1st Occupational Therapy Europe Congress, European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education

T Brezovar (Participant)
Boyle, P. (Participant)
L Šuc (Participant)
M Sy (Participant)

School of Education, Sport and Health

Activity: Events › Conference

Description

Presentation: Development of Professional Identity among Slovenian Occupational Therapists working in Healthcare Institutions.

Period	18 Oct 2024
Event type	Conference
Location	Kraków, PolandShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International

Keywords

Visibility of the profession
Professional development
Promoting occupational therapy in Europe,

Documents & Links

Presentation ABSTRACT Background: Although occupational therapy has evolved into an acknowledged health profession globally, it still faces challenges in gaining social recognition in Slovenia, impacting reimbursement policies and consequently limiting accessibility to occupational therapy services. Recognizing the relationship between the promotion and visibility of occupational therapy and professional identities of occupational therapists, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the dynamic process of professional identity development among Slovenian occupational therapists. Methods: Interpretative phenomenology analysis was employed to analyze data, which was collected through semi-structured individual interviews with three to six occupational therapists who practice in healthcare settings. Interviews focused on the lived experience of professional identity development throughout participants’ careers. Implications: The findings of this ongoing study capture the lived experiences of professional identity development among Slovenian occupational therapists and the unique contextual factors influencing this process. Conclusions: This research aims to foster a deeper understanding of professional identity dynamics within Slovenian occupational therapy, to facilitate the recognition of occupational therapy's potential contribution to the broader society. The findings can provide a resource for improving occupational therapy education, training and professional development practices in Slovenia. Additionally, it contributes to the global understanding of the occupational therapy role in diverse socio-cultural contexts.