Open AccessGeneralist, specialist and generic positions experienced by occupational therapists in Norwegian municipalities
Author(s) -
Sissel Horghagen,
Tore Bonsaksen,
Unni Sveen,
Anne Stine Dolva,
Cathrine Arntzen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the irish journal of occupational therapy/irish journal of occupational therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 2
eISSN - 2398-8819
pISSN - 0791-8437
DOI - 10.1108/ijot-03-2020-0006
Subject(s) - occupational therapy , norwegian , thematic analysis , originality , focus group , health care , nursing , social constructivism , qualitative research , identity (music) , psychology , value (mathematics) , medical education , public relations , medicine , sociology , political science , pedagogy , social science , linguistics , philosophy , physics , psychiatry , anthropology , acoustics , law , machine learning , computer science
Reforms in the health-care system may impact how health-care professionals perceive and enact their roles. This study aims to examine the way in which occupational therapists experience and describe their roles in municipalities after the implementation of a health reform (the Coordination Act) in Norway.,This qualitative study was designed within the perspectives of social constructivism. Data was collected through focus group interviews with 10 community-working occupational therapists. A thematic framework analysis was used to examine the participants’ experiences.,The following four themes emerged: external factors that framed and shaped the occupational therapists’ roles in municipalities; the strengths and dilemmas of the generalist; the problematic generic position and the strengths; and dilemmas of the specialist.,The study suggests that occupational therapy practitioners should identify new opportunities and adapt to health reform changes. They also need to renegotiate their roles as the health reforms require more specialized competences. Greater emphasis must be placed on the core knowledge and competences of occupational therapists to strengthen their professional identity in the municipalities.