Using Occupational Therapy Assistant Perspectives to Teach Occupational Therapy Supervisory Roles and Expectations

Abstract

Occupational therapy assistant (OTA) supervision is an expected skill and role of entry-level occupational therapists (OTRs). The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods study is to provide occupational therapy students (OTSs) with an interactive and collaborative educational opportunity, using an OTA-perspective panel discussion to improve the learning of effective supervision and role delineation. Participants consisted of OTSs (n = 11) in a graduate master’s program and a panel of OTAs (n = 10). All participants were provided with a standard lecture on the topic of supervision, followed by a pre-test survey. Then, they participated in a guided panel discussion followed by a post-test survey. Results suggest that an OTA-perspective panel discussion can enhance the learning of supervisory roles and expectations to OTSs, beyond what was provided in the standard lecture (p = 0.007). Further data was gathered of all participants consisting of qualitative perspectives. Thematic analysis resulted in enhanced learning of role-delineation, professional perspectives, and supervisory experiences. The results of this study suggest that occupational therapy programs would benefit from similar OTA-led perspective discussions to enhance OTSs understanding of skills needed to be effective supervisors as entry-level occupational therapists.