JH/BSc/09

Occupation

BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

Joan Howarth

JH/BSc/09

Learning Outcomes:

To gain understanding of the place of Occupation in Occupational Therapy

To gain basic understanding of the concept of Occupation.

To gain initial understanding of the interrelated concepts within Occupation.

To begin to understand occupational terminology.

JH/BSc/09

The Place of Occupation

“Occupation is the central concept in our profession of occupational therapy.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p. 89)

“Our profession’s focus on occupation as a method of therapy is what makes the profession unique and valuable to society.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p. 89)

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What do we mean when we use the term Occupation?

Write a list of your Occupations.

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Could Be Anything you do in life

eating, sleeping, singing, reading, cooking, ironing, brushing teeth, drinking, exercising, playing computer games, entertaining friends, showering, filing nails, dressing, brushing hair, hovering, driving, teaching, sewing, running, swimming, skiing, painting, decorating, embroidering, walking, dusting, shopping for food and house, travelling, writing, shopping for self, designing curriculum, counselling students, caring for cats, watching TV, having sex, tidying house, painting nails, dieting, managing programme, quilting, croqueting, telephoning friends and family, writing letters, growing vegetables, making business calls, washing car, cycling, marketing, digging, pruning, caring for loved ones, dancing, socialising, going to cinema, doing crosswords, doing jigsaws, shaving legs, putting on make-up, juggling, watching a play/musical …

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Simplicity and Complexity

Occupation appears to be a simple thing; understood by all people.

OTs understand Occupation as highly complex; formed of many interrelated concepts.

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Definition:

“Occupation is a dynamic relationship among an occupational form, a person with a unique developmental structure, subjective meanings and purposes, and a resulting occupational performance.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p.90)

JH/BSc/09

Concepts within Occupation:

Occupational Form

Subjective Meaning and Purpose

Person with unique developmental structure

Occupational Performance

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Occupational Form

“… is the objective set of physical and sociocultural circumstances, external to the person, at a particular time. The occupational form guides, structures, or suggests what is to be done by the person.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p.90)

JH/BSc/09

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Occupational Form explained

‘external to the person’ i.e. everything that surrounds an individual (and is not part of them) is said to be part of their occupational form – e.g. clothes, objects, etc.

Occupational form is objective.

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Occupational Form explained

Physical Dimensions Shape Size Weight Distance Sound Moment-to-moment change

(temporal) etc

Sociocultural Dimensions

Norms Roles Language rules Family Regional National etc

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Physical Dimension

Temporal Change – moment-to-moment change influences occupational performance. E.g. ‘eating’ - occupational form changes, i.e. the quantity of food reduces signalling the end of the occupation.

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Sociocultural Dimension

Sociocultural issues are often too pervasive and familiar, as such they can be hard to identify, or we may be unaware of them.

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Person with unique developmental structure

PERSON

Anatomy Physiology Psychology

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Subjective Meaning AND Purpose

Self esteem, love, belonging, self actualisation, self expression, caring, challenge, achievement, reward, motivation, confidence, friendship, satisfaction, …

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Occupational Performance

“… is the active doing of the person in the context of the occupational performance.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p.90)

“The person’s voluntary doing in the context of occupational form.” (Nelson, 1996, p. 777)

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So …

“Occupation is a dynamic relationship among an occupational form, a person with a unique developmental structure, subjective meanings and purposes, and a resulting occupational performance.” (Kramer, Hinojosa, Brasic Royeen, 2003, p.90)

JH/BSc/09

Review:

Identified the centrality of Occupation in Occupational Therapy

Gained basic understanding of the concept of Occupation.

Gained initial understanding of the interrelated concepts within Occupation.

Begun to learn & understand occupational terminology.

JH/BSc/09

References:

Christiansen, C.H. & Townsend, E.A.(2004). Introduction to Occupation: The Art and Science of Living. Prentice Hall: New Jersey.

Kramer, P. Hinojosa, J. Brasic Royeen, C. (2003) Perspectives in Human Occupation; Participation in Life. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; London.

Nelson, D.L. (1996) Therapeutic occupation: A definition. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50(10) pp.775-781.