Doing, being, becoming and belonging at the heart of occupational therapy: An analysis of theoretical ways of knowing

Abstract

Background: Theoretical ways of knowing in occupational therapy include paradigms, conceptual practice models and related knowledge. Despite the diversity of models available to guide practice, there are few examples of analyses which compare and contrast their respective core concepts.

Aims: The aims of this paper are to describe how the dimensions of occupation described in the Pan Occupational Paradigm pervade conceptual practice models, and are embedded within case reports of occupational therapy.

Materials and Methods: A framework analysis was undertaken, using the dimensions of occupation – doing, being, becoming and belonging – as core concepts. The alignment of concepts from four widely utilised occupational therapy conceptual practice models with these dimensions were investigated and described. Four case reports developed in reference to these specific conceptual practice models were also analysed, and their expression of the core concepts and dimensions discussed.

Results: The dimensions of occupation were embedded in all reviewed conceptual practice models and case reports. The dimensions are explained in discrete, relational and embedded forms, with each conceptual practice model adopting a specific terminology and structure to describe them.

Conclusions and Significance: The presence of all four dimensions of occupation, regardless of form, terminology or structural arrangement, is proposed as a hallmark of an occupational therapy conceptual practice model.

Keywords:

• Pan occupational paradigm
• theory
• knowledge translation

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge my deep gratitude to [BLINDED] and [BLINDED] [BLINDED]. They both contributed significantly to its rigour and accessibility, as have the many subsequent peers who have applied it to their own work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).