Understanding rural practice: implications for occupational therapy education in Canada

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Rural Health
• Health Workforce Studies

Background:

• Rural Canadians often experience poorer health outcomes compared to urban populations.
• A shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and remote areas contributes to this disparity.
• While recruitment and retention of rural health professionals have been studied, the nature of rural practice and graduate preparedness remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the rewards and challenges of rural occupational therapy practice in western Canada.
• To assess occupational therapists' preparedness for rural practice after graduation.
• To evaluate the usefulness of undergraduate coursework and practical skills for rural practice.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative study involving a self-administered survey with 59 occupational therapists in rural Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Survey included closed- and open-ended questions.
• Data analyzed using SPSS for frequency data and percentages.

Main Results:

• Participants primarily worked in full-time community healthcare roles with physical health clients, often in sole-therapist positions.
• Rewards (n=214) were more frequently cited than challenges (n=112), with key rewards including teamwork, autonomy, diversity, and job satisfaction.
• Key challenges involved staff shortages, generalist practice demands, travel time, and a need for more professional support. Hands-on rural fieldwork and prior urban experience were valuable for preparedness.

Conclusions:

• Rural occupational therapy in western Canada is generally rewarding, with accessible professional support.
• While training adequately prepared participants, enhanced management and organizational skills are crucial for handling diverse rural caseloads.
• The increasing use of online and telehealth resources is transforming rural practice, warranting further research.