Sex Education and Schizophrenia: Should Occupational Therapists Offer Sex Education to People with Schizophrenia?

Adult sexuality contributes significantly to an individual's identity, self-esteem and relationships. Since occupational therapy is practised from the perspective of holistic care, sexual behaviour can be a legitimate area for therapists to consider when working with clients. For people with schizophrenia there are particular issues that may need to be addressed by the therapist. This paper summarizes the results of a study examining whether occupational therapists regard sex education as a valid topic to teach, as part of a treatment package, to people with schizophrenia. Forty-nine therapists responded to a questionnaire. The results suggest that the majority of occupational therapists believe sex education to be within the domain of their profession. They are not, however, providing sex education for their clients. The factors that influence this decision include length of time qualified, theories of practice and the expectations of employers.     

Factors influencing job satisfaction among Jordanian occupational therapists: a qualitative study

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to explore factors influencing job satisfaction and dissatisfaction among Jordanian occupational therapists. Methods: Ours was an explorative qualitative study involving the use of structured open‐ended written questions. Participants were asked to answer in narrative their perception about the factors behind their job satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In addition, they were asked to express their suggestions, ideas, or solutions for increasing job satisfaction. Results: Ninety‐three occupational therapists responded to the survey. For job satisfaction questions, four themes emerged: a humanistic profession; professional issues; work benefits; and work environment. Participant’s comments at the end of the survey revealed one general theme for improving job satisfaction, ‘a call for improvement’. Discussion: This qualitative study revealed that the humanistic nature of occupational therapist was counterbalanced by several dissatisfying factors for occupational therapy practitioners in Jordan. The need for better supported working conditions in terms of financial rewards, recognition, awareness and resources as well as public and professional recognition of occupational therapists are needed to enhance the occupational therapy profile in Jordan. A comprehensive collaboration is highly needed between the individual practitioners, representatives of the profession, government and hospital administrators.     

What do Swedish occupational therapists feel about research? A survey of perceptions, attitudes, intentions, and engagement

The aim of this study was to identify Swedish occupational therapists' perceptions and attitudes to research-related activities as well as the therapists' present engagement in future plans for research. A follow up design was used, and the study was undertaken between 1997 and 2003. A total of 425 and 442 Swedish occupational therapists responded to a postal questionnaire (response rate 74.4% and 70.4%). Questions regarding research-related activities were measured on a Likert-type scale, whereas questions referring to attitudes towards research used a semantic differential scale. There were small differences between the two surveys. The result showed that occupational therapists considered research-related activities to be an important part of their development of the professional role and status. Reading research literature to update knowledge was the most important research activity and the second most important activity was applying research findings to improve occupational therapy practice. High workload and lack of time were the most commonly mentioned barriers to participation in research- related activities. Occupational therapists read a large variety of journals, preferably in Swedish. The barriers to participation in research-related activities did not change from 1997 to 2003. The fact that occupational therapists reported reading research as rating highly gives hope for the future development of the occupational therapy profession and practice.     

Professional and organizational commitment in paediatric occupational therapists: the influence of practice setting

The professional and organizational commitment of paediatric occupational therapists working in two distinct practice settings, schools and medically based settings, was investigated. A web‐based survey program was used to administer a questionnaire to occupational therapists employed in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The study employed social identity theory as a guiding perspective in understanding therapists' professional and organizational commitment. One hundred and fifty‐seven paediatric therapists responded to the Professional Commitment Questionnaire and the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire to gauge their commitment to both the profession and their employing organizations. Results indicated that paediatric therapists, regardless of employment setting, have high professional commitment. Paediatric occupational therapists employed in medically based settings indicated statistically significant higher organizational commitment than their school‐based counterparts. For therapists that work in school settings, the presence of a professional cohort did not influence professional commitment scores. As the study employed a web‐based survey methodology, only individuals who were members of associations and had access to a computer and the Internet were able to participate. Further study might include widening the participant pool as well as adding additional instruments to explore both professional and organizational commitment on a more national scale. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrating research into practice: a challenge for local authority occupational therapy

The aim of this qualitative study was to identify and analyse the experiences of Swedish local health authority occupational therapists with regard to their participation in, and the implementation of, research. Data were collected from three focus-group interviews, with five different occupational therapists in each. The interviews were taped and transcribed and thereafter analysed using broad coding. One core category-"feeling professionally competent"-emerged, comprising three subcategories: "perceiving congruence between research and practice", "having the necessary skills", and "making a contribution". Feeling professionally competent embraces the occupational therapists' definition and delimitation of their professional domain and the obligations related to this. It also embraces the perception of having the skills necessary for participating in research projects and implementing research findings in a scientific manner. The implementation of research was not only perceived as contributing to the knowledge base of the profession, but personal gains could also be made. The knowledge gained from this study can help in the development of strategies to promote the integration of research in local authority occupational therapy practice. This is necessary; otherwise the occupational therapy provided will be based on the knowledge and perceptions of individual professionals, rather than on state-of-the-art knowledge gained through research.     

The Nature of Emerging Practice in Occupational Therapy: A Pilot Study

The profession of occupational therapy is responding to changes in the health care system by expanding the contexts and models for service provision, typically referred to as emerging practice. As a pilot study, a survey was completed by 174 occupational therapists to gather information and opinions about emerging practice. Results indicated occupational therapists hold diverse perceptions about emerging practice settings and services as well as the role and significance of emerging practice within the profession. Occupational therapists engaged in emerging practice described numerous rewards and challenges inherent within the process of developing and delivering services. The findings indicate continued professional dialogue and research are needed to support the development and efficacy of occupational therapy services in emerging settings and roles.     

Work-related stress and occupational therapy

Occupational stress and burnout have been studied extensively in the human services. It has been suggested that healthcare professionals in particular are at risk of stress owing to the caring nature of their work. Articles related to occupational therapy and work-related stress were reviewed in regard to practice in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden. Although the empirical literature is relatively weak for occupational therapy, it has been argued that occupational therapists in health care share risk factors with other healthcare professionals. These risk factors include repeated exposure to distress and difficult behaviour, prolonged interventions and uncertain outcome. Issues such as professional status, staffing issues and the nature of the profession have been identified as additional risk factors for occupational therapists. However, empirical studies that enable burnout rates of occupational therapists to be compared with those of related occupational groups suggest that this may not be the case. Occupational therapists may in fact be protected from some stress and burnout factors. Further research is recommended to clarify the nature of stress experienced by occupational therapists and to identify both risk and protective factors characteristic of the profession.     

Activities of Daily Living: An Area of Occupational Therapy Expertise

If occupational therapists are to provide services in the area of activities of daily living in such a way as to demonstrate their uniqueness and expertise, they must be clear in their own minds as to their uniqueness and the value of their contributions. They must also be able to communicate these effectively to others. This paper approaches the problem from two perspectives. Firstly, stimulated by the results of a survey of Royal Perth Hospital occupational therapists and a review of the literature, the authors describe a definition and classification of activities of daily living developed in order to standardise terminology and organise the content of treatment reports. Secondly, a professional model is presented to explain the uniqueness of occupational therapy in terms of activities of daily living. The use of these approaches in justifying occupational therapy intervention and communicating it to others is discussed.     

Male occupational therapists: A profile of job satisfaction and work environment variables

Occupational therapy is a female-dominated profession with only 4% of all clinicians in Canada being men. Traditionally, occupational therapy training programmes have had limited success recruiting men into their educational programmes and those men who do qualify as therapists tend to work only in the profession for short periods of time. The purpose of this study was to identify work-related factors that impact on male occupational therapists. Specifically, five job satisfaction factors (work, pay, co-workers, supervision and promotional opportunities), work environment traits and the demographic characteristics of male occupational therapists in Canada were examined. A mailed survey questionnaire was sent to all male therapists who were members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (n = 199) during the 1990–1991 membership year; 83% of the sample responded. In terms of job satisfaction, male occupational therapists indicated that they were relatively dissatisfied with their work, pay, promotional opportunities, supervision and co-workers as a group. However, they characterised their work environments as being above average in terms of supervisor support, autonomy and physical comfort, whereas they obtained a well below-average score for the control dimension. Further research is needed to explore the issue of job satisfaction among occupational therapy personnel and to identify what factors impact on the job retention of male occupational practitioners.     

Multicompetent allied health professionals: current approaches and suggestions for baccalaureate level programs

A study of the need for multicompetency was conducted by the University of Florida College of Health Related Professions among the graduates of its baccalaureate programs in dietetics, medical technology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Most responding dietitians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists said they had felt a need during their professional practice to be competent in areas outside their profession, while most responding medical technologists did not feel such a need. The respondents listed those areas outside their profession in which they had felt a need for competency. This article also describes current approaches to the education of multicompetent allied health professionals and suggests new strategies for educating these personnel at the baccalaureate level.     

Leadership through an occupational lens: celebrating our territory

This paper addresses key qualities of leadership and describes leadership through an occupational lens. It aims to encourage individuals to identify themselves as leaders wherever they are positioned within organisations or in their professional lives. Leadership vignettes are used to highlight and celebrate how occupational therapy philosophies, as well as our theoretical and practical knowledge assisted these leaders in their current and emerging leadership roles. A number of issues that are affecting us as global citizens, including natural disasters and humanitarian crises in third world contexts are highlighted. The potential for our profession to take a leadership role in these issues is proposed. Finally, there is a call to action for all occupational therapists whatever their professional roles, recommending that all members of the profession embrace leadership opportunities no matter how big or small. In so doing it is argued that leadership will be recognised and celebrated as being very much part of our profession's territory.     

“My view that disability is okay sometimes clashes”: experiences of two disabled occupational therapists

Abstract

Aims: While disability is the focus of much attention in occupational therapy, there has been little attention paid to disability within the profession. Disabled therapists not only bring valuable perspectives on disability, but also pose important challenges to taken-for-granted assumptions about impairment and disability within the profession. At the same time, their cultural beliefs and values may clash with core assumptions of the profession. Methods: This study analyses interview data from two disabled occupational therapists, part of a larger study with cultural minority therapists. Semi-structured interviews explored their experiences of professional practice in the context of societal belief in the superiority of non-disabled and “normal” ways of doing and being. Major findings: Some cultural values of participants clashed with the values and beliefs of their profession, particularly concerning independence. Negative attitudes of colleagues and managers were the key barriers to practice. The responsibility for bridging the disabled/non-disabled cultural divide rested with the disabled therapists, exacerbating inequity. Nonetheless, these therapists believed their disability experiences had advantages for practice. Conclusions: Disabled therapists may be required to engage in invisible work to communicate across cultural differences, and to educate others. Respectful openness to difference could enhance the practice competence of both disabled therapists and their non-disabled colleagues. This demands critical reflexive attention to ableism within the profession.     

The Perceived Status of Occupational Therapy: Myth Versus Reality

A survey of 136 Australian occupational therapists explored their perception of their autonomy and status, through questions concerning role definition; peer network and peer review; professional association and industrial affiliation; skills and procedures characteristic of the profession; views on others' perception of their role; credentials to practise; salary and years of practice. The authors conclude that the profession has a high opinion of its status and autonomy, a belief that it has a unique set of skills (though not aims), and adequate credentials to practise. They also suggest, however, that there is reason to question the extent to which this professional self-image is well founded.     

Icelandic occupational therapists' attitudes towards educational issues

The purpose of this study was to assess the readiness of occupational therapists in Iceland to accept a professional as opposed to a technical view of the profession. Most Icelandic occupational therapists were educated in other countries, with little emphasis on liberal arts, sciences and research. The first Icelandic occupational therapy programme, a university-level programme, was founded in 1997. All Icelandic occupational therapists were surveyed. Eighty-seven questionnaires were sent out and 80 (92%) were returned and used for statistical analysis. The results of the study showed that Icelandic occupational therapists valued academic skills over technical skills, emphasizing occupational therapy theory unique to the profession and research to validate practice. More recognition among other health professionals was considered the most needed change in the profession. The results of the study showed that the clinicians' attitudes confirmed in general what is emphasized in the curriculum and in students' fieldwork. Further research is needed to explore whether the Icelandic occupational therapy profession succeeds in promoting research and recognition by other health professions.     

Occupational therapy students’ perceptions of occupational therapy

Background/aims: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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’. Conclusions: 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.