Rehabilitation in a municipal setting: A qualitative study of occupational therapists’ contribution to acquired brain injury rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: As a consequence of the Norwegian coordination reform, patients now spend less time in hospital and are sent back to the municipality earlier than before. Studies show that occupational therapists experience acquired brain injury (ABI) patients a complex working field, and in some situations the occupational therapists fail to believe in their own professional expertise. Objective: The goal of this study was to explore how the professional expertise of occupational therapists working with ABI rehabilitation in a municipal service provision is understood. Material and Methods: The study had a qualitative approach where 5 focus group interviews with municipal coordinating units of rehabilitation and 1 mono-professional focus group interview with occupational therapists working in municipal service were conducted. Data were analysed using systematic text condensation. Findings: The occupational therapists working in a municipal service have a diverse base of knowledge and label themselves as rehabilitators with multiple collaboration partners. The occupational therapists’ holistic view and area of expertise within environmental adaptation, compensatory aids, and cognition are valuable in the municipal setting. Concluding remarks: The study indicates that the occupational therapists in municipal service practice within several fields of expertise. The occupational therapists area of expertise within compensatory aids, environmental adaptation, and cognition are valued in ABI rehabilitation in a municipal setting. Their professional expertise which is based on a practical synthesis of knowledge enable the occupational therapists to cross boundaries in the interprofessional collaboration, where they contribute to the rehabilitation process as rehabilitators with a wide holistic view.