Preparedness of the University of KwaZulu‐Natal Occupational Therapy Students and Novice Occupational Therapists for Acute Mental Health Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of Lived Experiences.
Background: Occupational therapy students and novice occupational therapists often face considerable challenges when entering acute mental health settings, particularly within South Africa′s culturally diverse and resource‐constrained contexts. This study explored the preparedness of University of K...
| Published in: | Occupational Therapy International Vol. 2026; pp. 1 - 15 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
7/2/2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=195124945&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 195124945 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 09667903 GPF jtl: Occupational Therapy International issn: 09667903 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: 7/2/2026 vid: 2026 pid: 480 pub: Wiley-Blackwell place: Malden, Massachusetts artinfo: ui: 195124945 195124945 195124945 10.1155/oti/6484957 195124945 ppf: 1 ppct: 14 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Preparedness of the University of KwaZulu‐Natal Occupational Therapy Students and Novice Occupational Therapists for Acute Mental Health Practice: A Qualitative Exploration of Lived Experiences. aug: au: Mkhize, Phakeme Z. Mpanza, December M. Naidoo, Deshini Hilton, Claudia affil: Discipline of Occupational Therapy, , School of Health Sciences, , College of Health Sciences, , University of KwaZulu-Natal, , Durban, South Africa, ukzn.ac.za sug: subj: Students, Occupational Therapy Psychosocial Factors Novice Clinicians Occupational Therapists Student Attitudes Evaluation Mental Health Services Acute Care Professional Practice Colleges and Universities South Africa Human South Africa Female Male Adult Qualitative Studies Exploratory Research Descriptive Research Purposive Sample Focus Groups Conceptual Framework Semi-Structured Interview Interview Guides Cultural Competence Experiential Learning Education, Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Supervisors and Supervision Self Regulation Professional Boundaries Thematic Analysis Funding Source Adult: 19-44 years Female Male ab: Background: Occupational therapy students and novice occupational therapists often face considerable challenges when entering acute mental health settings, particularly within South Africa′s culturally diverse and resource‐constrained contexts. This study explored the preparedness of University of KwaZulu‐Natal (UKZN) occupational therapy students and novice practitioners for acute mental health practice within KwaZulu‐Natal′s complex healthcare landscape. Methods: A qualitative, exploratory design was used with purposive sampling to recruit 15 participants. Ten fourth‐year students and five novice occupational therapists participated in focus group discussions and individual interviews. Data were analysed thematically to identify key patterns related to preparedness, challenges and experiential learning. Findings: Three overarching themes emerged: (1) educational preparation gaps, (2) practice readiness challenges and (3) systemic and transition constraints. Participants demonstrated strong theoretical knowledge but reported limited practical readiness, particularly regarding culturally responsive care, emotional regulation and evidence‐based intervention in acute settings. Conclusions: The findings emphasise the need to strengthen occupational therapy education through earlier and more intensive acute mental health exposure, enhanced clinical supervision and greater emphasis on cultural competence and acute care interventions. Grounded in experiential learning theory (ELT), improved experiential learning opportunities may better prepare graduates for effective, contextually relevant practice in South Africa′s acute mental health environments. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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