Professional Expertise of Occupational Therapists in Community Practice: Results of an Ontario Survey

Abstract

This paper presents findings of a study, The Community Practice Project, that examined the situation of occupational therapists practising in community based settings in the province of Ontario, Canada in 1992. In addition to providing a profile of the typical community based therapist, the study considered issues relating to: the principal roles in places of employment; specific job skills and areas of professional expertise utilized in the community; and how well occupational therapists; formal training prepared them for their community oriented roles and tasks. Results indicate that great opportunities exist and job satisfaction is high in community settings. Nonetheless, therapists feel inadequately prepared for the new role of consultant and its concomitant skills in a field that has re-oriented itself toward the client and is increasingly focused on health promotion and disability prevention.