Fostering change through occupation-based intervention: An international joint Group Concept Mapping study

Occupation-based interventions are essential to occupational therapy. However, we still lack important knowledge about how occupation works within such interventions.

Objectives:

The aim was to utilize the knowledge of occupational scholars to systematically examine how occupation can be a means to foster change within occupation-based interventions.

Method:

Group Concept Mapping was applied involving six phases: preparation; generation of ideas; structuring of statements; data analysis; interpretation of maps; and development of conceptual model. The phases involved both face-to-face group sessions and online participation.

Results:

52 international occupational scholars brainstormed 125 ideas representing a broad perspective on the topic. A cluster rating map with nine clusters provided the foundation for a conceptual model with seven themes; artful use of occupation; evidence-based use of occupation; collaboration to promote occupation; coordinating intervention fit; client factors; socio-cultural context; and structural influences. The two themes most fundamental to using occupation as a means to foster change in interventions were artful use of occupation in combination with evidence-based approaches. Using the metaphor of juggling, all of the first six themes can be thought of as balls that need to be “kept in the air” in constant dynamic relation to each other while being framed by structural influences.

Conclusion:

The conceptual model illustrates the complexity regarding how occupation can be used as a means to foster change, and the model can guide future research into the mechanisms of occupation-based interventions.