Current Practice and Perceptions of Group Work in Occupational Therapy

Participant evaluation of an inpatient occupational therapy groups programme in brain injury rehabilitation

“…Reflective of changes in approaches to health and wellbeing (World Health Organisation, 2001), and occupational therapy practice more broadly (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014), this groups programme focuses on activity and participation with consideration given to personal factors and environmental contexts. Furthermore, the groups reflect current evidence regarding the benefits of group interventions such as peer support and learning (Higgins et al, 2014;Malec, 2014;Yalom & Leszcz, 2005).…”

“…First documented in the 1920s, Meyer (1922) described the facilitation of craft groups in which there was little emphasis on group interactions. While group-based interventions have changed over time, groups remain a core component of occupational therapy practice (Higgins, Schwartzberg, Bedell & Duncombe, 2014;Schwartzberg, Howe & Barnes, 2008). Schwartzberg et al (2008) described the history of occupational therapy group interventions across six key periods from the project era in the 1920s and 1930s, featuring project work with little focus on group dynamics; to the socialisation era of the late 1930s which was largely based in psychiatric settings; and the group dynamics era of the 1950s which emphasised therapeutic interactions between participants.…”

“…Schwartzberg et al (2008) described the history of occupational therapy group interventions across six key periods from the project era in the 1920s and 1930s, featuring project work with little focus on group dynamics; to the socialisation era of the late 1930s which was largely based in psychiatric settings; and the group dynamics era of the 1950s which emphasised therapeutic interactions between participants. Since then groups have continued to be used widely by occupational therapists across a broad range of clinical settings (Cole, 2012;Higgins et al, 2014;Scanlan, Argent, Ayling, Mouawad & Woodward, 2015) with shifts in healthcare approaches reflected in group facilitation. Yalom and Leszcz (2005) identified 12 curative factors that occur within the context of group treatment including universality, the instillation of hope, development of socialising techniques, and self-understanding.…”

Group therapy interventions in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation: processes, perceptions and effectiveness

“…A study by Beaulieu et al (2015) identified that in the early stages of inpatient rehabilitation (first ten hours of therapy) most patients engaged with occupational therapy to address the following activities: 1) basic personal care, 2) activities to treat physical impairments, and 3) activities to treat cognitive impairments. Within the profession of occupational therapy, groups are a core component of service delivery, addressing a wide range of purposes (Higgins, Schwartzberg, Bedell, & Duncombe, 2014). In TBI rehabilitation occupational therapy groups typically address cognitive and functional activities, including a focus on the use of the upper limb (Hammond et al, 2015).…”

“…For example, within the rehabilitation context, recent studies identified that in hospital inpatient TBI and spinal cord injury rehabilitation, group therapy accounted for 15.8% and 27% of therapy time respectively (Hammond et al, 2015;Zanca et al, 2013). Within the profession of occupational therapy, a study of 273 occupational therapists revealed that 50% reported using groups in their practice (Higgins et al, 2014). Groups have a long history in occupational therapy practice, and to this day are core forms of service delivery for occupational therapists.…”