Peer Reviewed Journal Article


While searching the evidence for the group process in occupational therapy I came across a very interesting article titled “Evaluation of an occupational therapy mentorship program: Effects on therapists’ skills and family-centered behavior”. In this study, researchers looked at the effects of a groups-based mentorship program for occupational therapists practicing at a regional children’s rehabilitation center. So, the OTs were the one’s attending OT group, sort of like we are doing in our groups class.
Twenty-five female OTs took part in the study. The researchers started with pretesting the participants with a series of questionnaires on topics such as self-confidence, respectful treatment, listening skills, clinical skills, and more. The OTs were mentored by peers and attended multiple 90 minute group sessions that were facilitated by an OT that was not a participant in the study. During the group sessions, the participants reviewed and discussed various case studies and their perceptions of the questionnaires they took. After 11 months of attending groups, the participants took posttest questionnaires. Significant changes were found on the topics of information provision, respectful treatment, self-confidence, listening and clinical skill. The article describes in-depth results and then describes the study implications. It states that the skills that the group improved are considered to be fundamental to working effectively with clients.
I think this article opened my eyes to an area of group practice that I had not thought of before. Everyone can benefit from the occupational therapy group process, even practicing occupational therapists. By participating in groups like this in the workplace, we can establish more effective communication and treatment as well as improve our own self-confidence and interpersonal skills. 
I am glad that I came across this article and I think it really helped my understanding of the group process in occupational therapy.

King, G., Tam, C., Fay, L., Pilkington, M., Servais, M., & Petrosian, H. (2010). Evaluation of an occupational therapy mentorship program: Effects on therapists’ skills and family-centered behavior. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 31(3), 245-262, DOI: 10.3109/01942638.2010.523451

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