Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving?
| dc.contributor.author | Van Stormbroek, Kirsty | |
| dc.contributor.author | Buchanan, Helen | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-07-04T06:59:52Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-07-04T06:59:52Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016-12 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: Community Service was introduced to improve access to health care for all South Africans, yet little is known about the experiences of Community Service occupational therapists. This article describes the characteristics and general experiences of Community Service occupational therapists. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Data were collected with an online questionnaire to all occupational therapists completing Community Service in 2013 (n=240). Data were analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21.0, and responses to open ended questions were post-coded. Results: A 44.3% (n=104) response rate was achieved. Almost half the participants (44.7%) were located rurally with 51.5% working at primary level at least some of the time. Referrals were frequently received for wheelchair related services (61.2%), interventions related to child development (49.5%), disability grant assessments (36.9%) and treatment of adults with neurological conditions (39.8%). While some therapists felt challenged (54.2%) and frustrated (58.3%), many (75.0%) reported satisfaction from interacting with clients. Although the majority perceived the profession to be poorly recognised (63.5%), most were proud to be occupational therapists (66.7%). Conclusion: Community Service occupational therapists are playing an important role in improving access to services but Community Service needs to be situated within a broader plan to extend and strengthen services in-line with government policy. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Van Stormbroek, K., & Buchanan, H. (2016). Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving?. <i>South African Journal of Occupational Therapy</i>, 46(3), 63-72. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30310 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Van Stormbroek, Kirsty, and Helen Buchanan "Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving?." <i>South African Journal of Occupational Therapy</i> 46, 3. (2016): 63-72. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30310 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Van Stormbroek, K., Buchanan, H. 2016-12. Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving?. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 46; 3; 63-72. | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Journal Article AU - Van Stormbroek, Kirsty AU - Buchanan, Helen AB - Introduction: Community Service was introduced to improve access to health care for all South Africans, yet little is known about the experiences of Community Service occupational therapists. This article describes the characteristics and general experiences of Community Service occupational therapists. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Data were collected with an online questionnaire to all occupational therapists completing Community Service in 2013 (n=240). Data were analysed with IBM SPSS Statistics, version 21.0, and responses to open ended questions were post-coded. Results: A 44.3% (n=104) response rate was achieved. Almost half the participants (44.7%) were located rurally with 51.5% working at primary level at least some of the time. Referrals were frequently received for wheelchair related services (61.2%), interventions related to child development (49.5%), disability grant assessments (36.9%) and treatment of adults with neurological conditions (39.8%). While some therapists felt challenged (54.2%) and frustrated (58.3%), many (75.0%) reported satisfaction from interacting with clients. Although the majority perceived the profession to be poorly recognised (63.5%), most were proud to be occupational therapists (66.7%). Conclusion: Community Service occupational therapists are playing an important role in improving access to services but Community Service needs to be situated within a broader plan to extend and strengthen services in-line with government policy. DA - 2016-12 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.17159/2310=3833/2016/v46n3a11 DP - University of Cape Town IS - 3 J1 - South African Journal of Occupational Therapy KW - Community service KW - occupational therapy KW - novice occupational therapist KW - professional identity LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2016 T1 - Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving? TI - Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30310 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310=3833/2016/v46n3a11 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30310 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Van Stormbroek K, Buchanan H. Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving?. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2016;46(3):63-72. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/30310. | en_ZA |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher.department | Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences | en_US |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Health Sciences | en_US |
| dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | en_US |
| dc.source | South African Journal of Occupational Therapy | en_US |
| dc.source.journalissue | 3 | en_US |
| dc.source.journalvolume | 46 | en_US |
| dc.source.pagination | 63-72 | en_US |
| dc.source.uri | http://www.sajot.co.za/index.php/sajot | |
| dc.subject | Community service | en_US |
| dc.subject | occupational therapy | en_US |
| dc.subject | novice occupational therapist | en_US |
| dc.subject | professional identity | en_US |
| dc.title | Community Service Occupational Therapists: thriving or just surviving? | en_US |
| dc.type | Journal Article | en_US |