Primary Contact Occupational Therapy Hand Clinics: The pull of an occupational perspective

Abstract

Background/aim: Primary contact models of care are an emerging area of occupational therapy practice that aim to respond to the changing health‐care landscape. There is a dearth of literature exploring an occupational perspective in primary contact roles, and literature in the broader scope of hand therapy has recognised that occupational therapists’ practice often aligns with the biomedical worldview. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the practice of occupational therapists within Primary Contact Occupational Therapy Hand (PCOTH) Clinics from an occupational perspective.

Method: This ethnographic study gathered in‐depth data through observations of primary contact hand therapy sessions, review of progress notes and interviews with occupational therapists. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using a three‐stage process first at the item level, then pattern level and finally at the structural level. The research team collaboratively discussed all codes and then themes.

Results: The push of the biomedical culture and the pull of an occupational perspective was conceptualised as an overarching theme shaping occupational therapists’ practice in the primary contact clinics. Five themes emerged: bottom‐up approach to an occupational perspective, an occupational perspective via informal discussion, occupational therapists’ expectations of patients, occupational perspective on autopilot and blurred professional identity.

Conclusion: Occupational therapists working in primary contact roles were pushed by the biomedical culture of the setting. Despite this, there was still a pull towards an occupational perspective. This research provides an initial exploration of primary contact clinics, and highlighted the added bonus of an occupational perspective. The findings present a timely opportunity for occupational therapists to critically reflect on practice in PCOTH clinics.