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Use of aides in occupational therapy practice
1Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Summary
Occupational therapy aides are widely used, with many practitioners reporting daily supervision. Ethical considerations and proactive planning are crucial for effective aide utilization and quality patient care.
Area of Science:
- Occupational therapy practice
- Healthcare workforce utilization
- Allied health professional roles
Background:
- The role and integration of aides in occupational therapy (OT) practice require examination.
- Understanding practitioner attitudes and current practices regarding aide supervision and training is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of occupational therapy aide utilization.
- To analyze the supervision and training protocols for aides.
- To assess occupational therapy practitioners' attitudes towards using aides.
Main Methods:
- A systematic sample of 510 occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants received a questionnaire.
- A response rate of 74% was achieved, providing a robust dataset.
Main Results:
- Occupational therapy aides are prevalent across various practice settings, with 40% of respondents currently working with them.
- Aides perform diverse tasks, receiving varied supervision and training; 76% of those delegating skilled tasks reported daily contact.
- Ethical issues related to aide use were reported by 19% of respondents who currently or previously worked with aides.
Conclusions:
- Occupational therapy practitioners should proactively define aide roles to optimize service delivery and maintain quality.
- Ethical concerns necessitate careful consideration of task delegation, supervision, and training for occupational therapy aides.