Cocreation from Emerging Opportunities: Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Supporting Older Persons, in Japan.
Peter Bontje, Staffan Josephsson, Yumi Tamura and 4 others
PMID 35936830WHAT IT FOUND
Therapists described moving beyond fixed goals to seize emerging opportunities, such as a client's new social role from a craft or a terminal patient's wish to wander.
They co-created flexible plans with clients and staff, adapting interventions as the client's vision of their future life evolved.
Key findings
01Therapists intentionally or opportunistically used occupational situations to reveal hidden potentials, such as social roles or therapeutic benefits, rather than just focusing on functional recovery.
02Practice involved continuously revising images of the client's future to guide therapy, especially when initial goals for self-care or mobility no longer matched the client's evolving situation or preferences.
03Therapists co-created 'plots' (shared plans) with clients and other stakeholders by negotiating conflicting perspectives, such as balancing a client's wish for independence with institutional safety rules.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is qualitative and describes therapists' experiences and perceptions; it does not measure patient outcomes or prove that these approaches lead to better recovery. Participants were recruited from metropolitan, rural, and semirural areas in Japan, which may limit transferability to other cultural or healthcare contexts. Many participants knew each other or the researchers, which could have influenced the openness or nature of the discussions. The findings rely on self-reported experiences and memories, which may be filtered or reconstructed during the focus groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The first author noted that relationships with some participants were from 5-10 years prior and were not deemed a conflict.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that this specific approach improves patient outcomes. The study describes how therapists think and work, not what happens to patients as a result. It is a report of professional experience, not a clinical trial.