Journal article
Identifying educational priorities for occupational therapy students to prepare for mental health practice in Australia and New Zealand: Opinions of practising occupational therapists
Australian occupational therapy journal, Vol.62(5), pp.286-298
2015
Abstract
Background: The effective preparation of occupational therapy students for mental health practice is critical to facilitate positive consumer outcomes, underpin optimal practice and support new graduates' professional identity. This project was established to determine a set of 'educational priorities' for occupational therapy students to prepare them for current (and future) entry-level practice in mental health, from the perspective of mental health occupational therapists in Australia and New Zealand. Methods: The study included two phases. In Phase One, participants identified what they considered to be important educational priorities for occupational therapy students to prepare them for practice in mental health. For Phase Two, an 'expert panel' was assembled to review and rank these using a Policy Delphi approach. Results: Eighty-five participants provided educational priorities in Phase One. These were grouped into a total of 149 educational themes. In Phase Two, the expert panel (consisting of 37 occupational therapists from diverse locations and practice settings) prioritised these themes across three Delphi rounds. A final priority list was generated dividing educational themes into three prioritised categories: 29 'Essential', 25 'Important' and 44 'Optional' priorities. Highest-ranked priorities were: clinical reasoning, client-centred practice, therapeutic use of self, functional implications of mental illness, therapeutic use of occupation and mental health fieldwork experience. Conclusion: The priority list developed as part of this project provides additional information to support the review of occupational therapy curricula across Australia and New Zealand to ensure that new graduates are optimally prepared for mental health practice.
Details
- Title
- Identifying educational priorities for occupational therapy students to prepare for mental health practice in Australia and New Zealand: Opinions of practising occupational therapists
- Authors
- Justin Newton Scanlan (Author) - University of SydneyGenevieve Pepin (Author) - Deakin UniversityKirsti Haracz (Author) - University of NewcastlePriscilla Ennals (Author) - La Trobe UniversityJayne S Webster (Author) - Otago Polytechnic, New ZealandPamela J Meredith (Author) - University of QueenslandRachel Batten (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversitySiann Bowman (Author) - La Trobe UniversityMarianne Bonassi (Author) - James Cook UniversityRosa Bruce (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Australian occupational therapy journal, Vol.62(5), pp.286-298
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1111/1440-1630.12194
- ISSN
- 0045-0766
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Occupational Therapy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450088302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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