[Description of the practice of occupational therapy in emergency rooms in Quebec]

Occupational therapists intervene in emergency departments, but the nature and scope of this practice is unknown.

To describe the professional practice of Quebec's occupational therapists in emergency departments.

Questionnaires covering the general context of practice, nature of interventions, assessment tools, models of practice and the satisfaction of working in emergency departments were sent by mail to the members of l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec.

Occupational therapists have been working in emergency departments in several socio-administrative regions of Quebec and their work experience ranges from 1 to 11 years. They spend over 90% percent of their time with older adults and are members of interdisciplinary teams. They assess diverse areas of functioning and 75% of them use in-house assessment tools. The challenges encountered affect two thirds of the respondants who describe their satistaction level toward the practice as being neutral or unsatisfied.

The respondants have confirmed the emergence of occupational therapy in emergency departments and the need to develop better tools in order to address the problems met in their practice.