Transforming the vocational rehabilitation services of occupational therapists in Gauteng public healthcare through action learning action research
Date
2016
Authors
Van Biljon, Hester Maria
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Abstract
Vocational rehabilitation offered by occupational therapists in Gauteng’s public healthcare is an essential service. Adult public healthcare users expressed being able to return to work or find work as an important need, however the efficiency and scope of vocational rehabilitation offered by occupational therapists in public healthcare was problematic. Introducing the research question: Can an action learning, action research approach transform the vocational rehabilitation practises of occupational therapists in Gauteng public healthcare?
The aim of the enquiry was to empower clinical occupational therapists, working in Gauteng public healthcare, to transform their vocational rehabilitation services using action learning action research (ALAR). The researcher, an outsider, integrated herself into a pre-exiting insider group, the Vocational Rehabilitation Task Team (VRTT). They formed a collaborative research team and used ALAR as a transformation agent. Multiple action cycles and action learning opportunities took place in four phases. The initial phase was to observe the status quo of the vocational rehabilitation services. This was followed by a planning phase in which a framework of what vocational rehabilitation occupational therapists should be doing at different levels of service. The action phase involved transformative actions that addressed service needs as identified by the collaborative research team. The research concluded with a reflection phase where the four years of research tenure were reflected upon. This reflection took the form of a meta-reflection considering the service transformation that had taken place and the impact of ALAR.
When linked with mentoring, the multiple cycles of collaborative learning and action brought improvement of the quality and scope of occupational therapists vocational rehabilitation. The approach also resulted in the development of a Vocation Rehabilitation Practice Profile (VRPPT) tool and user documents for report writing, screening ability to drive, using MODAPTS in clinical practice, how to do a basic work assessment and supervise students. In addition four peer-reviewed journal articles appeared and the knowledge generated was presented at workshops and congresses. ALAR was instrumental in transforming clinician vocational rehabilitation practice while creating knowledge and enriching individuals who took part in the research.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Johannesburg 2016