Novice Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Use of Occupation in Practice: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Therapy
• Professional Practice
• Novice Practitioners

Background:

• Occupation-centered practice is fundamental to occupational therapy.
• Understanding novice practitioners' experiences with occupation is crucial for effective practice.
• Existing literature highlights barriers like supervision and confidence affecting novice practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of research on novice occupational therapy practitioners and their use of occupation.
• To identify and synthesize findings regarding novice practitioners' experiences with occupation-centered practice.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of research studies published between 2002 and 2020.
• Inclusion criteria focused on studies describing novice occupational therapy practitioners and their engagement with occupation.
• Ten articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• Novice occupational therapists reported professional tension related to occupation-centered practice.
• A mismatch between educational preparation and workplace expectations was identified.
• The cognitive demands of occupation-centered practice led to avoidance by novices.
• Limited research specifically addresses novices' lived experiences using occupation.

Conclusions:

• Novice occupational therapists face challenges integrating occupation-centered practice.
• Further research is needed to explore and support novice practitioners' use of occupation.
• Addressing the cognitive load and workplace expectations is essential for novice development in occupational therapy.