Referrals to Private Practice Mental Health Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Objective: The study investigated the reasons other mental health professionals refer patients to private practice occupational therapy.

Method: One hundred four mental health care providers were surveyed about their attitudes, knowledge, and referrals to private practice mental health occupational therapy.

Results: Knowledge about and attitude towards occupational therapy were weakly correlated at the trend level. No relationships were found between attitude or knowledge and referral to occupational therapy. Several factors impeding referrals to occupational therapy were defined, and qualifications desired by referral sources were identified.

Conclusion: While knowledge about occupational therapy was a concern for referral sources, it does not appear to be significantly related to attitude about or referral to occupational therapy in private mental health practice. Instead, other factors such as lack of knowledge of a privately practicing mental health occupational therapist and limited patient funds are viewed as impediments to referrals by referral sources.

Key Words:

• Psychosocial
• referrals
• practice
• research