Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
Professionalism in occupational therapy has been challenging to define due to differing values and behaviors across contexts and professions. There is a difference between how occupational therapy students and faculty view and comprehend professionalism suggesting that occupational therapists may not have an established sense of professionalism when entering the health care field for the first time. The study's purpose was to examine occupational therapy faculty’s perceptions of essential professional behavior attributes that students should possess to succeed in occupational therapy practice. This study utilized a survey methodology to anonymously collect opinions from 150 occupational therapy faculty members across the United States regarding professional behavior attributes essential for entry-level occupational therapy education. Researchers found that the five most frequently observed professional behavior attributes in occupational therapy students were empathy, enthusiasm, being personable, having a positive attitude, and responsibility. The top seven most important professional behavior attributes were being clinically competent and ethical, having communication and interpersonal skills, and being adaptable, responsible, and empathetic. The results of this study indicate that occupational therapy faculty perceive that many vital attributes contribute to professionalism within the occupational therapy field and that teaching professionalism is an integral part of occupational therapy education. This study contributes to the current literature of defining professionalism within occupational therapy to better equip occupational therapy students entering into practice.
Biography
Taylor Gurley, OTR, MS, OTD is currently an assistant professor in the School of Occupational Therapy at the University of Indianapolis.
Kate E. DeCleene Huber, OTR, MS, OTD is currently Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Chair of the School of Occupational Therapy at University of Indianapolis.
Angella Chen, OTD, OTR/L graduated with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of Indianapolis in 2021 and is currently working as an occupational therapist at Cadia Healthcare in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Kristen Dyson, OTD, OTR/L graduated with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from University of Indianapolis in 2021 and is currently working as an occupational therapist at Community Rehabilitation Hospital North in Indianapolis, IN.
Hannah Hackman, OTD, OTR/L graduated with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from University of Indianapolis in 2021 and is currently working as an occupational therapist at Brown County Health & Living (A Cardon Senior Living Community) in Nashville, IN.
Paige McIntire, OTD, OTR/L graduated with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from University of Indianapolis in 2021 and is currently working as an occupational therapist at Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center in Franklin, IN.
Erika Wilson, OTD, OTR/L graduated with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate from University of Indianapolis in 2021 and is currently working as an occupational therapist at Therapy South in Chula Vista, California.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Gurley, T. A., DeCleene Huber, K. E., Chen, A., Dyson, K., Hackman, H., McIntire, P., & Wilson, E. (2022). Professional Behavior Attributes: A Survey of Occupational Therapy Faculty Perspectives. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2022.060109
Creative Commons License
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