The Effectiveness of Intervention based on an Occupation-Based Theoretical Model in Promoting Occupational Performance Change to Help Resolve Global Human Concerns

Background: In recent times, occupational therapists and occupational scientists have been examining ways of expanding their scope of practice and expertise to include contributing to addressing wider inter-related societal issues such as climate change, sustainability, and poverty (Ikiugu, 2008; Ikiugu & McCollister, 2011; World Federation of Occupational Therapy, 2011). However, research investigating ways of such expansion of scope is scarce. The present study contributed to the available body of knowledge in this area. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intervention based on the guidelines of the Modified Instrumentalism in Occupational Therapy (MIOT), an occupation-based theoretical model in promoting occupational performance change for the benefit of ameliorating issues of global concern such as climate change and poverty among others. Methods: This was a multiple case study with mixed methods ABA and naturalistic type phenomenological designs. Quantitative data consisted of occupational performance (OP) scores that were calculated based on frequency of performance of occupations that were perceived to be consistent with a positive impact on global issues. Qualitative data consisted of audio-recorded group discussions that occurred during the five week intervention phase. There were complete data-sets for five study participants. Quantitative data for these five participants were analyzed. All participants were students or faculty members at the University of South Dakota. Quantitative data were analyzed using the two and three Standard Deviation Band methods (2SD and 3SD) proposed by Bloom, Fisher, and Orme (2003). Qualitative data were analyzed using phenomenological procedures. Results: There was a significant change in OP scores for two of the five participants during the intervention phase. For one of the participants, the improvement in OP scores endured after termination of intervention. For one of the participants, there was a significant decline in OP scores during the intervention phase, but the scores improved significantly after termination of intervention. Participants perceived intervention based on the MIOT model to have been useful in helping them become more aware of global issues. They saw education as a way of empowering people to make occupational performance changes to improve the global issues. Conclusion: Although this was a multiple case study, our findings suggest that intervention based on the guidelines of the MIOT has the potential to help people change their occupational performance behavior for a positive impact on the global issues of concern to humanity. These findings contribute to knowledge about how occupational scientists may contribute to interdisciplinary scientific teams that are trying to resolve the pressing global concerns of our day. More research using a stronger design is indicated to confirm these findings. Learning Objectives By the end of this presentation, conference participants who attend the session will verbally demonstrate understanding of how: Occupational performance is related to prevailing global issues of concern to humanity An occupation-based theoretical model can be used to help people learn how their occupational performance affects the global issues Occupational scientists can use guidelines from occupation-based theoretical models to help people change their occupational performance patterns in order to contribute to amelioration of the global issues Effective a specific occupation-based theoretical model (Modified Instrumentalism in Occupational Therapy [MIOT]) is in facilitating occupational performance change among college students and professors for the purpose of impacting the global issues positivel