Professional identity and emerging occupational therapy practice: An autoethnography

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Community reintegration
• Marginalized populations

Background:

• Research on occupational therapy (OT) for individuals post-imprisonment is limited.
• This practice area is considered emerging within the field of OT.
• Community-based OT requires tailored approaches for specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a first-person account of emerging OT practice with men transitioning from prison to the community.
• To critically reflect on the practice context from a novice practitioner's perspective.
• To explore the application of autoethnography and Photovoice in this setting.

Main Methods:

• Autoethnography was employed, drawing meaning from the author's experiences.
• Data collection involved reflective journal entries and process notes from a Photovoice project.
• An analytical writing process used established evaluative criteria.

Main Results:

• Autoethnography facilitated personal self-reflection and professional growth.
• Photovoice offered an evidence-based framework for practice in an emerging area.
• The study highlights the value of participatory research methods.

Conclusions:

• Existing OT theories and models have limited applicability for marginalized populations.
• Participatory research methods like Photovoice are valuable for this population.
• Autoethnography can enhance self-awareness and professional development in emerging OT practice areas.