2011 Symposium Program - College of Health - University of Utah

Becoming Occupation-Based: Using an Example from Occupation-Based
Pediatric Practice
Researchers: Jamieson, A.; Jeppeson, K.
Committee: Price, P.; Koski, K.; Minnis, A.
Objective
Our study aims to explore how occupation emerges and how occupational outcomes
are facilitated in the occupational therapy process in a pediatric setting. This
understanding assists occupational therapists in articulating the approaches that
occur in the occupational therapy process to better facilitate occupational outcomes.
This study is part of an ongoing study to examine how occupation, as an idea,
emerges in the process of occupational therapy.
Method
Qualitative data was gathered through audio-tapes, field notes and transcriptions of
five intervention sessions between a therapist, one of her client’s and the client’s
mother. Initial and exit interviews were conducted with parent and therapist at
evaluation and discharge. In addition, interviews before and after each session were
conducted with the therapist. Thematic analysis was performed initially by two
separate researchers to find common themes in the data. Through open coding
themes were derived. Trigulation was established among researchers and then
among peers.
Results
Researchers were able to identify 6 main themes from the analysis. Specific
intervention strategies included scaffolding, therapeutic relationship, collaboration,
and providing challenge, choices, and connections to occupations. These serve as
critical components in maintaining an occupation-based practice throughout the
occupational therapy process. These findings demonstrate how therapists can remain
occupation-based throughout the therapeutic process.
Conclusions
This study increases understanding of intervention strategies utilized during an
occupation-based therapeutic process. By using the intervention strategies presented
in the article as a guide, occupational therapists will better utilize their unique skill set
to remain occupation-based, which distinguishes their important role in the team. The
intervention strategies identified by this research can be used as therapeutic tools for
a therapist to facilitate the individual in becoming an occupational being. These
findings, however, may not be generalize-able for other occupational therapy settings
because research was conducted in a pediatric clinic, with a small number of
participants. The findings contribute knowledge to current research on examining
occupation-based practice.
Keywords
Therapeutic process, Intervention Strategies, Therapeutic Relationship, Client
Centered
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