Community outcomes of occupational therapy service learning engagements: perceptions of community representatives.

Background: Service learning is used as an educational approach in many undergraduate occupational therapy programmes in South Africa and the rest of the world. Evidence for the impact of occupational therapy service learning engagements in communities, from the perspectives of community partners, i...

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Published in:South African Journal of Occupational Therapy Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 12 - 19
Main Authors: van Rensburg, Elize Janse, van der Merwe, Tania Rauch, Erasmus, Mabel A.
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa Apr2019
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2019
      vid: 49
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      pub: Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa
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        10.17159/2310-3833/2019/vol49no1a3
        136133100
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        atl: Community outcomes of occupational therapy service learning engagements: perceptions of community representatives.
      aug:
        au:
          van Rensburg, Elize Janse
          van der Merwe, Tania Rauch
          Erasmus, Mabel A.
        affil: Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of the Free State
      sug:
        subj:
          Communities Psychosocial Factors
          Service Learning Psychosocial Factors
          Education, Occupational Therapy
          Outcomes of Education
          Human
          South Africa
          Descriptive Research
          Qualitative Studies
          Interviews
          Purposive Sample
          Content Analysis
          Knowledge
          Confidence
          Human Dignity
          Questionnaires
          Audiorecording
          Thematic Analysis
          Feedback
          Access to Information
          Interpersonal Relations
          Collaboration
          Occupational Justice
          Occupational Health
          Quality of Life
      ab: Background: Service learning is used as an educational approach in many undergraduate occupational therapy programmes in South Africa and the rest of the world. Evidence for the impact of occupational therapy service learning engagements in communities, from the perspectives of community partners, is limited. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of community representatives regarding the outcomes of occupational therapy service learning engagements. Methods: A descriptive qualitative enquiry design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight purposively sampled community representatives and analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Results: This paper reports on the theme related to community outcomes of occupational therapy that emerged from the data, consisting of seven categories, namely: (1) increased knowledge and skills, (2) attitudinal change leading to practice reform, (3) increased access to resources and infrastructure, (4) enhanced community connections, (5) enhanced confidence and dignity, (6) enhanced occupational participation, and (7) non-realisation of partnership goals. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated that although there were some instances in which partnership goals were not realised, occupational therapy service learning engagements contributed to occupational enablement, occupational justice, health and well-being for community members.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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