Health care changes, including increased hospital admissions, an aging population and the chronicity of diseases and conditions have led to increased collaboration with unregulated professionals. Within the professions of occupational therapy and physiotherapy, there is a paucity of literature that addresses the perceptions of Occupational Therapist Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants (OTAs and PTAs) with respect to their competence in clinical practice.
This research study investigates the perceptions of clinical competence of OTA and PTA graduates from one Ontario community college. A phenomenological theoretical framework was used to explore the participants’ lived experiences. Eight individual in-depth interviews were used to gather data representing the graduate OTAs and PTAs’ perspectives. In addition, the viewpoints from a stakeholder focus group of eight participants comprised of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and administration personnel from one Ontario hospital were used to triangulate the data..
Four themes emerged: 1) employing effective communication, 2) emerging knowledge, skills and competencies in clinical practice, 3) transitioning into clinical practice, and 4) developing confidence as an OTA and PTA. The Person Environment Occupation (PEO) model (Law et al., 1996) was used to organize the themes and to assist in determining the optimal fit between the themes. Confidence was articulated as a continuous concept that facilitated the graduates’ competence in their clinical skills.
Proficiency in their roles, a supportive transition, and demonstrated competence were the presenting factors that empowered the graduate OTAs and PTAs to affirm their competence in clinical practice. This research study is foundational for future research related to OTAs and PTAs in the areas related to use of title, educational credentialing, and collaborative competency documentation. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Currently, there are changes in health care services that require modifications to the delivery of the treatment. Occupational Therapist Assistants and Physiotherapist Assistants (OTAs and PTAs) work within patient rehabilitation; however, their perceptions of competence have not been assessed. This study reviews the perceptions of the OTAs and PTAs when completing their role with patients by interviewing them and interviewing the staff that work with them. The data from this thesis will provide us with an enhanced understanding of the perceptions of OTAs and PTAs and the supports they believe enable them to be competent and confident health care professionals. This information will facilitate the identification of the next steps in research specific to OTAs and PTAs in the areas of competency and educational programs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/18071 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Francis, Deborah |
| Contributors | Jung, Bonny, Health Science Education |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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