Unit 2: Theoretical Concepts in Clinical Reasoning

Question 1

Occupational therapists must be able to apply appropriate and effective…

Answer 1

Clinical Reasoning to provide appropriate and effective intervention that provides meaningful change in their clients.

Question 2

Clinical Reasoning

Answer 2

How we identify problems and strengths, identify a plan, deliver the intervention, and review how successful the intervention was. Therefore, clinical reasoning is how we decide what to do and how to do it.

Question 3

Clinical reasoning is the ability to…

Answer 3

Balance applying your previous experience of what you know is appropriate and effective with clients and applying theory and evidence.

Question 4

As occupational therapists, our clinical reasoning encompasses…

Answer 4

Our knowledge and skill within occupational engagement.
-Our knowledge of how occupational engagement impacts a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being is solely the realm of the OT.

Question 5

To be able to apply your clinical reasoning, you need to understand the concept of…

Answer 5

Occupational engagement and be able to apply the theory of occupational engagement to your reasoning and apply the theory of models of practice and frames of reference to provide a structure to your clinical reasoning.

Question 6

An occupational therapist has theories associated with…

Answer 6

Occupational engagement and how people can reach their potential through doing

Question 7

Theory

Answer 7

A set of information in relation to one another and presents a substantial explanation (provides structure to OT thinking and clinical reasoning)

Question 8

Base our theories in:

Answer 8

Models of Practice, Frameworks

Question 9

Models of Practice

Answer 9

Overall theories of how we view our clients

Question 10

Frameworks

Answer 10

More specific theories which explain how we deliver intervention for particular types of occupational values

Question 11

When dealing with our clients we will consider…

Answer 11

Their whole being within a model of practice and then focus to how we would treat them through a frame of reference

Question 12

Clinical Reasoning (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 12

The circle of clinical reasoning and explains simply how an occupational therapist delivers clinical reasoning. We are going to talk through the circle to show how clinical reasoning develops from referral (first notification of the client) to discharge (when the client leaves your service).

Question 13

Collect Cues and Information (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 13

The referral will provide valuable information, and the occupational therapist picks up cues from the information included. When this happens, the occupational therapist links to knowledge she/he knows of the condition or pictures when they have seen a client with a similar condition. Similarly, during the first evaluation, the occupational therapist will pick up on cues from observations and assessment tools carried out. This links to their previous experience, knowledge, and skills. A picture is being developed from the cues.

Question 14

Process Information (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 14

The therapist processes the information making links between each of the cues. A picture is being formulated by the occupational therapist with interlinking theories.

Question 15

Identify Problems (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 15

The therapist now identifies the problems, otherwise known as occupational barriers, that the client is experiencing.

Question 16

Establish Goals (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 16

The occupational therapist, using her knowledge, skills, and experience, can estimate the realistic factors the client can achieve. The client is fully involved in the agreement of the goals. In establishing the goals, the occupational therapist is taking a little jump forward thinking how she can deliver the goals in a realistic time and framework.

Question 17

Form a Plan (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 17

The occupational therapist will now be considering how they are treating the person and will formulate a realistic plan utilizing specific treatment techniques.

Question 18

Take Action (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 18

The occupational therapist delivers the intervention. This could be in a multitude of ways such as making an orthosis, delivering a group, delivering parallel doing, providing an aid.

Question 19

Evaluate Outcomes (applying occupational therapy models and frames in clinical reasoning)

Answer 19

The occupational therapist uses tools to evaluate how useful the intervention has been. If goals have not been achieved, the process is modified and repeated at any of the clinical reasoning points. If goals have been achieved, then it is discharge.

Question 20

Frames of Reference

Answer 20

From identifying the problem, the frames of reference are now relevant, as these are how we clinically reason what interventions we can deliver and how we deliver them.

Question 21

The Model

Answer 21

An overarching theory that helps the OT compartmentalize all the elements of the client. Theory links elements together and here, the models theory provides the links to enable the occupational therapist to make the required links and formulate a total picture focused on the occupational engagement. Each model encapsulates our philosophy but focuses on differing elements of occupational engagement.
The therapist will select the most appropriate model for the client.