Therapists as Educators: the Importance of Client Education in Occupational Therapy

• Main Authors: Kate E. DeCleene OTD, MS, OTR, Angelia J. Ridgway Ph.D., Julie Bednarski OTD, MHS, OTR, Lori Breeden MS, OTR, Gina Gabriele Mosier MA, Deborah Sachs MS, onna Stephenson MA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Western Michigan University 2013-08-01
• Series: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Subjects: Client Education; Educational Training; Teaching-Learning
• Online Access: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ojot/vol1/iss4/5/
• ISSN: 2168-6408; 2168-6408

Client education is a major component of everyday health care practice. Entry-level occupational therapy (OT) accreditation standards require educators to teach students how to demonstrate the ability to educate clients, family, caregivers, and significant others to facilitate their skills related to personal occupations. Although these standards are a necessity, entry-level programs are not required to teach students the teaching methodologies that support human learning. However, the educational standards do require students to apply the principles of teaching and learning processes. This project explored the evidence in teaching and learning strategies and how these were introduced to OT students during their program. Faculty from the School of Occupational Therapy and School of Education developed a module for entry-level OT students. Data analysis found that students were able to benefit from the additional information on teaching and learning theory.