Exploring the Perceived Role Competence of Occupational Therapists in Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Across Different Clinical Settings

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceived role, perceived role competence, and confidence in relation to Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) among licensed occupational therapists in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, the study will compare these perceptions among occupational therapists within different practice settings to identify any gaps that may be present between occupational therapists specializing in mental health settings and occupational therapists specializing in other populations and settings. SUDs can negatively disrupt individuals' occupations and be a large barrier to both someone's performance and participation (Doğu & Özkan, 2023; Rothman & Jimenez, 2023). Examples of occupations include social participation, work, sleep, grooming, and many more. Occupational imbalance and lack of meaningful occupational engagement can occur with SUD and are areas that occupational therapists target during intervention (Crouch & Wegner, 2014). However, a study analyzing occupational therapists’ perceptions on SUDs determined that only 48.3% of occupational therapists fully understood how occupational therapy can play a role in assisting this population (Mattila et al., 2022). As the prevalence of SUDs continue to rise, occupational therapists need to be able to identify client needs and evidence-based intervention to address those needs in settings outside of psychiatric rehabilitation (Hildebrand & Boerding, 2019). The study implements a multi-methods design utilizing survey methodology in addition to a phenomenological study design. Participants in the study were recruited using a snowball sampling approach in which mass emails were sent to occupational therapists licensed in Virginia. The email included both a link to the survey as well as an invitation to contact the researchers should they be interested and willing to partake in a semi-structured interview. Inclusion criteria were explicitly stated in the email and included licensure in the state of Virginia and currently practicing as an occupational therapist. Researchers are actively working on statistical analysis in which the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is being used to analyze all quantitative data. Descriptive and inferential statistics are being run on survey response data. Interview transcriptions are being coded using predetermined themes, as well as emerging themes. Coding is being done separately by the three primary researchers who will then compare and integrate findings. The goal of this study is to help investigators gain a better understanding of occupational therapists’ perceived role, perceived role competence, and confidence in treating clients with known or suspected SUDs. It is within the scope of occupational therapy practice to provide interventions for SUDs. Researchers hope to learn whether or not occupational therapists in Virginia are actually addressing SUDs in practice. This insight will allow investigators to share their findings with the greater occupational therapy community in the Commonwealth so that we may strive towards improved education, support, and understanding of how occupational therapists work with individuals with SUD. References: Crouch, R., & Wegner, L. (2014). Substance use and abuse: Intervention by a multidisciplinary approach which includes occupational therapy. In R. Crouch & V. Alers (Eds.), Occupational Therapy in Psychiatry and Mental Health (pp. 446–464). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118913536.ch28 Doğu SE, Özkan E. (2023). The role of occupational therapy in substance use. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14550725221149472 Hildebrand, M., & Boerding, A. (2019). OT assessment in substance-use disorder (Sud): A qualitative study of current practices. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(4_Supplement_1), 7311500020p1-7311500020p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO7001 Mattila, A. M., Santacecilia, G., & LaCroix, R. (2022). Perceptions and knowledge around substance use disorders and the role of occupational therapy: A survey of clinicians. Substance Abuse : Research and Treatment, 16, 11782218221130921. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218221130921 Rothman, E. F., & Jimenez, C. (2023). Introduction to the special issue on substance use and occupational therapy. Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 17, 117822182311600. https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218231160016