Evolution of Occupational Therapy Practice: Life History of Patricia Scott PhD, MPH, OT, FAOTA

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to provide current and future generations of occupational therapists a view of the history and how occupational therapy practice has evolved from its inception to current practice through the life history stories of occupational therapists who have held leadership roles at the national level and beyond. It is anticipated that the life history process will be a powerful way to gather this information. Methods: Data was collected from one semi-structured interview with Dr. Scott. The interview was conducted via teleconference through the program Zoom and lasted approximately two hours. The questions asked during the interview were formatted from an interview schedule. The interview was transcribed verbatim by the student researchers. From the transcription, data was then coded into categories with corresponding themes. Students used the Kawa model to gain an understanding of factors that influence an individual\u27s life history (Turpin & Iwama, 2011). The use of this model allowed students to explore the life events that have influenced Dr. Scott’s contribution to the profession of OT. Findings: During data analysis, 11 themes emerged within the categories of OT practice journey, educational journey, personal and career accomplishments. Collapsing the codes, categories, and themes, the final assertion emerged. This final assertion is that Dr. Scott has been a main contributor to OT practice through her extensive practice journey, including her role as a professor, her knowledge and experience in the mental health setting, her numerous career achievements, including her work with the Role Checklist, and her involvement in AOTA