A Vision for Our Future

Understanding professional identity in occupational therapy: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

A strong professional identity helps occupational therapists maintain professional values and thrive when facing work-related challenges and opportunities including generic, blurred or emerging roles, funding pressures and a push for outcome evidence. A scoping review will build understanding of professional identity and how to maintain it in such circumstances.

OBJECTIVES

To scope what is currently understood of professional identity in occupational therapy and factors which influence ability to maintain this and adapt in challenging work environments.

METHODS

Using Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework three databases were searched using the terms 'occupational therap*' and 'professional identity'. Data extraction and thematic analysis highlighted the extent and nature of current literature and mapped key concepts.

RESULTS

89 papers were included. Professional identity was revealed as a multidimensional construction. Four themes emerged: developing a shared ontology, embracing the culture, enacting occupational therapy, and believing in occupational therapy. Factors which influenced development and maintenance of professional identity included occupation-centred practice, ontological reflexivity, linking theory to practice and professional socialization.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

The enhanced understanding of professional identity and factors which preserve or enhance it can help the profession identify how to position itself to remain resilient and adaptive in an ever-changing environment.

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.

Utilization of evidence-based practice by registered occupational therapists

Although the use of evidence-based practice (EBP) is presently on the rise, there have been limited studies examining its use by occupational therapists within the US. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of EBP among registered occupational therapists in the occupational therapy intervention planning process. This descriptive study surveyed 500 members of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), of which 131 participants responded (26%). The results of the study supported the hypothesis that, within the sample studied, a minority of registered occupational therapists in the US utilize EBP in the intervention planning process. Other results included: (1) As level of academic education increased, the view of the importance of research to occupational therapy decreased. (2) As the years of practice increased, the use of research evidence in making clinical decisions decreased. As the occupational therapy profession moves towards utilization of EBP as a professional standard, it is imperative that the profession examines specific strategies to promote the adoption of such practice by its members, including the promotion of competency in evidence utilization, and the valuing of the established clinical reasoning skills of the practitioner while integrating research evidence into intervention planning to support professional practice.