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Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students (undergraduate + occupational_therapy_student)

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Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Levels of empathy in undergraduate occupational therapy students

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2010
Ted Brown
Abstract Empathy is an important attribute for occupational therapists in establishing rapport and in better understanding their clients. However, empathy can be compromised by high workloads, personal stressors and pressures to demonstrate efficacy. Occupational therapists also work with patients from a variety of diagnostic groups. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of empathy and attitudes towards clients amongst undergraduate occupational therapy students at one Australian University. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a written survey of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) and the Medical Condition Regard Scale. Overall, a strong level of empathy was reported amongst students. Four medical conditions that occupational therapists work with (stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and depression) were held in high regard. Substance abuse, however, was held in comparatively low regard. Overall, the year of study appeared to have no significant impact on the students' empathy. Despite having a lower reported empathy level than found in health professions from other studies using the JSPE, occupational therapy students were found to have a good level of empathy. Of concern, however, was the bias reported against the medical condition of substance abuse, highlighting that the there may be a need to reinforce that patients from this diagnostic group are equally deserving of quality care irrespective of their clinical condition. Recommendations for future research include completing a longitudinal study of occupational therapy students' empathy levels and investigating the empathy levels of occupational therapists working with different client groups. Limitations of the study include the convenience sampling of occupational therapy students enrolled at one university which limits the generalizability of the results to groups of participants with similar characteristics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Project placements for undergraduate occupational therapy students: design, implementation and evaluation

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002
Alison Prigg Lecturer
Abstract This study aimed to document the process undertaken to incorporate project placements as an effective fieldwork option for second- and third-year occupational therapy students, by evaluating the experience of both students and supervisors and identifying areas for improvement. Project placements are full- or part-time placements where a project is completed by a student under the supervision of an occupational therapist. The study is primarily descriptive, and includes a pre-post design using qualitative and quantitative data. The results indicate that the objectives of the study were achieved. Both supervisors and students expressed positive views about the placements. Students also identified changes that could improve the placements. Second- and third-year students gave similar ratings about aspects of the learning experiences during the project placements. The small cohort of third-year students and the low response rate from supervisors limited results. These project placements have shown an applicable model for students in earlier years of the course instead of the usual practice of non-traditional fieldwork being focused on final-year students. The project placements described are presented as one more potential fieldwork model in the range currently offered by curricula worldwide. Future research needs to concentrate on the longitudinal impact of these placements on the developing practice and attitudes of occupational therapy students. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]

A self-directed fieldwork program to provide alternative occupational health placements for undergraduate occupational therapy students

AUSTRALIAN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004
Carole James
Second-year students of undergraduate occupational therapy at the University of Newcastle, NSW, undertake a fieldwork placement in occupational health. However, sufficient placements are not always available. A new fieldwork program attempts to meet this need. Three groups of students conducted risk assessments throughout the academic year, with generally positive results. Students enjoyed the self-directed nature of the placement and the opportunity to learn generic and occupational health related skills. Although there were some limitations to the program, we believe that fieldwork placements met the learning needs of second-year students and offered them an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience related to occupational health practice in prevention. [source]