Continuing competency in ethical decision making: An interpretive description of occupational therapists’ perspectives

Abstract

Background. Competency in ethical decision making is a criterion for ethical practice, and it is expected to advance with ongoing professional development. However, research exploring continuing competency needs of occupational therapists regarding ethical decision making is limited. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to explore potential gaps and directions for development related to continuing competency in ethical decision making from the perspective of practicing occupational therapists. Method. Interpretive description informed secondary data analysis of professional narratives from a grounded theory study regarding ethical decision making. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 18 occupational therapists. Data analyses focused on identifying gaps and future directions regarding continuing competency. Findings. Two main themes regarding gaps were identified: “I didn’t have the knowledge” and “I don’t have anybody.” Education, tool development, and ethics mentorship were identified directions for development. Implications. Findings advance understanding of continuing competency needs of occupational therapists regarding ethical decision making.

Assessing Older Adults’ Decision-Making Capacity for Independent Living: Practice Tensions and Complexities

“…This study highlights the need to improve fragmented and inequitable access to community care, and how few alternatives to nursing homes exist for older adults who are unable to continue living independently, as has been acknowledged in literature (Carter et al, 2019; Walsh et al, 2015). Resource limitations, systemic constraints and differing team values preclude ethical decision-making that is consistent with professional values in occupational therapy practice (Bushby et al, 2015; Hazelwood et al, 2019; VanderKaay et al, 2019). Hammell (2007) argues that occupational therapists often actively reinforce and perpetrate restrictive organisational policies that disempower people and challenges the profession to demonstrate accountability to the client rather than the organisation.…”

Key person ethical decision-making and substandard drugs rejection intentions

“…Conversely, an unethical decision is either illegal or morally unacceptable [11]. The ethical decision theory has been extensively studied in many fields, such as business, pharmacy, and accounting [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Valuing home modifications: The street‐level policy work of occupational therapists in Australian home modification practice

“…Within the home modification literature, there is growing interest in how the matters of resource distribution and VFM are dealt with in practice. In particular, increasing attention is being paid to both health economics and the ethical facets of occupational therapists' decision making in home modification practice (Chiatti & Iwarsson, 2014;Dige, 2009;Johansson et al, 2010;Kinsella et al, 2008;Sandman, 2012;Vanderkaay et al, 2019Vanderkaay et al, , 2020. In 2014, Chiatti and Iwarsson highlighted the potential that a range of economic decision-making tools, such as cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and cost-utility Key Points for Occupational Therapy analysis, held for occupational therapists undertaking home modification work.…”