Lecture 4: Historical Development of OT

Question 1

Where did “OT” originate

Answer 1

occupation, when soldiers where coming back from war and returning to work

Question 2

What are the relationships of paradigms to practice

Answer 2

• prevailing values and beliefs shape interpretations of the world
• paradigms guide/limit actions
• paradigm shifts within fields of study and practice associated with shifts in professional direction

Question 3

What are the principles of OT

Answer 3

• work should be carried on with cure as the main object
• the work must be interesting (meaningful)
• patient should be carefully studied
• the one form of occupation should not be carried through to the point of fatigue
• should have some useful end
• should lead to an increase in patients knowledge
• should be carried out with others
• all possible encouragement should be given
• the work resulting in poor or useless product is better than idleness (process not product)

Question 4

Describe the Key points of OT development through the years (1900’s to 1980’s)

Answer 4

1900-1920: Moral treatment era, Use of occupation to restore health, Productivity for economic viability, OT school at U of T starts in 1918. 3 month course started at McGill in 1919. students studied arts and crafts, National society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy formed in the U.S. in 1917,

1920’s: CSOTM (manitoba) and OSOT formed, OTs in training study arts and crafts (girl in green), CAOT formed in 1926, led by Goldwin Howland, Newspaper story in 1927 reports 90% of patients in one psychiatric hospital were receiving OT, Charitable groups raise funds for OT

1930’s: Push for scientific basis for the field - necessary for it to “grow as a profession” starts the alignment of OT with medicine, Arts & Crafts remain the cornerstone of treatment, Health care in Canada at this time very localized, Great depression causes funding shortages so many OT departments closed, Canadian Journal of OT starts in 1932

1940’s: World War II: survivors & disability, TB & Polio prevalent disease, Increasing appreciation for the scientific method, OT closely allied with the medical profession, CAOT takes firm stand on: Need for OTts in military service to be fully trained, Use of OT for targeted rehabilitation rather than diversional purposes. Canadian OTs sent to help British war effort

1950-1960: - Boom in technology post-war, OT becomes ‘technical’ - technique no theory, biomedical

1970’s: [change, expansion, reorganization) National medical insurance in Canada, Health care system places heavy emphasis on quality assurance, Reductionism in practice at new heights, Maxwell report “OT - the diffident profession” produced in 1977, CAOT has s entry level program introduced in 2004

Question 5

Where can OT move in the future?

Answer 5

• Health promotion
• Marginalized SES population
• Community development
• City planning, parks and recreation accessibility