Confronting Systemic Racism in Occupational Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study

Credentials Display

Rachelle Murphy, DHSc, OTR/L, DipACLM; Karen Park, OTD, OTR/L, BCP; Christy Billock, PhD, OTR/L, DipACLM; Tracy Becerra-Culqui, PhD, MPH, OT/L; Natalie A. Perkins, PP-OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L, FIIE; Rajvinder K. Bains, OTD, OTR/L, CEAS

Abstract

This study aimed to examine how occupational therapists and students perceive systemic racism in occupational therapy practice and the effectiveness and impact of the delivery of a keynote address on confronting systemic racism in practice delivered to occupational therapists and students. The study aimed to help inform future efforts in creating a more diverse and inclusive profession at the practice, policy, and education level by providing input into the challenges and opportunities that occupational therapists and students face when reckoning with issues of racism in practice. A mixed methodology research design was used with Likert-style scale and open-ended questions delivered via online survey. Eighty-nine occupational therapists and students completed the online survey. Most of the respondents reported responding favorably to the keynote address and shared sentiment that it could be a difficult and uncomfortable topic, yet it was important to discuss because of its impact on the profession and the clients occupational therapists serve.

Comments

The authors declare that they have no competing financial, professional, or personal interest that might have influenced the performance or presentation of the work described in this manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Murphy, R., Park, K., Billock, C., Becerra-Culqui, T., Perkins, N. A., & Bains, R. (2024). Confronting Systemic Racism in Occupational Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2167