Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives

This study explores the perceptions and experiences of Korean occupational therapists (OTs) about their role in managing elderly patients with orthopedic conditions. The goal is to inform policy discussions for better integration of OT services in orthopedic care settings in Korea. A survey was cond...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Junghun Aj Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-01-01
Series:Occupational Therapy International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5566248
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832547843991142400
author Junghun Aj Kim
author_facet Junghun Aj Kim
author_sort Junghun Aj Kim
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the perceptions and experiences of Korean occupational therapists (OTs) about their role in managing elderly patients with orthopedic conditions. The goal is to inform policy discussions for better integration of OT services in orthopedic care settings in Korea. A survey was conducted among Korean clinical OTs to gather data on their perceptions, experiences, and challenges in providing orthopedic OT services. Snowball sampling was used, and the survey addressed general characteristics, orthopedic OT status, perceptions, and competence. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage calculations in SPSS 22.0. Out of 171 respondents, only 18 had experience working in orthopedic departments, while 78 (45.6%) had provided occupational therapy to orthopedic patients. Rehabilitation medicine physicians were the primary prescribers of orthopedic OT. Key challenges included a lack of awareness among professionals, an absence of appropriate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. The majority of respondents agreed that providing OT in orthopedic departments was appropriate and expressed a need for education and clinical guidelines. The study examines the current state of orthopedic OT in Korea, showing low levels of experience and highlighting challenges, such as a lack of professional awareness, inadequate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. Respondents mostly agreed on the necessity for education and clinical guidelines to improve their capabilities in orthopedic settings. This study emphasizes the need for healthcare system improvements that allow OTs to participate more widely without being confined to specific medical disciplines, promoting a more comprehensive approach to OT, especially as the aging population continues to grow.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f98dd6360a4429ba7c0416c435697ca
institution Kabale University
issn 1557-0703
language English
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Occupational Therapy International
spelling doaj-art-5f98dd6360a4429ba7c0416c435697ca2025-02-03T06:43:09ZengWileyOccupational Therapy International1557-07032023-01-01202310.1155/2023/5566248Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ PerspectivesJunghun Aj Kim0Research Center of Industry-Academic Cooperation FoundationThis study explores the perceptions and experiences of Korean occupational therapists (OTs) about their role in managing elderly patients with orthopedic conditions. The goal is to inform policy discussions for better integration of OT services in orthopedic care settings in Korea. A survey was conducted among Korean clinical OTs to gather data on their perceptions, experiences, and challenges in providing orthopedic OT services. Snowball sampling was used, and the survey addressed general characteristics, orthopedic OT status, perceptions, and competence. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage calculations in SPSS 22.0. Out of 171 respondents, only 18 had experience working in orthopedic departments, while 78 (45.6%) had provided occupational therapy to orthopedic patients. Rehabilitation medicine physicians were the primary prescribers of orthopedic OT. Key challenges included a lack of awareness among professionals, an absence of appropriate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. The majority of respondents agreed that providing OT in orthopedic departments was appropriate and expressed a need for education and clinical guidelines. The study examines the current state of orthopedic OT in Korea, showing low levels of experience and highlighting challenges, such as a lack of professional awareness, inadequate fees, and insufficient knowledge among OTs. Respondents mostly agreed on the necessity for education and clinical guidelines to improve their capabilities in orthopedic settings. This study emphasizes the need for healthcare system improvements that allow OTs to participate more widely without being confined to specific medical disciplines, promoting a more comprehensive approach to OT, especially as the aging population continues to grow.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5566248
spellingShingle Junghun Aj Kim
Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
Occupational Therapy International
title Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
title_full Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
title_fullStr Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
title_short Exploring Orthopedic Occupational Therapy in Korea: Insights from a Survey on Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives
title_sort exploring orthopedic occupational therapy in korea insights from a survey on occupational therapists perspectives
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/5566248
work_keys_str_mv AT junghunajkim exploringorthopedicoccupationaltherapyinkoreainsightsfromasurveyonoccupationaltherapistsperspectives