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Clinicians' perspective on curriculum issues for an entry level programme in occupational therapy
Author
Lim, Hua Beng
Supervisor
Seng, Alice Seok Hoon
Abstract
This paper presents a qualitative investigation into important issues which are inherent in the curriculum of an occupational therapy course in Singapore. Occupational Therapy is a professional education course. Besides imparting cognitive skills to occupational therapy students, it is also important to develop professional skills unique to the profession. This study explored the issues and factors which qualified occupational therapists attribute as crucial to impart to occupational therapy students in Singapore. A semi-structured interview was used to derive information from six clinicians from a broad base of practice areas. The six subjects represented approximately 10% of qualified occupational therapists in Singapore. The study found that the subjects placed emphasis on similar issues deemed as important by educators. These issues include the importance of the curriculum to develop students' creativity, critical thinking, awareness of systems and problem solving abilities. At the same time, the subjects expected that the curriculum will groom competent occupational therapists who possess good clinical skills. The study also found that the curriculum in occupational therapy in Singapore should reflect the system in which the profession exist. This system is predominantly a medical system. Therefore, the subjects recommended that the curriculum should emphasise occupational therapy's unique professional role in a medical system. An occupational therapy curriculum organiser and a list of professional competences were developed based on the results of this qualitative study.
Date Issued
1995
Call Number
RM735.42 Lim
Date Submitted
1995