Population Health and Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Occupational therapy practitioners play an important role in improving the health of populations through the development of occupational therapy interventions at the population level and through advocacy to address occupational participation and the multiple determinants of health. This article defines and explores population health as a concept and describes the appropriateness of occupational therapy practice in population health. Support of population health practice as evidenced in the official documents of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the relevance of population health for occupational therapy as a profession are reviewed. Recommendations and directions for the future are included related to celebration of the achievements of occupational therapy practitioners in the area of population health, changes to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and educational accreditation standards, and the importance of supporting, recognizing, rewarding, and valuing occupational therapy practitioners who assume roles in which direct care is not their primary function.

African American Fathers’ Occupational Participation: “Keeping the Mothers in a Positive Vibe”

“…Infant mortality is a population health challenge that disproportionately affects African American families, and African American father participation in their children's lives promotes positive child outcomes, including birth outcomes (Bernham et al, 2017). Braveman (2016) espoused two roles for occupational therapy practitioners in population health: direct occupational therapy interventions and advocacy. The findings from this study suggest that effective occupational therapy interventions would be directed toward enhancing fatherhood participation through the use of mobile health strategies or group process strategies that foster a sense of community.…”

Integrating the Science of Habit

“…Moreover, although missing a behavioral performance did not completely derail habit development, participants who performed their chosen behavior every day (or nearly every day) developed habits faster than those who missed days or enacted the behaviors less frequently. Braveman (2016) recently argued that occupational therapy has an expanded role to play in improving population health through research and interventions. Key findings and principles of habit and habit change provide one important logical pathway for occupational therapy research and practice to fulfill that role.…”

“…Braveman (2016) recently argued that occupational therapy has an expanded role to play in improving population health through research and interventions. Key findings and principles of habit and habit change provide one important logical pathway for occupational therapy research and practice to fulfill that role.…”

“…Our goal is to stimulate renewed interest, discussion, and activity in habit-focused intervention development and research. In doing so, we hope to help advance occupational therapy's contribution to solving pressing health needs and find firmer footing and recognition in the field of population health (Braveman, 2016).…”

Expanding the Implementation of the Americans With Disabilities Act for Populations With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: The Role of Organization-Level Occupational Therapy Consultation

“…G iven health care reform's growing emphasis on health promotion and client outcomes, including well-being and quality of life, rich opportunities to expand the scope of occupational therapy in community-based practice have emerged (Braveman, 2015;Mroz, Pitonyak, Fogelberg, & Leland, 2015). Consultation with community organizations is a growing area of practice that demonstrates occupational therapy's established role in supporting accessibility to public spaces for people with disabilities.…”