The Perceived Role of Occupational Therapists in Climate Change.
Jiayi Du, Alexander Bird, Giovanna Boniface and 2 others
PMID 38859734WHAT IT FOUND
Canadian occupational therapists and international experts reported personal climate anxiety, client occupational disruption, and professional strain.
They wanted guidance, curriculum change, advocacy, and support for climate anxiety, disaster work, and equipment choices.
Key findings
01The analysis of twelve participants, including 6 research experts and 6 occupational therapists, produced three themes about climate change in occupational therapy.
02Participants reported climate anxiety, guilt about carbon footprints, and fear of not doing enough.
03Participants recommended clearer climate guidance, curriculum change, advocacy, support for climate anxiety, disaster management, and sustainable equipment choices.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was twelve participants, so findings are exploratory. Some participants were not Canadian, and the Canadian sample remained small. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling and were already interested in climate change, so their views may not represent broader occupational therapists. The study reports perceptions and recommendations, not patient outcomes or tested effects.
Declared interests
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as evidence that climate actions improve patient outcomes. The study reports participants' perceptions and recommendations, not patient outcomes.