Understanding occupation in Canada: Recent graduates' perspectives. 2023

Erina Cho, and Shellie Osenga, and Susan Forwell, and Katie Lee Bunting
Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

A robust occupational perspective can fortify an occupational therapist's professional identity, which is especially important as occupational therapists can struggle with professional identity. Occupational therapy curricula are critical to the development of an occupational perspective. Recent graduates can offer valuable insights on an occupational perspective, having transitioned from occupation-centred curricula into often medicalised practice settings. This study explored how recent graduates from Canadian entry-level occupational therapy master's programs understand the concept of occupation. Using an interpretive descriptive approach, rooted in constructivism, 13 English-speaking graduates (2017, 2018, 2019) from Canadian entry-level occupational therapy master's programs were purposively recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data, informed by reflexivity and member-checking. Four themes were described: (1) occupation: more than doing, (2) occupation is broad, abstract, and context-dependent, (3) occupation is not well understood: the fall out, and (4) navigating the challenge of describing occupation. Participants' experiences aligned with much of the previous literature, including the challenges of describing occupation and frustrations with navigating this in practice. Yet, participants described how flexible and critical understandings of occupation facilitate the use of an occupational perspective across practice settings, supporting professional resilience.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009788 Occupational Therapy Skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. It assists in the development of skills needed for independent living. Ergotherapy,Therapy, Occupational,Ergotherapies,Occupational Therapies,Therapies, Occupational
D009790 Occupations Crafts, trades, professions, or other means of earning a living. Vocations,Occupation,Vocation
D002170 Canada The largest country in North America, comprising 10 provinces and three territories. Its capital is Ottawa.
D003479 Curriculum A course of study offered by an educational institution. Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000072087 Occupational Therapists Professionals trained to help individuals develop or regain skills needed to achieve independence in their lives. Occupational Therapist,Therapist, Occupational,Therapists, Occupational

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