Association between competencies of biopsychosocial approach and job satisfaction of rehabilitation professionals in Ukraine

BACKGROUND

The Biopsychosocial (BPS) model is recognized and widely accepted in the field of health care, particularly in rehabilitation. However, in clinical practice the applicability of the BPS model is a challenge for many professionals.

METHOD

This study aimed to explore the factors that impact the perception of rehabilitation professionals about the BPS model in Ukraine. In addition, the job satisfaction assessment was done to measure whether rehabilitation specialists in Ukraine fulfil their professional roles according to their expectations and values. Participants were 346 rehabilitation specialists from Ukraine who completed the Bio-Psycho-Social Scale (BPS) for Use in Healthcare and the Global Job Satisfaction Scale (GJSS). The ANOVA was used to investigate the outcome differences between the two scales.

RESULTS

The highest proportion of responders in this study represented state health services. The BPS subscale outcomes on "assessment and reporting" and "professional knowledge and skills" were significantly higher for specialists from a private sector. The global job satisfaction scale outcomes did not differ between responders from the private and state health sector. The perception of professionals networks was associated with greater job satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that conception of the BPS approach in rehabilitation system of Ukraine varies across the private and state settings. The professional network plays important role in job satisfaction of rehabilitation professionals in Ukraine. Future research focusing on education strategies to effectively train professionals to apply biopsychosocial approach to practice is of critical importance to prepare rehabilitation specialists in Ukraine.

Responses of the Occupational Therapy Profession to the Perspective of the Disability Movement, Part 1

Since the 1960s, people with disabilities have been developing their own perspective on what it means to be disabled. At the vanguard of this development was the independent living movement which, with other organisations of disabled people, identified disabled people as a group experiencing a particular oppression, disabled by social processes and handicapped by society's lack of commitment to the creation of enabling environments.

Part 1 of this article examines the genesis and development of the disability movement. The ideas and analysis that the disability movement has generated and its critique of the medical model of disability are outlined, and its impact — both ideological and legislative — is reviewed. The changing professional philosophy of occupational therapy is described and the impact on it of changing social values is assessed.

Part 2 will review the explicit responses of the occupational therapy profession to the disability movement. The validity of the social model of disability for occupational therapy interventions will be considered and an analysis will be presented of the implications for the profession's philosophy and practice of the adoption of the social model of disability in appropriate areas of practice.

The Casson Memorial Lecture 1992: Always a Little Further

This lecture was given at the College of Occupational Therapists' Annual Conference at Loughborough University of Technology on 17 July 1992. The theme combines personal views about the opportunities and threats currently facing the profession along with consideration of personal strategies for coping with change and how the education of students can help prepare them for the future. The text was accompanied by graphic representations and personal photographs of ‘adventuring’, together with posters prepared by second year students at Queen Margaret College as part of the health psychology syllabus.

Transcultural Occupational Therapy in the United Kingdom: Concepts and Research

The United Kingdom (UK) today is an ethnically diverse society. Legislation and the profession's own code of conduct highlight the need for occupational therapists to engage in culturally sensitive practice. This article comprises a contextual analysis of transcultural occupational therapy in the UK based upon a review of the research published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy during 1990–1997.

The article focuses initially on terminology to allow a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding transcultural service provision, and the dominant models currently used to conceptualise and implement transcultural practice in health care are also outlined. Discussion of both provides the contextual basis for an analysis of the research. From the material examined, it appears that cultural sensitivity needs to be developed at all levels before occupational therapists can be said to be providing an equitable service to the ethnically diverse communities of the UK.

Burnout among occupational therapists

Objectives. Using Maslach's Burnout Inventory (MBI), this study examined burnout among full-time staff occupational therapists including the extent of their burnout; how occupational therapists' burnout compared to four health care professions, and if type of health care setting impacts their level of burnout. Method. The MBI was mailed to each subject in the random sample (n = 3000) of occupational therapists who were American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) members. Results. Occupational therapists displayed a higher level of emotional exhaustion, and lower levels of depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Differences were found in the levels of occupational therapists' burnout when compared to four health care professions. Occupational therapists working in chronic care health care settings demonstrated higher levels of burnout than those working in other health care settings. Conclusion. The occupational therapist should strive to match their skills, interests, life style, and experience to the appropriate health care setting to promote a good person-environment fit to decrease burnout and promote quality patient care and personal health.

The utilization of spirituality in occupational therapy: beliefs, practices, and perceived barriers

Spirituality has become an increasingly important topic in healthcare and specifically in occupational therapy. This study utilized a survey design to examine occupational therapists' current beliefs and practices regarding spirituality, and to identify barriers to the use of spirituality in OT treatment. No statistically significant relationship was found between the use of spirituality and different practice settings or therapists' demographics However the participants' response indicated that the beliefs and practices regarding spirituality in occupational therapy may be changing Therapists reported discussing spiritual issues with clients more frequently than in previous studies. Lack of education or experience in taking a spiritual history was reported as the major barrier impeding the therapists' ability to incorporate spirituality into OT practice.

Occupational Therapy Students' Consideration of Clients' Spirituality in Practice Placement Education

Spirituality in occupational therapy has become more prominent through research and discussion over the last decade. This study aimed to examine further the topic of occupational therapists' inclusion of spirituality in their practice through exploring the experiences of occupational therapy students. The study investigated students' consideration and understanding of spirituality in practice after undertaking all their degree course placements.

A simplified grounded theory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews with six occupational therapy students explored their experiences and opinions regarding spirituality. A qualitative data analysis of the transcripts, using the Atlas.ti package, was the basis on which the findings were grounded.

The findings showed that it was the participants' opinions that spirituality was not covered well during their occupational therapy education. Other barriers to considering spirituality included the lack of a clear definition, omission from assessment forms and the perceptions of other staff. The participants' narratives indicated that they did not overtly focus on or consider spirituality during their practice placement education. However, all the participants discussed spirituality, in varying ways, with some of their clients. The findings from this study imply the need for specific education on recognising and addressing spirituality for students of occupational therapy.