The Chaplains’ Role: Insights and Awareness through the Lens of Occupational Therapy

The impetus for this study began with the consideration of what various practitioners have to offer in the delivery of services that attend to the spiritual nature of patients within an interdisciplinary healthcare team. To better understand that perspective, the authors of this study decided to initially investigate the literature specifically related to the role of chaplains to better situate the constructs of spirituality and healthcare. From the reviewed literature, we ascertained the general role and tasks of the chaplain, and the value of interdisciplinary work, albeit primarily with nurses and physicians. Despite these insights, we (all from an occupational therapy perspective) still did not fully comprehend the meaning or essence of the chaplain’s role. The research aim was to be able to elucidate the role of chaplains within a healthcare context by asking chaplains to share their own meaning of chaplaincy within healthcare

Preparing Students and Faculty to Engage in Interdisciplinary Research: Are We Up to the Challenge?

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the strengths and challenges of a small, interdisciplinary research project between a foreign language department and an allied health professional program

Professional Identity Formation: A Qualitative Study of Students in an Entry-Level Masters Occupational Therapy Program

The purpose of this study was to gain a preliminary understanding of students’ perspectives on professional identity formation as perceived by students in various cohorts of an entry-level masters OT program. In order to better understand the phenomenon of professional identity, researchers created a definition based on an analysis of the availed literature. Professional identity is the lifelong dynamic process of developing personal perspectives related to one’s professional roles that ultimately shape decision making skills and competence in practice. Perspectives of one\u27s identity may be influenced by and through various roles and contexts. This conceptual definition grounded the researchers’ work and structured the study

Exploring the Clinical Reasoning of Experienced Occupational Therapists: A Metacognitive Approach

This study explored the clinical reasoning of experienced occupational therapists’ (OTs) perceptions of how practitioners apply anatomy concepts in practice. The research question was: how do OTs apply anatomy concepts during their clinical reasoning processes in everyday practice

Clients’ Perspectives of Meaningful Healthcare Relationships

The aim of this study was to increase understanding of how clients view meaningful relationships within the healthcare context and how clients respond to differences in approaches or expectations for a meaningful relationship

Developing culturally responsive care: Occupational therapists’ responses to inherent conflict within international cross-cultural practice

The ethos of culturally responsive care within occupational therapy practice promotes the following ideals: awareness of one’s own sociopolitical-cultural contexts that inform decisions, expansion of one’s own sensitivity and curiosity toward other cultures, and development of skills to further engage other’s lived experiences and contexts and incorporate aspects into practice (Muñoz, 2005). International, cross-cultural work further challenges practitioners to be aware of and attentive to culturally responsive care, as well as, to address the inherent conflict that arises when providing care outside one’s dominant contexts (Humbert, Burket, Deveney, and Kennedy, 2011, 2012). This chapter will highlight the personal experiences of both occupational therapy students and practitioners who engaged in international cross-cultural education and work. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with three cohorts of participants that completed a multi-year phenomenological study. The results highlight the rewards and challenges of such work and the ways culturally responsive care was delivered. Themes indicate a complex pattern of negotiating one’s own culture when other contexts are encountered routinely and inherent conflicts experienced. Particular themes identified through the three studies include: Connectedness, Cultural Tension/Internal Conflict, Embracing the Culture, Accepting the Culture Differences, Collaborating with Others, and Challenging the Contexts

Use of the kawa model: Understanding women\u27s recovery from intimate partner violence

The Kawa Model, created by Dr. Michael Iwama and occupational therapy colleagues, honors the integrated lives and personal perspectives of individuals as they describe current life circumstances (Iwama, 2006). Specific information gleaned from completed metaphorical river drawings allows for greater understanding of client strengths, resources, and needs, all of which contribute to client-centered intervention. The Kawa Model was utilized as the framework for in-depth interviews with three cohorts of women receiving services in a three-month crisis intervention program (Humbert, Bess, Mowery, 2013; Humbert, Engleman, Lang). The Kawa Model provided an avenue for clients to identify challenges, strengths, barriers and hope in recovery from intimate partner violence (IPV). From the results of the study, we have identified how the women made meaning of their recovery and what they anticipated for the future. The results of the comprehensive study highlight the supports and internal motivations that women rely on for recovery, their perspectives of motherhood, and their needs for the immediate future

Exploring Women\u27s Expectations of Recovery From Intimate Partner Violence: A Phenomenological Study

Occupational therapy literature related to intimate partner violence primarily focuses on clients\u27 pragmatic concerns. The purpose of this study was to explore women\u27s recovery needs for the first six months after leaving the abusive relationship. Specifically, the focus explored how women experiencing intimate partner violence anticipate their recovery process to progress and explored their perceptions regarding the obstructions and challenges that influence that process. As part of an ongoing, multiyear study, in-depth interviews based on Kawa Model river drawings were conducted at a domestic violence center with eight women. Multiple themes were identified highlighting pragmatic and personal objectives