papers (or their summaries) not available in English, Spanish or Portuguese are excluded. Data extraction (e.g., methods, geographies, aims, key findings) will be conducted by one author and fully verified by another. The extracted data will be computed as well as subject to content analysis to provide quantitative map of the literature and of the contents addressed, e.g., per inclusion category. The results of this review can inform wide consultation processes and strategic, concerted local and global developments of the occupational therapy workforce.

Social and Structural Determinants of Health: Exploring Occupational Therapy's Structural (In)competence.

Background: In high-income countries, such as Canada, 50% of health outcomes are attributable to social determinants. Occupational opportunities are also structurally determined, yet these inequities are obscured by the White, Western assumptions and ableist neoliberal ideology in which the profession is deeply rooted. Purpose. To highlight the impact of structural injustices and other social determinants of health and occupation; explore the occupational therapy profession's structural competence; and build on existing knowledge to advance an agenda for action on injustice and inequity for the occupational therapy profession. Key issues. Occupational therapy's failure to prioritize education, research and action on systemic injustices and other social determinants of health and occupation reflects a lack of commitment to achieving the World Federation of Occupational Therapists' Minimal Standards. Implications. If occupational therapy is to advance knowledge and practices that address inequities in the social and structural determinants of health and occupation, we must strive towards structural competence.

Older adults’ daily activities during lockdown in France, spring 2020: a cross sectional survey

Abstract Background The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted many countries to go into lockdown for varying periods. The French population was limited to 1km around their house, with the need to have a travel declaration when going out. According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (2020), “populations around the world have been required to adjust and make compensations to usual routines in order to participate in ongoing or newly acquired activities that are necessary for daily life.” AIMS. In this context, we aimed to describe changes in daily activities, social contacts, and mental health and wellbeing of older adults (i.e. aged 60 or more) living in France. Methods We performed an online cross-sectional survey, based on the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) for restriction of and satisfaction with daily activities, and the Cantril's ladder for mental health and wellbeing. RESULTS. Of the 512 respondents, 9% did not feel restricted at all in their daily activities, and 13% reported no change. About one third (31%) reported to have less diverse activities than usual but to be satisfied with it. Regarding social contacts, 72% of the respondents reported to have a lot more contacts than usual with their relatives. Concerning the type of activities, 2477 restricted activities could be identified, but also 2190 that were done more often during the lockdown. Most restricted ones concerned leisure (83%), especially active leisure, the most mentioned being walking. The more engaged activities also concerned leisure (73%), especially quiet recreation, the most mentioned reading. The median value of Cantril's ladder was 5 [4;7]. Conclusions Lockdown measures led to some activity restrictions for older adults, but also offered opportunities for new engagements. Remarkably was the increase in social contacts with relatives, probably related to the use of new technologies.

‘Inclusion’ and ‘Democracy’ in Education: An exploration of concepts and ideas for occupational therapists

ABSTRACT Assuming the Brazilian context, emphasis is placed on occupational therapists’ reflections to contribute to an international dialogue on concepts that support practices in schools/the educational sector that are still little explored. Initially, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ position, which adheres to a certain perspective of ‘Inclusion’, applied to schooling processes is challenged. We aim to foster theoretical development about the concept of ‘Inclusion’ in education, in dialogue with occupational therapy and its proposals for this area. The defence of a democratic school by occupational therapists is advocated considering its limitations and possibilities in a society founded on inequality. The question remains as to which new concepts will underpin our practices or whether we can/should assume the task of rewriting/reframing them in search of what motivates us: concern to ensure, in daily professional practice, the access, permanence and, mainly, participation of those who are outside school.

World Federation of Occupational Therapists position statement: Occupational Therapy and Human Rights (Revised 2019) – the backstory and future challenges

ABSTRACT The World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ (WFOT) adoption of the Position Statement, Occupational Therapy and Human Rights (2006) was a global milestone for the profession. The revised 2019 Position Statement marks the next milestone towards becoming a socially and ethically responsive profession; playing a vital role to advance human rights, justice, and social inclusion globally. To inform progress towards embracing a human rights perspective, this paper documents that history and unpacks the reasoning behind the revisions. We start with a brief history of the 13-year journey from 2006 to 2019, marked by extensive discussion, consultation, and scholarship on occupational justice, social inclusion, and human rights. We end with notes on opportunities and challenges for occupational therapists in any situation, from clinical practice to policy leadership, to speak out, write, and otherwise take a strong stand on occupational therapy and human rights, occupational justice and social inclusion.

The impact of Covid-19 for occupational therapy: Findings and recommendations of a global survey

ABSTRACT A global survey of individuals involved in the delivery of occupational therapy was conducted by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify needs and recommendations for future resources and support. The online survey was circulated in five languages through member organisations and other WFOT communications networks. The 30-item survey collected primarily quantitative data, although some comments and recommendations were requested. A total of 2750 individual responses were received from 100 countries. Findings indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic had a wide-ranging impact on occupational therapy as a result of several factors, including a lack of preparedness, restrictions in service access, new demands during redeployment, frequently changing work conditions, use of new technology and limitations in resources such as additional space for physical distancing and personal protective equipment. Working during the pandemic also had a personal impact on the health of most respondents, with some reporting reduced morale and concerns for their safety. Access to Covid-19 specific training and living in a high-income country were found to have a significant positive impact on a number of outcomes, including the respondent's sense of competence, effectiveness and safety. Those working in a clinical role were less likely to report higher levels of safety, effectiveness and positive impacts associated with the pandemic. Important recommendations emerged from the findings to inform the future work of WFOT and other professional organisations, including the need for: collaborative efforts to provide information and training resources; development of standards and supports to promote quality service provision; and advocacy to promote access to occupational therapy and address occupational injustice.

Exploring the occupational engagement experiences of individuals with oculocutaneous albinism: an eThekwini District study

Background and aim : The World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ urges occupational therapists to recognise when people are being denied the right to participate in occupations and advocate for change. People with oculocutaneous albinism face stigma and discrimination owing to mythical beliefs surrounding the condition. This may negatively affect their engagement in occupations. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the occupational engagement experiences of individuals with oculocutaneous albinism within the eThekwini district. Method: A qualitative research design, using a phenomenological approach, was chosen to explore the participants lived experiences. Five participants were recruited using snowball sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain data which was analysed thematically. Results/ Findings : Data collected yielded three major themes: sense-of-self, barriers to occupational engagement and facilitators to occupational engagement. Four participants demonstrated a positive self-identity, which supported occupational engagement and aided the individual in overcoming barriers. Reasonable accommodations, social- and structural support facilitated occupational engagement, whilst myths and beliefs, physical limitations and the physical environment formed barriers to occupational engagement. Conclusio n: A new finding that emerged, indicated a change in self-perception, with participants adopting positive self-identities that facilitated occupational engagement. This may be attributed to participants belonging to the millennial generation, which is considered open-minded and deviating from tradition. Key words : Albinism, occupational engagement, barriers and facilitators to occupation. eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Was a global pandemic needed to adopt the use of telehealth in occupational therapy?

An analysis of data from an international survey was undertaken to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth practice in occupational therapy worldwide, in addition to facilitators and barriers in utilising this form of service delivery. The global online survey was circulated in the occupational therapy community by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) between April and July 2020, collecting responses to closed-ended questions, in addition to free-text comments. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used to assess relationships between respondent characteristics and the utilisation of telehealth. Thematic statement analysis provided further insight regarding factors impacting telehealth use. Findings revealed a significant increase in the use of telehealth strategies with the onset of the pandemic among survey respondents, with many reported benefits. Bivariate analyses indicated telehealth users were more likely to score higher feelings of safety and positive work morale, as well as perceive employer expectations to be reasonable. Restricted access to technology, limitations of remote practice, funding issues and slow pace of change were identified as barriers for some respondents to utilising telehealth. Facilitators included availability of supportive policy, guidelines and strategies, in addition to education and training. This study advances the understanding of the current scope of occupational therapy telehealth practice in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although results suggest long-term potential for telehealth use as an adjunct to traditional service provision, important considerations were identified regarding factors influencing integration of such strategies.

Curriculum Evaluation of Faculte des Sciences de Rehabilitation de Leogane (FSRL): An OT Program in Haiti

Abstract Date Presented 03/27/20 There is a need for a formal curriculum evaluation of the OT program in Haiti for future reapproval by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). This project aimed to develop an overall framework for curriculum evaluation using WFOT’s standards and curriculum-evaluation tools to evaluate courses within the program. The four components of this project include: a WFOT knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) table; a program document review; and a faculty and student survey. Primary Author and Speaker: Diana Honorat

WFOT report: WFOT human resources project 2018 and 2020

ABSTRACT The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Human Resources Project 2018 and 2020 provides demographic statistics of the occupational therapy profession for 98% in 2018 and 95% in 2020 of WFOT Member Organisations. The data show the diversity of the profession's demography between countries and regions, established and newly established organisations in both low and high resource countries. Some Member Organisations are unable to collect or have limited access to the information that is requested as part of the Human Resources Project. This report respects the limitations that some Member Organisations might have in providing data; equally, it reinforces the importance of maintaining national demographics as a contributing factor to the profession's development and global identity. The Human Resources Project is an integral part of WFOT's business, aligned to its strategic and operational objectives. The project has formed part of its continued collaboration with the World Health Organization and various government ministries and departments. WFOT supports the widespread dissemination of this information to facilitate global recognition and commissioning of the valued contribution of the occupational therapy profession.

Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and Well-Being.

A balanced pattern of occupations enhances the health and fulfills the needs of individuals, families, communities, and populations (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014b; Hocking, 2019; Meyer, 1922). Occupations are personalized "everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families, and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life" (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2012, para. 2). The purpose of this statement is to describe occupational therapy's role and contribution in the areas of health promotion and prevention for internal and external audiences. AOTA supports and promotes the involvement of occupational therapy practitioners¹ in the development and delivery of programs and services that promote health, well-being, and social participation of all people.

Understanding sustainability: Perspectives of Canadian occupational therapists

ABSTRACT Background. In 2012, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists released a position statement on sustainability and sustainable practice, urging occupational therapists to address the global environmental sustainability crisis in practice. However, there is a lack of research exploring sustainability within occupational therapy practice in Canada. Purpose. This study examined perspectives of Canadian occupational therapists on addressing social, environmental, and economic sustainability in personal and professional lives. Method. This mixed-methods, exploratory study recruited 81 Canadian occupational therapists through professional associations to complete an online survey. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and directed content analysis and guided by the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Findings. Canadian occupational therapists are in the preparation stage of change. Although sustainability issues and barriers toward sustainable practice are recognised, there is a discrepancy between personal values and professional actions. Implications. Further exploration is needed into realistic targets of change and feasible methods of incorporating sustainability into occupational therapy practice.