Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE OCT4026

 
TITLE Framing Practice through an Occupation-based Perspective

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Occupational Therapy

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will focus on the complex relationship between individuals, the environments in which they function and the occupations in which they become involved and will consider factors that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities. It will explore the current evidence underpinning occupations as a source of well-being and introduce the evolving discipline of occupational science as a source of validity and knowledge for occupational therapy practice. This study-unit will explore emerging theory and research in the areas of occupation and occupational performance thereby supporting students towards shifting their perspective (or re-framing their practice) towards an occupation based practice.

The topics covered shall include:

- Human occupation in context (understanding human occupation, the characteristics of human occupation, form, function and meaning of human occupation, work life balance);
- Occupation as a source of well-being and development;
- Occupation based practice: the essential elements;
- Occupational science: central concepts within the area and its implications on practice;
- Role of creating in occupations to foster well being; and
- Occupation and enablement.

Study-unit Aims:

- To develop a clearer understanding of the characteristics of human occupation;
- To develop a critical understanding towards an occupational perspective on health highlighting the relationship between occupation and health and the essential role occupation may have in protecting well being;
- To introduce the philosophy of occupational science and how it offers the opportunity to explore the meaning of occupation to individuals;
- To develop students’ understanding of form, function and meaning of human occupation;
- To explore the expression of creativity and flow though occupation;
- To facilitate student analysis’ of their own theory base of occupational therapy and be able to relate the discipline of occupational science to possible applications within the broader areas of health care in society;
- To build on existing knowledge so as to introduce new ways of thinking about reframing occupational therapy practice towards an occupation-based approach; and
- To improve critical debate on the implications of using such an approach in practice.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- demonstrate the current evidence underpinning occupation, health and well-being;
- analyse form, function and meaning of human occupation;
- apply principles of creativity in occupation;
- describe the evolving discipline of occupational science and occupational science terminology;
- consider factors that contribute to the health and well-being of individuals, groups and communities from an occupational perspective; and
- view the practice of occupational therapy through an occupational lens.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- develop a critical understanding of human occupation and its impact on health and well-being;
- examine the relationship between occupation, health and well-being;
- examine the relationship between form, function and meaning of human occupation;
- reflect on the philosophical and theoretical aspects of occupational science and how this relates to practice;
- reflect on own, and others occupational therapy practice emphasising the importance of focusing on client’s occupational performance needs;
- develop reframing skills and knowledge for occupation-based practice; and
- demonstrate negotiation in group work and student led activities.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts

- Christiansen, C., & Townsend, E. A. (Eds.). (2010). Introduction to occupation: the art and science of living: new multidisciplinary perspectives for understanding human occupation as a central feature of individual experience and social organization. Pearson.
- Polatajko, H. J., & Townsend, E. A. (2007). Enabling Occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being & justice through occupation. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

Supplementary Readings

- Blanche, E. I. (2007). The expression of creativity through occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 14(1), 21-29.
- Fisher, A. G. (2014). Occupation-centred, occupation-based, occupation-focused: Same, same or different? Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 21(sup1), 96-107.
- Hasselkus, B. R. (2011). The meaning of everyday occupation. Slack Incorporated.
- Kielhofner, G. (2009). Conceptual foundations of occupational therapy practice. FA Davis.
- Law, M. (2002). Participation in the occupations of everyday life. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56(6), 640-649.
- Law, M. C., Baum, C. M., & Baptiste, S. (2002). Occupation-based practice: Fostering performance and participation. Slack Incorporated.
- Schell, B. A., Gillen, G., Scaffa, M., & Cohn, E. S. (2013). Willard and Spackman's occupational therapy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Wilcock, A. A. (2006). An occupational perspective of health. Slack Incorporated.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE OCT1012 AND TAKE OCT1035 AND TAKE OCT2021

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study and Group Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 75%
Poster SEM2 Yes 25%

 
LECTURER/S Marjorie Bonello
Nathalie Buhagiar

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit