Pediatric therapists\u27 perspectives on occupation-based practice

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the perspectives on occupation-based practice of 22 pediatric occupational therapists in a medical facility in the Midwestern United States. Methods: The study used a grounded theory approach to analyze the individual, semi-structured interviews of 22 pediatric occupational therapists. Transcripts were initially coded using Ethnograph™ 5.0 software and analysis continued using constant comparison techniques and memo writing to produce emergent themes of meaning. Findings: The doing of occupation-based practice was based in personal identity and influenced by professional education. Occupation-based practice was more satisfying and rewarding for therapists, and they found it more effective and individualized. Patients and families were perceived by therapists to find occupation-based practice more motivating, understandable, valuable, and easily generalized to everyday life. However, occupation-based practice was seen as more difficult in a medical-based facility because pragmatic factors and contextual forces exerted strong influences. Conclusions: Therapists used specific creative strategies to negotiate between competing paradigms to maximize occupation-based practice within constraints