Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy: A Reflection of Professional Growth

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 165-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn Ernest
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Canadian Journal ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Occupational Therapists

The Canadian Journal of Occupational therapy (CJOT) is the only Canadian refereed professional publication reflecting the views and professional development of occupational therapists in Canada. A study of all issues of CJOT published during three five-year periods was carried out to see if CJOT could be said to be improving in terms of reflecting professional trends. Some areas examined were quantity of articles, type of articles, references, authors and citations. It was found that although CJOT did reflect professional growth in many areas, there were a number of areas needing improvement before CJOT could be considered to be the primary professional publication for occupational therapists in Canada.

A Worthwhile Collaboration: Integrating Optometry and Occupational Therapy in the Treatment of Children

2020 ◽  
pp. 221-236
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Interprofessional Collaboration ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
The Body ◽  
Collaborative Practice ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Visual Deficits ◽  
Vision Deficits

Background: Vision deficits are highly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders including those with motor delays, learning and reading difficulties, and maladaptive behaviors. These deficits can interfere with their participation and performance in everyday life activities and therefore, require a comprehensive approach to therapy. As such, optometrists and occupational therapists are an optimal team to provide interprofessional collaborative care, reported in research as best practice, in the treatment of these children. However, little is known about the long-called-for collaboration between these professions. The purpose of this study was to explore factors and implications associated with a collaborative practice between optometrists and occupational therapists in the co-management of vision deficits in the pediatric population. Methods: A qualitative, descriptive design was employed to explore perceptions of collaborative practice among teams of optometrists and occupational therapists in the remedial care of children with visual deficits. Following IRB approval, co-located optometrists and occupational therapists were recruited for this study. Semistructured interviews served as the primary data collection tool to investigate the factors and implications of collaborative practice. Results: Eleven professionals provided informed consent and took part in this study, including five occupational therapists and six optometrists. Following thematic analysis, four overarching themes emerged including 1) professional boundaries, 2) co-located, integrated practice, 3) professional growth, and 4) improved patient care. Participants indicated that although barriers exist, exercising humility, upholding patient-centered focus, maintaining mutual respect, communicating frequently, and co-location were factors that enable collaboration. Positive outcomes related to both the provider and the patient were further highlighted supporting the interprofessional collaboration between these professionals. Conclusions: The findings of this qualitative study add to the body of evidence underpinning interprofessional collaborative practice. Furthermore, this study supports the coordination of care, through optometry and occupational therapy collaboration, in the treatment of visual deficits in children with special needs.

Me? — Political?

1979 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 143-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara J. O'Shea
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Political Behaviour ◽  
Essential Component ◽  
Patient Service

Traditionally, occupational therapists tend to perceive their role as apolitical, geared solely to direct patient service. Discussions and recommendations from the Symposium on Occupational Therapy in Canada suggest that political behaviour is an essential component of modern occupational therapy practice. This apparently antithetical belief is discussed within the perspective of professional development.

The Participation of Occupational Therapists in the Education of other Professionals about Occupational Therapy

1989 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 338-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Naomi Fraser-Holland
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Questionnaire Study ◽  
Development Fund

The report of a questionnaire study carried out on behalf of the Education and Research Board of the College of Occupational Therapists, supported by a generous grant from the Farrer-Brown Professional Development Fund.

Portfolios: Portraits of Our Professional Lives

2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Auldeen Alsop
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Professional Lives ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Portfolio Development ◽  
Continuing Competence

This article aims to explore how occupational therapists might demonstrate their continuing competence to practise in the light of new regulatory requirements. The capacity of therapists to fulfil their obligations depends on a number of factors, including their ability to reflect on practice in a critical way, their commitment to learning and their desire for personal and professional growth. Portfolio development is likely to be the means by which therapists demonstrate their efforts to remain competent. Portfolios will become the canvas on which personal, professional and career initiatives are displayed as evidence of continuing professional development. A review of the literature supports an exploration of these various themes.

A Conceptual Model for the Development of Professional Behaviours in Occupational Therapists

2000 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Kasar ◽  
Mary E. Muscari
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Specific Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Supervisors ◽  
Life Cycle Stages

The ever-changing, dynamic practice environment coupled with increased consumer needs and awareness create an atmosphere that requires optimal professionalism from occupational therapists. Professionalism requires specific knowledge, attitudes, and values — all manifested by professional behaviours. The authors assume that professional behaviours mature through a natural developmental process; a process that requires careful nurturing on the part of educators and clinical supervisors. Based on this assumption, the authors propose this conceptual model based on Erikson's life cycle stages. The model implies that occupational therapy professional behaviours develop sequentially through stages that begin during the educational process of occupational therapists, and progress throughout their career. The purpose of this model is to provide a framework for educators and supervisors to nurture professional behaviours in students and novice clinicians, and to continue their own professional growth.

Continuing Professional Development: The Impact of the College of Occupational Therapists' Standard on Dedicated Time

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 196-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth White
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Development Activity ◽  
Time Investment ◽  
The Impact

The 2001 College of Occupational Therapists' Research and Development Strategic Vision and Action Plan (Ilott and White 2001) gave as an objective that ‘managers will allocate regular, dedicated time within the work schedule for agreed research/quality-enhancement activities for all occupational therapy personnel’ (p275). This article describes a survey undertaken to establish the impact of the standard on the continuing professional development (CPD) activities of occupational therapy staff. The 1205 responses received demonstrated an increase in access to dedicated CPD time, which was used for individual study, group activities or service development. The monitoring of outcomes from this time investment was patchy. Dedicated CPD time was found to be beneficial to the individual, his or her service and the service users, although additional work pressure and a lack of study skills were noted. Some respondents were prevented from accessing CPD time owing to workload expectations, whereas others preferred to undertake development activities in their own time. Having a good CPD structure in place was found to contribute to clinical effectiveness and improved staff morale and recruitment. Creative approaches were described to manage competing time demands. It was evident that managerial support was crucial to the progress of development activity within the workplace.

scholarly journals Occupational therapists’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport

2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262097394
Author(s):  
Deborah Bullen ◽  
Channine Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Scope Of Practice ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care

Introduction In response to growing demands on health and social care services there is an emphasis on communities addressing the needs of local populations to improve lives and reduce inequalities. Occupational therapists are responding to these demands by expanding their scope of practice into innovative settings, such as working with refugees, the homeless and residents of nursing homes, and within sport and leisure environments. The benefits of sport are widely acknowledged, and this paper argues that occupational therapists could play a pivotal role in enabling people to participate. Method This qualitative study drew on a phenomenological approach and used interviews and thematic analysis to explore five occupational therapists’ experiences of enabling people to participate in sport. Findings Findings revealed that participants demonstrated the uniqueness of occupational therapy when enabling people to participate in sport and practised according to their professional philosophy. There were opportunities to reach wider communities and promote the value of occupational therapy by collaborating with organisations, but there were also challenges when working outside of traditional settings. Conclusion The study emphasises the unique skills occupational therapists can bring to this setting. It highlights opportunities to expand their practice, to forge new partnerships in sports and leisure environments, and to address the national inactivity crisis.

Promoting Occupational Therapy Mental Health Research: Proceedings From the 2017 AOTF Mental Health Planning Grant Collective

2021 ◽  
pp. 153944922110054
Author(s):  
Sharon A. Gutman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Health Planning ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Therapy Services

Although occupational therapists were once integrally involved in mental health practice, the percentage of therapists presently working in this clinical area is low. In 2017, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation convened a planning grant collective (PGC) to generate research to support populations with serious mental health challenges. The PGC’s primary mission was to identify key research areas in which occupational therapists and colleagues could work collaboratively to demonstrate evidence for occupational therapy services supporting mental health community participation. Participants included 21 members from six professions and three program officers from federal funding establishments. The PGC identified seven overarching research concepts, three broad areas of research inquiry, and eight possible studies addressing occupational therapy’s contribution to research promoting community participation and health outcomes for people with mental illness. This article provides a summary of the PGC proceedings so that researchers can collaboratively implement identified research topics.

scholarly journals The developing role of occupational therapists in school-based practice: Experiences from collaborative action research in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-386
Author(s):  
Debbie Kramer-Roy ◽  
Denise Hashim ◽  
Nighat Tahir ◽  
Areeba Khan ◽  
Asma Khalid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Collaborative Action Research ◽  
School Level ◽  
Collaborative Action ◽  
School Based

Introduction Occupational therapists around the world increasingly seek to support the participation of children with disabilities and special educational needs in mainstream education. Contemporary school-based occupational therapy practice is progressing from an individual, impairment focus towards collaborative, universal interventions at the whole class and whole school level. Participation-focused practice and collaboration is particularly important, but uncommon, in low-resource contexts such as Pakistan. Methods This article reports on collaborative action research that developed the role of occupational therapy in inclusive education in Karachi, Pakistan. A research team consisting of occupational therapists and teachers worked with five local primary schools, using the action research cycles of plan–implement–observe–reflect to develop practical strategies, materials and inclusive lesson plans to facilitate the participation of all children in all school-based occupations. Findings Support from school management and interdisciplinary collaboration were crucial for implementing change. In addition, strategies like inclusive lesson planning were found to benefit all children in class. Collaborative action research led to increased professional confidence in the teachers and occupational therapists, and skill development through developing a resource guide, running workshops and presenting at (inter)national conferences. Conclusion Collaborative action research was an effective means to develop the occupational therapy role in inclusive education practices in Pakistan, develop culturally appropriate educational resources, and upskill local therapists and teachers.

Workplace mental health: Current practice and support needs of Ontario occupational therapists

2018 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 408-417
Author(s):  
Sandra E. Moll ◽  
Caitlin M. Heino ◽  
Alison H. LeBlanc ◽  
Lydia B. Beck ◽  
Laura M. Kalef
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Services ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Workplace Mental Health

Background. Workplace mental health (WMH) is an important and expanding practice area for occupational therapists. Purpose. This cross-sectional study explores the current practices and support needs of Ontario-based occupational therapists in WMH. Method. Registrants from the provincial association who provide mental health and/or work-related services were invited to participate. Ninety-three therapists completed an online survey; 10 participated in follow-up focus groups. Analysis involved descriptive statistics of the survey data and content analysis of the focus group data. Findings. Return to work, reactivation, and functional cognitive assessment were the most commonly reported services. Key challenges were limited funding and training and lack of awareness of the occupational therapy role. Therapists emphasized the importance of raising the competence, credibility, and profile of occupational therapy in WMH. Implications. Defining the role of occupational therapy, developing training and resources, and advocacy are needed to advance occupational therapy practice within this rapidly changing field.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document