Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation Model: A practical Tool

Abstract

French

Occupational therapy focuses on complex dynamic relationships between people, occupations and environments. Therapists must clearly communicate their practices and how their practice influences outcomes. This paper explores applications of the Person-Environment-Occupation Model (Law et al., 1996) in occupational therapy practice, and delineates how this particular model helps therapists to conceptualize, plan, communicate and evaluate occupational performance interventions. Three case studies illustrate how the model can be used by occupational therapists to systematically approach analysis of occupational performance issues while considering the complexities of human functioning and experience. The ways in which the model facilitates communication within and outside occupational therapy are explained. The Person-Environment-Occupation Model is offered as a tool for therapists to use in client(s)-therapist alliances to enable clients to successfully engage in meaningful occupations in chosen environments.

Keywords

Environment Human activities and occupations Models occupational therapy Occupational performance

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (1997). Enabling occupation: An occupational therapy perspective. Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE.

Cooper

Stewart

(1997). The effect of a transfer device in the homes of elderly people. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 15, 61–77.

Fearing

V.G.

Law

Clark

(1997). An occupational performance process model: Fostering client and therapist alliances. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 7–15.

Krupa

Packer

(1997). Canada-Russia Health and Social Development Project. Resource Manual, Volume 1, Occupational Theory. Kingston, ON: Queen's University.

Law

(1993). Changing disabling environments through participatory research. Canadian Journal of Rehabilitation, 7, 22–23.

Law

(1997). Changing disabling environments through participatory action-research: A Canadian experience. In Smith

Willms

Johnson

N. A.

, Nurtured by knowledge: Learning to do participatory action-research. New York, NY: Apex Press.

Law

Cooper

Strong

Stewart

Rigby

Letts

(1996). The Person-Environment-Occupation Model: A transactive approach to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 9–23.

Law

Darrah

Rosenbaum

Pollock

King

Russell

Palisano

Harris

Walter

Armstrong

Watts

(1998). Family-centred functional therapy for children with cerebral palsy: An emerging practice model. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 18 (1), 83–102.

McKye

Shin

Letts

(1998, June). Cultural sensitivity of the Person Environment Occupation (PEO) Model. Paper presented at the 12th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Montreal, Quebec.

10.

Moos (1994). The Work Environment Scale Manual. Development, Applications, Research (3rd Ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

11.

Peachey-Hill

Law

(1996, June). Impact of environmental sensitivity on occupational performance: A qualitative study. Paper presented at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists' Annual Conference, Ottawa, Ontario.

12.

Stewart

, (1998). The transition to adulthood for youth with physical disabilities: A qualitative exploration. Unpublished master's thesis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

13.

Strong

(1998). Meaningful work in supportive environments: Experiences with the recovery process. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52, 31–38.

14.

Strong

(1995). An ethnographic study examining the experiences of persons with persistent mental illness working at an affirmative business. Unpublished master's thesis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.