Entry-Level OTR and COTA Intervention Utilization Derived from NBCOT Practice Analysis: Implications for Fieldwork...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy Practice
• Clinical Intervention Research
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Effective fieldwork is crucial for preparing occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students for entry-level practice.
• The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) practice analysis informs certification examinations.
• Understanding current intervention use is vital for aligning fieldwork education with practice demands.

Purpose of the Study:

• To translate NBCOT practice analysis data on intervention use into actionable insights for fieldwork planning.
• To identify common and setting-specific interventions utilized by entry-level OT practitioners.
• To enhance fieldwork education to better prepare students for entry-level occupational therapy practice.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of an elective survey data from 479 occupational therapists (OTRs) and 168 occupational therapy assistants (COTAs) on 88 interventions.
• Correlation analysis confirmed equivalency between OTR and COTA data for generalization.
• Categorization of commonly used interventions into three themes: preparatory/ADL, motor skills/coordination, and mental functions.

Main Results:

• Fourteen interventions were commonly used across all practice settings for OTRs.
• Interventions were grouped into preparatory/ADL, motor skills/coordination, and mental functions.
• High variability in the utilization of top interventions was observed across different practice settings.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a snapshot of entry-level intervention utilization in occupational therapy across seven major practice settings.
• Findings can inform academic fieldwork coordinators on student placement decisions.
• Fieldwork educators and students can use this data to guide learning activities and assess practice readiness.