The Occupational Therapy Perspective of Occupation, Health and Well-being

Essay , 2013 , 12 Pages , Grade: 95% (A+)

Health - Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy

This essay describes, explains and discusses the Occupational Therapy (OT) profession’s perspective of the relationship between occupation, health and well-being with reference to how the OT perspective has changed historically through changes in OT paradigms. It describes how occupation is organised (occupational performance areas), and the relevance of participation, balance, the environment, culture and occupational justice to health and well-being. It also, refers to how therapists working in the modern health and social care service use the OT framework based on the philosophy of the contemporary paradigm and conceptual models to provide explanations of the the dynamic relationship between the person, occupation and the environment to guide practice.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The Occupational Therapy Perspective of Occupation, Health and Well-being
• Occupation
• Definition
• Theories of Occupation
• Importance of Occupation
• Health
• Well-being
• The OT Perspective
• Paradigms
• The First Paradigm
• The Mechanistic Paradigm
• The Contemporary Paradigm
• The OT Practice Framework
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the fundamental role of occupation in occupational therapy (OT) practice, examining its relationship to health and well-being. It delves into the historical development of the profession's understanding of occupation, highlighting key paradigms and their underlying assumptions. The essay also discusses the contemporary paradigm, which emphasizes the importance of occupational engagement, choice, and social integration.

• Defining occupation and its evolving conceptualization in OT
• The historical development of OT paradigms, focusing on their perspectives on occupation, health, and well-being
• The contemporary paradigm's emphasis on occupation as a therapeutic tool and its role in promoting health and well-being
• The challenges facing OT practitioners in addressing the occupational needs of individuals in modern health and social care services
• The importance of the OT practice framework in guiding practice and asserting a unique OT identity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The essay begins by introducing key terms used in OT, defining occupation, health, and well-being. It explores the evolution of the concept of occupation throughout the history of the profession, highlighting the difficulties in defining a concise and comprehensive definition. The essay discusses how different theories of occupation have influenced the understanding of its importance for human development and experience.

Next, the essay delves into the historical development of OT paradigms, beginning with the first paradigm that viewed occupation as a fundamental human need linked to both physical and mental health. The essay then explores the shift towards the mechanistic paradigm, which emphasized a more biomedical approach to understanding occupational performance. The embracement of a reductionist approach led to a decline in the focus on occupation as a core element of OT practice. However, the essay highlights the resurgence of interest in occupation in the latter half of the 20th century, leading to the emergence of the contemporary paradigm.

The essay concludes by examining the contemporary paradigm, which emphasizes the occupational nature of human beings, recognizing that barriers to occupation can negatively impact health and well-being. It explores the paradigm's core assumptions, including the value of human life, engagement in occupation, and the right to choice and control in occupational activities. The essay discusses the importance of the OT practice framework, which guides practitioners in applying the principles of the contemporary paradigm to their work.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts discussed in this essay include occupation, health, well-being, occupational therapy, paradigms, occupational performance, occupational engagement, human development, therapeutic intervention, and the OT practice framework. These terms are fundamental to understanding the profession's core values and principles, as well as its evolving understanding of the intricate relationship between occupation, health, and well-being.

• Course: BSc Occupational Therapy
• Grade: 95% (A+)
• Author: Shirley Murnane (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 12
• Catalog Number: V211064
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656401834
• ISBN (Book): 9783656402275
• Language: English
• Tags: occupational, therapy, perspective, occupation, health, well-being