Occupational therapy: The process in acute psychiatry

Abstract

Short Research Report The role of the occupational therapist in the acute psychiatric setting includes individual and group assessment and intervention, discharge planning and community reintegration. [1] However, there is a lack of understanding around specific types of assessment and interventions commonly used in this setting, where the occupational therapist does not have the opportunity to predict a predetermined programme that mirrors the traditional occupational therapy process. [2] The occupational therapist and the students should have flexibility in practice. [3] There is a lack of research into the students' understanding of the occupational therapy process in the acute psychiatric context. Methods This study explored third-year occupational therapy students' experiences in the acute psychiatric setting. A qualitative approach was used, which allowed participants to share their subjective perspectives. [4] The setting comprised two acute admission wards at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Western Cape Province, South Africa. The study population was a thirdyear occupational therapy class at an institute for higher learning in the Western Cape. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, based on their placement in the acute psychiatric fieldwork setting. A sample size of 4 viable participants was identified. [5] Data collection Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with each of the 4 participants were used for data gathering. Students' electronic-format reflective journals were collected as a third form of data. Students were asked about the enablers and limitations with the implementation of the occupational therapy process in the setting.