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Occupational therapy as a profession
What is occupational therapy (OT)?
According to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Occupational
therapy: is “assessment and treatment through the specific use of selected
activity. This is designed by the Occupational therapists and undertaken by
those who are temporarily or permanently disabled by physical illness or
mental illness. social or developmental problems. The purpose is to prevent
disability, improve health and to fulfill the persons needs by achieving
optimum function and independence in work, social and domestic environment”
During the assessment, an interview with the patient is executed. In
addition, informal or formal (standardized) testing is done. Upon completion
of these, a program is devised for treatment of the patient. The OT or OT
assistant may carry out this treatment. OT’s treat holistically, and as part
of a multi-disciplinary team.
Areas of focus in OT
- Mobility e.g.. Transferring from a wheelchair to the bed independently
- Personal management - e.g.. bathing independently
- Domestic e.g.. doing household chores independently.
- Work –carrying out all of one’s work-related tasks independently.
- School – training independent functioning in the school environment.
- Community survival e.g. taking a taxi to work independently.
- Leisure –training constructive use of leisure time in disabled persons.
- Social –training the appropriateness of certain social behaviour
e.g.. Assertiveness
- Life skills management – e.g. Stress management
- Transfer of skills to caregivers.
- Vocational assessments for medical boarding purposes.
Examples of conditions treated in Occupational Therapy
(Below are only some examples)
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Hand injuries
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Genetic disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Amputations
- Learning disabilities
- Attention deficit and/ or hyperactivity
- Degenerative disorders
- Burns
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Mental retardation
- Anxiety disorders, among others
Examples of treatment media
- Activities of daily living, eg. the actual dressing activity, transfers into and out-of the bath tub
- Splinting (soft splinting and thermoplastic splinting)
- Pressure garments
- Therapeutic apparatus
- Training independent functioning through the use of assistive devices –
e.g. transferring into and out of the bathtub using a bath board.
- Craft activities, e.g. match-stick-work
- Group work eg. assertiveness training groups
Studying Occupational Therapy at a tertiary institution
In KwaZulu-Natal, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville campus) is
the only tertiary institution that offers this course. At present it is
offered as a 4 year, theoretical and practical Bachelors degree. Application
forms may be obtained from the Central Applications Office. Further
information on the selection procedure may be obtained from the Occupational
Therapy department at the above institution. One may also complete a Masters
Degree, and a Doctorate in OT. Once qualified, one may decide to specialize
in a specific field e.g.. Pediatrics. (A Masters degree is not compulsory in
order to specialize).
Work opportunities in the occupational therapy field
There is a large scope in the OT field. Unfortunately, at present there is a
shortage of OT’s in South Africa. One may be employed in the private or
provincial sector. These include hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers,
non-governmental centers, insurance industry etc. There is also a very large
demand of South African OT’s in other countries.
Compiled by Jaynathi Rugpath
Occupational Therapist
Addington Hospital
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HEALTH KWAZULU-NATAL