Thinking about the definition of Occupational Therapy in the COVID19 period

Some ways of individuals' participation in occupations such as jobs, education in small and closed spaces can be the cause of infections and it would threaten the person and the community. In addition, if individuals' occupations are strongly restricted to prevent infection, it also can be the cause of weakness or deprivation of health and violence.

The occupation of this era has multiple and ironic meanings that need to work for preventing infection and preventing deterioration of health and degeneration. Our professional group used to focus on promoting life participation and health, but now it is found that our role also needs to focus on preventing diseases as well.

Until now, I can’t find the sentences that include occupational therapy need to concern with preventing disease and infection. But I’ve found many occupational therapy works have been done for preventing secondary diseases and preventing infection through occupational therapy intervention at individual, organizational, and national/international levels.

좁은 공간에서 참여하는 직업활동, 교실에서 진행하는 수업참여와 같은 기존의 개인의 작업참여 방식은 이제는 감염의 원인이 될 수 있으며 개인과 지역 사회를 위협하는 원인이 된다. 반면, 개인의 작업 참여가 감염을 예방하기 위해 지나치게 엄격히 제한되는 경우 이는 허약함과 건강 박탈, 때로는 폭력의 원인이 되기도 한다.

이 시대의 작업은 감염을 예방하기도 하고, 건강과 퇴행의 악화를 막기도 해야 하는 이중적이고 아이러니한 의미를 갖고 있다. 작업치료 전문가 그룹은 지금까지는 작업을 통한 삶의 참여와 건강 증진에 중점을 두었지만, 이제는 적절한 작업참여를 통한 질병 예방에도 중점을 둘 필요가 있다.

아직 기존의 여러 작업치료 정의에서 질병과 감염을 예방하도록 고려해야 한다고 쓰인 문구를 찾을 수 없다. 하지만, 이미 개인수준, 조직수준, 국가 및 국제 수준에서 작업치료 실천은 이차적 질병과 손상을 예방하고, 감염을 예방하도록 실행되어왔다. 따라서, 이런 예방을 목적으로 한 작업 또한 작업치료의 한가지 중재방안임을 다루어야 할 필요가 있다고 생각한다.

이하, 세계작업치료연맹의 작업치료의 정의와 다른 지역 작업치료협회에서 공유하는 작업치료 정의를 살펴본다.

https://www.wfot.org/resources/definitions-of-occupational-therapy-from-member-organisations

WFOT: Occupational therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and wellbeing through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. (2012)

Taiwan: Occupational therapy is aimed at improving an individual's quality of life by assisting him/her to choose, arrange and carry out daily activities. Individuals who may benefit from occupational therapy include those whose daily function and social participation are limited by physical and/or psychosocial dysfunction, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, aging, or inadequate socio-cultural environment. Occupational therapy professionals apply principles of occupational science and of activity analysis to determine factors influencing the individual's occupational performance, and approach these factors from a bio-psycho-social perspective. In addition, occupational therapists often use methods of environmental adaptation, splinting, assistive devices, work simplification and work hardening to help the individual engage in meaningful daily activities, maintain his/her sense of well-being and prevent regression in function to ensure one's satisfaction of life. (2017)

Japan: Occupational Therapy is occupation-focused therapy, guidance and support provided in fields such as medical care, public health, welfare, education and employment, with the aim of promoting human health and well-being. “Occupation” refers to daily activities that are purposeful and meaningful to each person. (2018)

(Notes)

・Occupational therapy is grounded on the fundamental principle and academic evidence that “people’s health and well-being can be promoted through occupation".

・“Clients” are individuals or groups of people who have or are expected to have difficulties in their daily activities as a result of physical, mental, developmental, or age-related disabilities or difficulty adjusting to their environment.

・“Occupations" include daily activities such as activities of daily living, housework, work, hobbies, play, interpersonal interaction, and rest; and are founded on physical and mental components for each activity.

・“Occupations” are activities that a person wants to, needs to, or is expected to do, and have purpose and meaning for each person.

・Occupation-focused practice involves using occupations as ends to restore, maintain, or prevent the decline of physical and mental function, and occupations as means to practice and achieve occupational engagement, and modifying environment to support its achievement.

Korea: Occupations are all kinds of mental, physical, and social activities that are meaningful to an individual.

Occupational therapy is a health profession that uses meaningful and therapeutic activities (occupations) in assisting people with physical, mental or developmental disabilities to promote the quality of life by independence in activities of daily living and actively participating in social life. (2017)