TITLE:
Occupational Engagement and Quality of Life in Occupational Therapy Students and Professionals during Coronavirus Pandemic
AUTHORS:
Grace Fisher, Michelle Ahlberg, Cassandra Cragle, Diana Kudeh, Martha Laytos, Karen Lopes, Christin Riesterer, Marisa Sedon, Andrea Scott, Lindsay Sock, Joshua Victor
KEYWORDS:
Pandemic, COVID-19, Occupational Engagement, Quality of Life, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
24,
2022
ABSTRACT: This nationwide study addressed how occupational engagement and quality of
life (QoL) were affected in occupational therapy (OT) students and professionals
during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Research questions addressed:
1) if daily occupations changed; 2) how QoL was affected; 3) in what manner OT background
influenced coping; 4) recommendations
to OT students, practitioners, and the profession. Although 198 students and 249
professionals responded initially to the survey, an average of 161 professionals
and 95 students completed the critical questions described herein. Six students
and eight professionals participated in interviews. Separate online surveys via
SurveyMonkey gathered quantitative and qualitative data from the students and professionals,
and interview guides facilitated qualitative data collection from both groups. The
anonymous surveys included rating scales, multiple-choice, ranking, and open-ended
questions. The interviews, using open-ended questions, occurred via telephone or
Skype audio calls in the summer and early fall of 2020. Both professionals and students
reported their occupational engagement drastically changed due to the Pandemic.
Similarly, they indicated a decrease in their own QoL compared to before the Pandemic. Grounded Theory of Pandemic Occupational Adaptation and Engagement in OT Professionals and Students emanated
from the findings. The COVID-19 Pandemic affected millions in various ways. OT professionals
and students reported telehealth as beneficial for treating clients and providing
education to OT students. Mental health should be a priority for everyone to maintain
good QoL and cope with pandemic-related and future life challenges. Participant
commitment to the occupational therapy profession continues to be strong.