Competency-based education: A survey study of international occupational therapy educational programmes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how occupational therapy education programmes approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) are utilising, implementing and evaluating competency-based education (CBE). The survey was distributed to a sample of 645 participants using the WFOT distribution process. A total of 67 respondents completed the survey. The results indicated that programmes are using WFOT and their country-specific competencies to guide their curriculum and that some programmes are in transition to a competency-based model of education. However, a number of barriers were identified, which impact the uptake and implementation of CBE that include resource intensity, specificity of some competencies to individuals and culture, and lack of understanding of CBE. This paper provides recommendations for further research and actions.

Keywords:

• Competency-based education
• Occupational therapy
• International
• Professional competencies
• Survey study

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, and McMaster Institute for Innovation and Excellence who provided funding for this project; and the respondents who took time to complete the survey.