Open AccessJunior occupational therapists' continuity of employment: what influences success?
Author(s) -
Rugg Sue
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
occupational therapy international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.414
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1557-0703
pISSN - 0966-7903
DOI - 10.1002/oti.102
Subject(s) - autonomy , occupational therapy , psychology , work (physics) , medical education , job satisfaction , applied psychology , social psychology , medicine , political science , psychiatry , engineering , mechanical engineering , law
Considerable time, effort and expense are spent on educating occupational therapists for practice, yet little is known about the factors influencing the success of this process. This article details a study that investigated the influence of selected personal and environmental variables on British occupational therapists' continuity of employment one year post‐qualification. Data were gathered using purpose‐designed questionnaires and a semi‐structured interview. The results linked respondents' retention in practice to issues of support, resources, success with clients, job satisfaction and the extent to which work matched their personal values. Respondents' withdrawal from practice was linked to issues of support, autonomy and a perceived discrepancy between their expected and actual practice. Their level of perceived responsibility was also cited as influential. These findings provide fuel for discussion and the opportunity to make recommendations for future occupational therapy policy, education and practice. Copyright © 1999 Whurr Publishers Ltd.