Forensic Occupational Therapy in Canada: The Current State of Practice.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Mental Health
• Occupational Therapy Practice

Background:

• Occupational therapy in forensic settings is under-documented in Canada.
• Existing literature lacks a clear understanding of Canadian forensic occupational therapy practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the current practices of occupational therapists in Canadian forensic mental health settings.
• To identify commonalities, challenges, and practice gaps in this specialized field.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was developed using the Canadian Practice Process Framework.
• Purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed for participant recruitment.
• Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyze survey responses from 27 clinicians.

Main Results:

• Respondents reported commonalities in their workplaces, client caseloads, and practice challenges.
• A significant need exists to demonstrate client outcomes using evaluation instruments, mirroring international practice gaps.
• Key areas for development include education, advocacy, and research.

Conclusions:

• Forensic occupational therapy in Canada requires further development, particularly in education, advocacy, and research.
• Clarifying the role and validating contributions through efficacy and outcomes research are crucial.
• Findings highlight priority areas but may be limited by provincial context and setting.