Mrs Heather So1, Prof Lynette Mackenzie, Dr Chris Chapparo, Dr Judy Ranka, Prof Mary Ann McColl
1University Of Sydney, Australia
Biography:
Heather graduated from the University of Sydney in 2007 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (OT). She started becoming more interested in addressing spirituality because of her experiences as a mother, and from feeling unprepared in discussions with her clients. She is doing her PhD at the University of Sydney, studying how Australian occupational therapists integrate client spirituality into clinical practice.
Abstract:
Introduction:
Spirituality is core to many occupational therapy models of practice, yet there is little research examining the approaches used by Australian occupational therapists to ask clients about their spirituality.
Objectives:
To ask a variety of Australian occupational therapists about how they ask their clients about their spirituality.
Method:
Using a phenomenological approach, we interviewed twenty-three Australian occupational therapists. We utilised semi-structured interviews that focused on participants’ clinical experiences. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was used for data analysis, and approaches to asking about spirituality were organised into themes.
Results:
The occupational therapists interviewed reported using flexible approaches to asking clients about their spirituality. These approaches ranged from using relating skills, responding to client cues, integrating spirituality informally, to using a formal (pre-written) approach. Most participants reported using more than one approach to asking clients about their spirituality and tailoring their approach to the individual client.
Conclusion:
Despite lacking formal spirituality training, these participants reported having independently developed creative ways to ask their clients about their spirituality. Australian occupational therapists may benefit from more professional forums to discuss appropriate asking approaches.