Leisure assessment in occupational therapy: an exploratory study.

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Leisure science
• Health services research

Background:

• Leisure is recognized as a fundamental occupation alongside self-care and work in occupational therapy.
• Understanding how occupational therapists assess leisure is crucial for effective practice and client outcomes.
• Current practices in leisure assessment among occupational therapists require further exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current practices of leisure assessment employed by occupational therapists.
• To identify the methods and frequency of leisure assessment across diverse clinical settings.
• To explore the relationship between therapists' valuation of leisure and their assessment behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining telephone surveys and face-to-face interviews.
• Telephone survey administered to 105 occupational therapists in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
• In-depth interviews conducted with 15 occupational therapists, guided by the survey instrument.

Main Results:

• Occupational therapists predominantly utilize informal assessment methods, primarily client interviews and discussions.
• A significant positive correlation exists between the frequency of leisure assessment and the therapist's perceived value of leisure.
• Therapists in psychosocial settings reported a significantly higher valuation of leisure compared to those in physical disability settings.

Conclusions:

• Informal client-centered approaches are the mainstay of leisure assessment in occupational therapy.
• Therapists' personal and professional valuation of leisure directly influences its assessment frequency.
• Specialty areas within occupational therapy, such as psychosocial practice, demonstrate a stronger emphasis on leisure compared to others.