Therapists' conceptualization of spirituality and attitudes about spirituality in occupational therapy practice are quite diverse.

The purpose of this study was to determine the treatment activities used most often by occupational therapists associated with the Louisiana State University Medical Center's (LSUMC's) occupational therapy program. The results of this study were used to make changes in the teaching of treatment activities in the program. Two samples of clinicians--83 fieldwork supervisors and 59 former LSUMC students, mainly from the southeastern region of the country--identified how frequently their clinics had used each of 67 listed treatment activities in the past year. The results showed that noncraft activities were ranked as being used more frequently than either major or minor craft activities. This was true in all settings and all specialty areas of practice. In both groups, across all areas of practice, self-care and social skills activities ranked among the top five positions of activities frequently used in practice. Therapists in physical disabilities settings used crafts less frequently than therapists in mental health settings. As a result of this study, changes have been made in the teaching of treatment activities at LSUMC: Those activities that were ranked in the study as frequently used have been emphasized, and those ranked as infrequently used have been given less emphasis or deleted from the curriculum.

Recommendations for preparation of entry-level practitioners to work at all levels of the model are discussed.

Occupational therapists interested in physical disabilities practice (N = 629) responded to a questionnaire regarding their use of, training in, and opinions on physical agent modalities. Therapists in hand rehabilitation were the most frequent users of these modalities. Of the listed modalities, the most frequently used was hot and cold packs; the least used was ultrasound. The modalities used most frequently were typically performed without assistance, whereas those used less frequently were more likely to be performed with the assistance of a physical therapist. The most common educational experience for physical agent modality use was on-the-job training. Therapists who provided direct care were more positive about the use of these modalities in occupational therapy practice than were those who acted primarily as administrators, fieldwork educators, or supervisors. Respondents who specialized in hand therapy viewed modalities in a more positive light than did therapists in other areas of physical disabilities practice.

The family occupies an important role in the lives of persons with a physical, developmental, or mental disability; however, the extent and manner in which occupational therapists work with families is not known. A questionnaire concerning family-therapist involvement was sent to occupational therapists. Responses of 340 occupational therapists with a primary practice area of physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, or mental health were compared. Results indicated that the amount of contact with families of clients, reasons for family-therapist interactions, and attitudes about the family's abilities and involvement were affected by the respondent's area of practice. Respondents in all three practice areas identified scheduling difficulties as the biggest issue affecting their involvement with families of their clients. Implications discussed include the need to obtain an understanding of families' desired level of involvement and the importance of continuing education opportunities for occupational therapists in changing attitudes about working with families. This study also suggests that the role of occupational therapists with families in mental health settings needs to be better articulated and shared with professional peers.