Practitioner perspectives: effective intraprofessional relationships in occupational therapy.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Health Professions
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Occupational therapy relies on effective collaboration between Occupational Therapy Registered (OTR) and Occupational Therapy Certified Assistants (COTAs).
• Understanding the dynamics of intraprofessional relationships is key to optimizing service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine OTR and COTA perspectives on the effectiveness of their intraprofessional relationships.
• To explore OTR and COTA understanding of their distinct roles within occupational therapy practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with 22 OTR/COTA teams across three states.
• Convenience sampling used to gather data on intraprofessional relationships.
• Thematic synthesis applied to identify key factors influencing relationships.

Main Results:

• Three themes significantly impacted OTR/COTA relationships: effective two-way communication, mutual respect, and professionalism.
• The presence or absence of these factors influenced the perceived quality of the relationships.
• These elements directly affected participants' perceptions of their work in occupational therapy.

Conclusions:

• Effective intraprofessional relationships enhance the quality of occupational therapy services.
• Strong OTR/COTA collaboration strengthens practitioners' commitment to the field.
• Key factors for successful relationships include communication, respect, and professionalism.