The Queen's University Study of Occupational Therapy Some Reflections and Conclusions

Abstract

Occupational Therapy: The Economic Alternative, the conference theme for 1977, is examined in the light of some of the characteristics of occupational therapists. Changing the structure to make OT more of an economic alternative is one example of the political struggles the profession faces. OT's in their response to the Queen's Study indicated that although they were satisfied with their work and their choice of career, they did not want to be leaders or engage in political struggles. Dissatisfied with the leaders whom they had selected (and who had presumably volunteered reluctantly) the OT's were also dissatisfied with the confidence the profession and its membership had in their professional identity. OT's see the need for greater political sophistication when they look at undergraduate education and suggest that related areas of the curriculum be improved. Waiting for change in the educational system will take too long and more OT's should be sensitized to the needs for political sophistication now. Both the profession and the schools of OT should make an attempt to increase the sensitivity to political problems and to raise the level of political sophistication of members in dealing with these problems.