Understanding professional identity in occupational therapy: A scoping review

Abstract

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 socialisation. 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.

Effectiveness of using calligraphic activity to treat people with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial in Southern Taiwan

“…In other words, the calligraphy activity used in the present study was influenced by the tenets of occupational therapy (i.e. using occupations to increase the engagement of daily activities and achieve the outcomes of health improvement), 30 which is different from using calligraphy activity for mere recreation. Therefore, researchers who want to use calligraphy activity as a treatment should understand differences between using calligraphy activity therapeutically, as in the present study, versus recreationally.…”

Ein Weg, der sich lohnt – Berufsidentität mit Betätigung im Kern entwickeln

“…In unserem Beruf fühlen wir uns heimisch, wenn er möglichst gut zu unserem Wesen, unseren Talenten und Interessen passt. Ein Blick in die Erforschung der Berufsidentität zeigt: Ergothera- peut*innen mit einer positiven Berufsidentität sind zufriedener mit ihrer Arbeit, verbleiben länger im Beruf und gehen souveräner mit Schwierigkeiten im Berufsalltag um 2 , 3 . Die ergotherapeutische Berufsidentität entwickelt sich dabei von zwei Seiten 3 : von der theoretischen, also den eigenen Werten und Normen, sowie von den Grundannahmen des Berufs.…”

“…Ein Blick in die Erforschung der Berufsidentität zeigt: Ergothera- peut*innen mit einer positiven Berufsidentität sind zufriedener mit ihrer Arbeit, verbleiben länger im Beruf und gehen souveräner mit Schwierigkeiten im Berufsalltag um 2 , 3 . Die ergotherapeutische Berufsidentität entwickelt sich dabei von zwei Seiten 3 : von der theoretischen, also den eigenen Werten und Normen, sowie von den Grundannahmen des Berufs. Dazu gehört beispielsweise die Grundannahme, dass bedeutungsvolle Betätigungen zuträglich für das Wohlbefinden und die Gesundheit von Menschen sind.…”

Professional resilience strategies utilized by occupational therapists to combat occupational stressors in health and social care settings

“…Occupational therapists experience additional stressors caused by professional marginalisation in settings where dominant discourses diminish professional identity and where the profession's core focus and domain of practice is inhibited or marginalised [13,14]. These discourses include accepted bodies of knowledge and language that shape service-delivery and priorities in health and social care.…”

“…Pressure to adhere to these dominant practice discourses often creates a dissonance with professional paradigm which for occupational therapists is underpinned by an occupational perspective of health [14]. An occupational perspective refers to a focus on the necessary and desired occupations of an individual and enabling participation [17].…”