Occupational Therapy Literature Review Ot Article Review

This is not just an opinion of the authors. They actually did a study called the Defining Issues Test (DIT) which measures ethical judgment. The (DIT) was given to over five hundred (500) college students upon entrance into an occupational therapy program and just prior to completion of the program. The study revealed a significant increase in ethical judgment scores as the students neared the end of their program (2008).

The information in both articles could prove to be beneficial to an occupational therapy student. Ethics should be taught in the classroom in this type of profession to give the student a strong foundation before he actually starts practicing therapy. Once the student is an actual occupational therapist, professional organizations will serve as an excellent source of information and networking for the professional. They can always use the standards of ethics set forth by these organization as a reference and a model of how they should conduct themselves in their profession, with their colleagues and with their patients.Prospective occupational therapists are fortunate because they are given opportunities to learn and develop their ethical judgment not only while they are studying the profession, but also after they have completed their education and are actual practitioners. As ethical standards change, professionals can keep abreast of issues by taking continuing education classes at their local college or university, or they can follow the guidelines set forth by any professional organization in which they are a member of. The options are there and whatever choice is made, occupational therapists are now in a position to take advantage of the wealth of information that is constantly changing and always within reach.

References

Dige, M. (2009). Occupational therapy, professional development and ethics. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16: 88-98.

Geddes, E.L., Salvatori, P. And Eva, K.W. (2008). Does moral judgment improve in occupational therapy and physiotherapy students over the course of their pre-licensure training? Health….....