Document Type (Journals)
Educational Innovations
Abstract
The Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Competency Assessment (POT-CA) was originally published in 2017 as a framework for assessing student development of foundational skills in evaluation, clinical reasoning, and therapeutic interactions in an occupational therapy psychosocial theory and practice course. The COVID-19 global pandemic necessitated the adaptation of this final student competency assessment for virtual administration. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) was selected as the performance-based element of the competency assessment in lieu of the previously required Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS-5), which was unavailable to students due to pandemic restrictions. The purpose of this article is to present an analysis of the revised elements of the competency assessment, the POT-CA(R), as a model for the development and evaluation of interviewing skills and clinical reasoning in a Level I psychosocial fieldwork class. Methods included qualitative thematic analysis of instructor comments provided on the final POT-CA(R) rubrics for one cohort of master’s degree (MS) [n=18] and one cohort of entry-level doctoral (ELOTD) [n=18] occupational therapy students. The primary themes represented in instructor feedback included observations regarding student competence in the implementation of a client-centered interaction style, including the facilitation of a supportive context to encourage client engagement in the interview. It was observed that the addition of the COPM in the revised POT-CA(R) created opportunities for skill development that were viewed as feasible and useful in the preparation of students for entry-level skills that are foundational to all practice areas.
Biography
Jenna Yeager, PhD, OTR/L is Associate Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science at Towson University. Her clinical background includes over 30 years of experience in mental health OT. Research includes investigation of factors influencing success of students in psychosocial Level I fieldwork and issues affecting transition of student veterans.
Derek Piggott, MOT, OTR/L is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science at Towson University. His area of clinical expertise is mental health practice in inpatient and community settings. His teaching and scholarship are focused on mental health practice and fieldwork education.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Yeager, J. C., & Piggott, D. (2026). The Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Competency Assessment, Revised- POT-CA(R). Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 10 (1). Retrieved from https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/vol10/iss1/16
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