The Professional Role and Function of Occupational Therapy: Viewpoints from Related Specialists

Abstract

職能治療在醫療行業中屬於一門較為新興的行業，不只是一般民眾對此專業不甚了解 ，其他相關醫療專業對於職能治療也各有不同的認知程度。本研究的目的是探討復健 醫療團隊、精神醫療團隊以及特殊教育團隊的成員對職能治療角色與功能的看法，藉 此瞭解來修正及增進職能治療服務的範疇與方向，以提供病患更多樣化與優良的服務 。本研究為國內首度由其他專業觀點探討職能治療專業角色之文章，研究以焦點團體 及文獻回顧，作為編製問卷之參考。共寄發260份問卷給不同專業之成員，回收159份 ，回收率為61.15%。問卷結果顯示，職能治療的角色中，日常生活功能訓練、動作訓 練、感覺統合治療以及職業復健等角色較為其他專業所知悉，而生活安排、就學能力 、促進生活品質等範疇則較少人知道。此結果顯示，職能治療專業需進一步加強角色 功能的介紹與宣導，並增加與其他專業人員之溝通，促進對職能治療服務之利用。 Occupational therapy was developed recently and is still relatively young among other medical professions. The general public is also not that familiar with the profession and its roles and functions. Medical professions also hold different perspectives of the profession. The purpose of the study was to investigate the opinions and level of awareness of the occupational therapy profession among related professional members of the medical rehabilitation, psychiatric, and special education fields. The results of the study will help the profession to adapt its strategy and with the marketing of its roles and functions to medical professionals. The study questionnaire was developed based on results from a focus group and literature review Two hundred and sixty questionnaires were sent out and 159 were returned, a response rate of 61.15%. The results revealed that the activities of daily living training, motor training, sensory integration and vocational rehabilitation were the best known to other medical professionals. Facilitating the client's participation in an occupation, helping academic skills/functional training, and the promotion of quality of life ere less well understood. The respondents raised issues including the importance of frequent communication with other members of the medical profession with the aim of enhancing their know ledge of occupational therapy.