Educational Interventions for Managing Ethical Problems in Occupational Therapy: A Survey

Brenda S. Howard, University of IndianapolisFollow
Payton Berger, University of IndianapolisFollow
McKayla Hendricks, University of IndianapolisFollow
Allison Moll, University of IndianapolisFollow
Erin Rusconi, University of IndianapolisFollow
Abigail Shamdin, University of IndianapolisFollow
Julia Swindeman, University of IndianapolisFollow
Zoe Chasnick, University of IndianapolisFollow

Document Type (Journals)

Original Research

Abstract

Little is known about how to mitigate moral distress within occupational therapy, but ethics education may reduce its impact by providing practitioners with tools for managing ethical problems. This study aimed to explore the impact of ethics education on managing ethical problems among occupational therapy practitioners within the first five years of practice using a pre-existing survey dataset collected in the spring of 2020. The investigators examined the formats and types of ethics education practitioners reported they received and how helpful they found that education. Investigators analyzed correlations between education and confidence with ethical problem-solving using Spearman’s rho. Results included significant but weak correlations between ethical problem-solving confidence and classroom discussions, case studies, fieldwork mentorship, continuing education, and informal discussions with colleagues. This study adds to the current literature by identifying which types of ethics education new practitioners reported as most helpful, and which types correlated with ethical problem-solving confidence. The results of this study provide educational strategies to address ethical problems and mitigate moral distress. Future research is needed to provide further evidence for interventions to reduce moral distress.

Biography

The authors completed this manuscript in partial fulfillment of the degree of entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (anticipated graduation: May 2024) under the direction of their research advisor, Brenda Howard, Associate Professor, University of Indianapolis School of Occupational Therapy.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Recommended Citation

Howard, B. S., Berger, P., Hendricks, M., Moll, A., Rusconi, E., Shamdin, A., Swindeman, J., & Chasnick, Z. (2024). Educational Interventions for Managing Ethical Problems in Occupational Therapy: A Survey. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 8 (3). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2024.080313