Needs Assessment, Program Development, and Pilot Testing: Training for Occupational Therapy Students Working with Survivors of Gun Violence

Introduction The development of professional attitude evolves over time and contributes to the formation of professional identity. This study tracked formation of professional identity by comparing professional attitudes of three cohorts: new graduates, final-year, and first-year students of occupational therapy. Method The online survey, including a 5-point Likert scale 17-item questionnaire and one qualitative inquiry using an incomplete statement, revealed the perception and future career prospects of 144 novice practitioners and students of occupational therapy. Written statements were compared to each other to provide insight about the participants’ perspectives during the three time periods. Findings One-way ANOVA indicated that there were significant differences in professional attitudes among the three cohorts (F (2, 141) = 14.32, p < 0.0001), demonstrating a downward trend in professional identity formation. The comparison analysis of statements confirmed the quantitative results and highlighted an issue of negative professional identity through indicating great concerns over the future career prospects. Conclusion Despite increased awareness of occupational therapy over time, these participants seemed to have had trouble developing a sound sense of professional identity. Possible sources and solutions for this issue were discussed, to better facilitate a clear sense of professional identity in occupational therapy students and practitioners.

Download Full-text

Positive Psychology for Mental Wellbeing of UK Therapeutic Students: Relationships with Engagement, Motivation, Resilience and Self-Compassion

International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction ◽

10.1007/s11469-020-00466-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yasuhiro Kotera ◽

Pauline Green ◽

David Sheffield

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Positive Psychology ◽

Occupational Therapy ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Psychological Constructs ◽

Occupational Therapy Students ◽

Self Compassion ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThis study aimed to examine the relationships between mental wellbeing and positive psychological constructs in therapeutic students (psychotherapy and occupational therapy students). The number of therapeutic students has increased recently; however, they suffer from poor mental health, which may be improved by potentiating their positive psychological constructs, bypassing mental health shame. Therapeutic students (n = 145) completed measures regarding positive psychological constructs, namely mental wellbeing, engagement, motivation, resilience, and self-compassion. Resilience and self-compassion predicted mental wellbeing, explaining a large effect. Self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between resilience and mental wellbeing. This study highlights the importance of positive psychological constructs, especially resilience and self-compassion, for mental wellbeing of therapeutic students.

Download Full-text

A Q-method approach to perceptions of professional reasoning in occupational therapy undergraduates

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02710-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Luis-Javier Márquez-Álvarez ◽

José-Ignacio Calvo-Arenillas ◽

Estíbaliz Jiménez-Arberas ◽

Miguel-Ángel Talavera-Valverde ◽

Ana-Isabel Souto-Gómez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Occupational Therapy ◽

Q Methodology ◽

Subjective Experience ◽

Learning Assessment ◽

Probabilistic Sampling ◽

Occupational Therapy Students ◽

Undergraduate University Students ◽

Firm Basis ◽

Methods Of Learning ◽

Number Of Citations

Abstract Background Professional reasoning provides a firm basis for the development of teaching and assessment strategies to support the acquisition of skills by healthcare students. Nevertheless, occupational therapy educators should use diverse methods of learning assessment to examine student learning outcomes more fully with an evaluation that supports the overall complexity of the process, particularly learners’ subjective experience. The aim of this article is to identify the range of perspectives among occupational therapy undergraduates regarding terms or concepts that are key for improving their professional reasoning. Methods Q-methodology was used to address the aim of the study. A concourse relating to a series of ideas, phrases, terminology, and concepts associated with various studies on professional reasoning in occupational therapy, specifically on students in this field, was generated. The terms that had the clearest evidence, the most relevance or the greatest number of citations in the literature were collected (n = 37). The P-set was assembled by non-probabilistic sampling for convenience. It comprised undergraduate university students in occupational therapy. Factor analysis was conducted using Ken-Q Analysis v.1.0.6, reducing the number of Q-sets to smaller groups of factors representing a common perspective. Results Through statistical analysis of the Q-sorts of 37 occupational therapy students, 8 default factors were identified. The four factors in accordance with the selection criteria were rotated by varimax rotation to identify variables that could be grouped together. Each viewpoint was interpreted, discussed and liked to different aspects of professional reasoning in occupational therapy. Conclusions The observed perceptions were linked to the various aspects of professional reasoning that have been widely discussed in the occupational therapy literature. For most of the students, there was a strong correspondence between the narrative, interactive and conditional aspects of the various components.

Download Full-text