Breaking barriers: Enhancing occupation-based intervention in Malaysian occupational therapy practice

Introduction: While occupation-based intervention is the core concept of occupational therapy, the ongoing challenge of the medical model’s dominance over occupation-based practices persists worldwide. To facilitate the optimal implementation of occupation-based intervention within the Malaysian context, it is essential to explore pragmatic approaches that consider the developmental stage of the healthcare system, government policies, and the diverse cultural values and psychosocial statuses of the Malaysian population. Methods: Twenty-one experienced Malaysian occupational therapists were recruited through snowball sampling method for three focus group discussions, with each group comprising six to eight participants. Data were analysed by incorporating content and micro-interlocutor analysis. Results: This study presents findings from a large qualitative inquiry, focusing on solutions to enhance OBI in Malaysian occupational therapy practice. These solutions are further classified into five categories: (1) individual level, (2) public level, (3) professional level, (4) system and policy level, and (5) education level. Conclusion: This study highlights the measures that should be implemented at all these levels to ensure comprehensive solutions.