Maintenance of professional currency: perceptions of occupational therapists

In common with other health professionals, occupational therapists have a growing ethical and legal obligation to maintain competence and currency in their area of practice. Despite this context of increasing demands for professional accountability, there is little known about how occupational therapists perceive the role and meaning of professional currency in their day-to-day practice. This qualitative study sought to explore this further.

Four focus group interviews were conducted, with 17 South Australian occupational therapists. Participants worked in a variety of practice areas. They covered both metropolitan and rural settings and ranged from being recent graduates to experienced therapists. The interviews involved facilitating small group discussion around a series of open-ended semi-structured questions. The resulting discussions were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was utilised to explore participants' perspectives.

Thematic analysis of the transcripts revealed five themes. These included: self-determination; perceived capacity; workplace impact; you need to have people around; and looking after yourself. These themes were conceptualised as incorporating dynamic foundational and constructional aspects. Foundational aspects facilitate or hinder the pursuit of professional currency, and constructional aspects encompass the meaning and value ascribed to professional currency.

These findings yield some interesting insights into the way therapists think about and structure their professional learning, and provide direction to plan professional development activities based on self-identified need and preference.