Priority 12 from the Occupational Therapy PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What is the role of occupational therapy in addressing social, political and environmental issues at a societal level to address well-being and participation? (JLA PSP Priority 12)
Overall ranking	12
JLA question ID	0100/12
Explanatory note	Occupational therapists work not only with individuals but also with groups and communities. Occupational therapists view disability from a social model perspective and social justice is a core value of the profession. This question therefore aims to explore the role of occupational therapy at a societal, rather than an individual or small group level, with a view to expanding the reach of its benefits to more people.
Evidence	The evidence addressing this area is mostly conversational and sparse in existence. This is an area of uncertainty. Aoyama, M. (2014). "Occupational therapy and environmental sustainability." Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 61(6): 458-461. Gallagher, M., et al. (2015). "An integrative review of social and occupational factors influencing health and wellbeing." Frontiers In Psychology 6: 1281-1281. Simó Algado, S. and E. Ann Townsend (2015). "Eco-social occupational therapy." British Journal of Occupational Therapy 78(3): 182-186. Youngson, B. (2019). "Craftivism for occupational therapists: finding our political voice." British Journal of Occupational Therapy 82(6): 383-385.
Health Research Classification System category	Generic Health Relevance

Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples	Preparing our clients for climate change - we are entering new worlds with increased uncertainty - what can we offer as Occupational Therapists? ~ What role should Occupational Therapists have in helping people adjust to the life changes made necessary by a move to a low carbon economy? ~ How protest and protest occupations relate to OT paradigms/models of practice and their implications for OT practice and the call for greater political awareness/occupation justice ~ What adaptations are required to the occupational therapy process and specific interventions to work in a culturally competent manner with people of different demographics and protected characteristics of all ages (e.g. non-white, men, non-heterosexual, working class, lower socioeconomic groups)
Submitted by	Occupational therapists, Carers, Students, Service Users

Extra information provided by this PSP

Original uncertainty examples

Preparing our clients for climate change - we are entering new worlds with increased uncertainty - what can we offer as Occupational Therapists? ~
What role should Occupational Therapists have in helping people adjust to the life changes made necessary by a move to a low carbon economy? ~
How protest and protest occupations relate to OT paradigms/models of practice and their implications for OT practice and the call for greater political awareness/occupation justice ~ What adaptations are required to the occupational therapy process and specific interventions to work in a culturally competent manner with people of different demographics and protected characteristics of all ages (e.g. non-white, men, non-heterosexual, working class, lower socioeconomic groups)

Submitted by

Occupational therapists, Carers, Students, Service Users

PSP information
PSP unique ID	0100
PSP name	Occupational Therapy
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP.	66 (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop	27 July 2020