Employment trends for occupational therapists: An analysis of employment advertisements in the Sydney Morning Herald 1984–90

Despite rapid growth in the number of occupational therapy graduates in Australia, almost no data are available concerning the demand and the expectations of employers. This study surveyed 6298 advertised positions available to occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists and counsellors in the state of New South Wales during the years 1984–90. Over this period the demand for occupational therapists grew by 53%, which exceeded the growth in demand for social workers and psychologists, but was less than that for community and mental health workers and counsellors. The employment base was found to be reasonably broad and 8% of jobs were in the private sector. The number of duties required of occupational therapists increased over time, and there was an increase in the demand for programme promotion, administration and supervision skills. The results are discussed in terms of the employment base and defining strengths of the profession, recommendations for strengthening the profession, and implications for the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.     

Icelandic Occupational Therapists' Attitudes Toward Professionalism

The goal of this study was to capture the main demographics of Icelandic occupational therapists and their attitudes concerning professionalism. The entire population of Icelandic occupational therapists was surveyed. Eighty-seven questionnaires were sent out and 80 (92%) were returned and used for analysis. Results of the study indicated that Icelandic occupational therapists are active in their association, willing to take on duties for the advancement of the profession, and interested in conducting research. The attitudes of Icelandic occupational therapists were generally quite uniform. However t-tests and one-way ANOVAs (analyses of the variance) (p<0.05) revealed significant differences in some attitudes and professional activities according to level of education, length of professional experience and country of education. The findings from this study are valuable for the profession at present, and can also be used to monitor future changes.     

Occupational therapists and the concept of power: A review of the literature

The concept of power is discussed in the broader health literature and the occupational therapy literature from three perspectives. These are the trait approaches to professionalization, the medical dominance perspective and the view of health care work places as organizations. The results of the review suggest that the power of the profession of occupational therapy is linked to a number of factors. These include its status as an occupation, the fact that the majority of its members are women and the extent to which therapists have knowledge and skills related to working with other disciplines in a changing political climate. While the review enables the type of knowledge and skills which would assist therapists to develop and exercise their power within the health sector to be suggested, the extent to which therapists actually possess the knowledge and skills is unknown due to a lack of research in the area.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Hospice and palliative care: A Delphi survey of occupational therapists' roles and training needs

This paper describes the use of the Delphi survey method to identify the roles and training needs of occupational therapists working in the field of hospice and palliative care in Australia. The study was conducted in 1993 using a purposive sample of 47 occupational therapists. The survey consisted of three consecutive questionnaires and five in-depth interviews. The results indicated that there is a role for occupational therapy in this new and expanding field, and that occupational therapists need to promote a higher profile for their profession and their skills through research, education and presentations to maximize this role. The study also highlighted the importance of continuing education for occupational therapists working in this field.     

A survey of Israeli occupational therapists' definitions of the profession

The broad definition of occupational therapy, its holistic basis and its unifying characteristics enable occupational therapists to treat their clients as whole human beings. Yet, the holistic basis of occupational therapy and the divergence of its specialty areas seem to be polarised. This study explores Israeli occupational therapists' perceptions of their professional role and boundaries, and how it is affected by professional background; 265 Israeli occupational therapists participated in the study. A two-part questionnaire was constructed: (1) an attitudinal questionnaire including statements on issues that concern occupational therapists regarding the definition of the profession and its role; (2) nine items representing the main unifying characteristics of occupational therapy. Results indicate seven factors underlying the main issues concerning occupational therapists in Israel. From the seven factors two main sources of tension were revealed: strong sense of self-value as compared to lack of recognition by others and the advantages and the pitfalls of the holistic definition of occupational therapy. The most unifying characteristic of occupational therapy was the holistic definition, and the least important was the use of arts and crafts. In addition, occupational therapists from developmental disabilities area of specialty were distinct from others in their perceptions of the profession.     

A Study on Developments in Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Education in WA: 1961–1991

1991 marks thirty years of formal education in occupational therapy in Western Australia. From its humble origins in an old hotel, the undergraduate occupational therapy programme in Western Australia has evolved from one which had a very strong vocational focus, was largely steeped in medical traditions and which had an emphasis on teaching technical skills, to one which is more academic and outward looking in its orientation. However, as we enter the 1990s undergraduate education in occupational therapy must face the challenges associated with the National Training Board's move to competency-based standards and assessment in the workplace. This study of historical material compares the three major stages of development in the thirty years of undergraduate education in occupational therapy in Western Australia. Reflection on these developments may guide future directions in undergraduate education and result in outcomes which will equip occupational therapists for leadership in the provision of health services.     

A pilot study of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme evaluated by four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The purpose of this qualitative study was to analyse participants' perceptions of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme, which combined occupational therapy with physical therapy. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from four adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who attended an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme in New York City. Features of the occupational therapy programme reported to be valuable were biofeedback and clinician support. Participants reported more control of dyspnoea, improved mental health and confidence in performing daily activities, less fatigue, more physically active lifestyles and hope for the future. Limitations of the study were that participants were interviewed only once and themes were not verified with participants. The study results also cannot be generalized. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy in promoting self-management and coping skills and restoring occupational performance in adults with COPD. Participants' responses provide additional support for developing cognitive-behavioural protocols in occupational therapy and measuring their effectiveness in relieving anxiety symptoms and promoting dyspnoea management.     

Driver Rehabilitation and Community Mobility Principles and Practice

Achievement of independent living skills training is described as the foundation for successful role enactment which is a fundamental concept of occupational science. A review of the literature suggests that this is the most needed and least addressed service for those persons who are physically disabled and living in the community. A research study was designed and a survey conducted to determine the (current) use of independent living skills training by occupational therapists who were practicing in rehabilitation settings with adults who were physically disabled. The results showed that the occupational therapists participating in the survey spent an average of 14.1 percent of their direct treatment time providing this training. This was considered to be a low amount by a panel of experts convened to provide content validity for this study. The results of the study and implications for occupational therapy are 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.     

Job satisfaction in occupational therapy: a qualitative investigation in urban Australia

Background:  Job satisfaction has been shown to affect levels of staff retention and work productivity, but few studies have been conducted with occupational therapists in an Australian setting.
Methods:  Using a hermeneutical phenomenological approach, the findings from a study examining the factors that contribute to job satisfaction in occupational therapists working in Australia, are reported.
Results:  Job satisfaction in occupational therapy was derived from the sense of achievement felt when providing effective clinical care. Job dissatisfaction stemmed from the poor profile and status of the profession.
Conclusions:  Based on the study findings, there is an imperative that the profession of occupational therapy continue to use research findings to support clinicians in providing effective health care, and improve the community understanding of occupational therapy.     

Occupational Therapists: Their Career Views Eighteen Months After Graduation

A survey of 74% of the 1979 graduating class in occupational therapy at Cumberland College of Health Sciences indicated that 88.8% were employed in their profession. Some (29.6%) had experienced brief involuntary unemployment. Job satisfaction and career choice satisfaction were high, although 83.7% anticipated change from current employment within the next five years. Many (56.6%) expressed intentions to specialise in their profession and 39% planned to enrol in study programmes. Aspects of work considered most important were opportunities to develop skills, chances to do something worthwhile and the friendliness of co-workers. The graduates experienced deprivation regarding the first two aspects and satisfaction regarding the third. Work aspects considered of least importance were pay, physical surroundings, and promotion opportunities. The most stressful aspect of work was dealing with other health professionals, who were perceived as confused about the role of occupational therapists.     

Perceptions of occupational therapists practising in rural Australia: A graduate perspective

Background:  The difficulty in recruiting and retaining health professionals into rural and remote areas of Australia is well recognised. This study explored the perceptions of occupational therapists practising in rural locations regarding the essential skills necessary for rural practice and the ability of undergraduate education to prepare them for rural practice.
Methods:  A qualitative study using a phenomenological approach was conducted using semistructured in-depth interviews. Participants included occupational therapists who were graduates of James Cook University, who were practising in rural areas in Queensland and Victoria, and academic staff.
Results:  This study demonstrates that it is important for universities to develop both a mindset in their graduates for rural practice, as well as developing broader skills in addition to core discipline-specific skills. While subjects developing core occupational therapy skills are at the centre of undergraduate education, the importance of developing a broader understanding of rural health issues and skills in public health, primary health care and health promotion was emphasised.
Conclusion:  The development of specific skills to become competent rural practitioners and to cope with the challenges of rural practice can be strengthened through initiatives at the undergraduate level. Ongoing commitment from all universities across Australia to include rural curriculum content has the potential to improve recruitment and retention of occupational therapists and other health professionals into rural Australia.     

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.     

A case against generalisation of mental health occupational therapy in Australia

Background/aim: In 2009, the World Federation of Occupational Therapists International Advisory Group on Mental Health conducted a global survey that yielded data on mental health occupational therapy practice. The Australian dataset reflected aspects of the current situation of the Australian mental health occupational therapy workforce. Of particular interest were resource availability, workforce recruitment and retention, and perception of the future of mental health occupational therapy. Methodology: Using a cross‐sectional survey design, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered electronically over a one‐month period. Manual analysis indicated themes common to mental health occupational therapists across a framework of professional areas. Results: Findings suggested that role blurring negatively affected workforce retention. Workforce recruitment and retention were complicated by resource shortages. Some Federal Government initiatives were perceived as only partially beneficial to the profession. Conclusions: Survey respondents believed that mental health occupational therapy was a potential growth area particularly where occupational therapy specific skills were retained.     

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.