Nineteen male OT students and clinicians in New Zealand identified the profession's unclear public image and its association with women as the main barriers to recruiting men, and the hands-on, practical work and the chance to make a difference as the main draws.
Participants described occupational therapy as poorly understood by the public, difficult to define even for OTs themselves, and strongly associated with women of European ethnicity, which they saw as a barrier to attracting men.
A strong consensus emerged that the desire to make a lasting, positive difference in people's lives was a primary reason for entering the profession, and that the practical, hands-on, problem-solving nature of OT work would appeal to men if it were better communicated in recruitment.
Participants identified the lack of gender and ethnic diversity in the profession as problematic, noted that some male clients reported feeling more comfortable with a male therapist, and described the wide range of roles and practice settings available in OT as a key reason for both entering and staying in the profession.
Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four participants were randomized across two intervention arms and assessed at twelve weeks for the primary outcome…
Create a free account to read the methodology, results and clinical relevance — three full summaries a month, no card.
Summarised by AI from the abstract, not the full paper. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →