Implementing Occupation-centred Practice ― A Practical Guide for Occupational Therapy Practice Learning

"Health care is finally focusing on health which creates a major opportunity for occupational therapists who focus on occupational performance or (doing), which we know enables participation (engagement), and we know participation contributes to well-being (health and quality of life). Occupational therapists do these things because of their special skill set and occupational lens. This book will support educators and challenge students to understand their unique and powerful role in enabling occupational performance." – Carolyn Baum, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA

"For students, this book is a self-guided resource that helps them transfer their knowledge to various practice settings. The guide reminds students that regardless of where they practice, two things constantly influence their interactions with clients: occupation-centred theories and the occupational therapy process. Therefore, the book provides a review of theories centred on occupation and a trove of guided activities for each step of the Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (OTIPM). While some students and practice educators may be unfamiliar with the OTIPM specifically, they will be familiar with the process it follows through the stages of occupational therapy assessment, goal setting, intervention and reassessment. The OTIPM lays out the steps of the reasoning and practice process shared by occupational therapists across settings. Therefore, students and educators who may not use the OTIPM per se will still benefit from the book’s structure and the self-guided activities that Dr Dancza has created for each stage of the occupational therapy process." – Barbara Hooper, Colorado State University, USA

This practical text supports occupational therapy students and educators as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of practice learning. Reflecting contemporary and innovative occupation-centred practice, it sets out a step-by-step guide to using this knowledge across a range of settings. The clear structure, templates, examples and strategies it presents demonstrate how contemporary theory can be used to inform and guide practice.

Implementing Occupation-centred Practice is an essential resource for occupational therapy students during their placement preparation and throughout their placement. It also serves as a tool for practice educators who are looking for assistance in structuring learning for their students.

Karina Dancza is Assistant Professor, Health and Social Sciences, at the Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore.

Sylvia Rodger was Director of Research and Education at the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism, The University of Queensland, Australia.