Community-Working Occupational Therapists Serving as Fieldwork Supervisors: Characteristics and Associated Factors

Abstract

As enrollment numbers grow in occupational therapy academic programs in Norway, the need for more fieldwork placements and supervisors increases. More knowledge about factors of importance for occupational therapists' decisions to take on the role of fieldwork supervisor may promote easier access to supervisors who are ready for the task, and it may assist in addressing the barriers for those who are not. We recruited a sample of 561 community-working occupational therapists for an electronic survey conducted in 2017. Quantitative survey responses were obtained and used in the current study. The differences between supervisors and non-supervisors were examined with independent t-tests and Chi Square tests. To assess factors associated with serving as a supervisor, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. One hundred fifty-six participants (27.8%) had served as a fieldwork supervisor during the preceding year. The adjusted analysis showed that having a job physically located together with other occupational therapists was significantly associated with increased odds for serving as supervisor (OR:1.79, 95% CI:1.17-2.74, p < 0.01). A minority of the participants had supervised occupational therapy students during the preceding year, suggesting that community-based services are an under-used arena for occupational therapy students' fieldwork. In a long-term perspective, providing social and organizational support for occupational therapists who might take on student supervision may increase their willingness and opportunity to do so. Comments The authors report grants from Ergoterapeutene (The Norwegian Occupational Therapy Association), during the conduct of the study.

Job Satisfaction among Occupational Therapists Employed in Primary Care Services in Norway

“…The study is part of an ongoing investigation of occupational therapy practice, organization, and development in Norway between 2017 and 2022 [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. The current study was designed as a cross-sectional quantitative study based on a national survey conducted among occupational therapists working in primary care services.…”

Generalist, specialist and generic positions experienced by occupational therapists in Norwegian municipalities

“…Participants This study was a part of a larger study of occupational therapy in community health care contexts in Norway (Bonsaksen et al, 2019). The research group designed a national survey that was sent to 1,767 community-based occupational therapists in Norway.…”