Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland

Occupational therapy has been practised for several decades across various medical entities. However, it was only since 2012 that opportunities for professional development in this area began to be created. It can be considered that with the establishment of higher education training in occupational...

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Main Authors: Cabak Anna, Dąbrowska-Zimakowska Anna, Bartoszewicz Ewelina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2024-12-01
Series:Physical Culture and Sport: Studies and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0026
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author Cabak Anna
Dąbrowska-Zimakowska Anna
Bartoszewicz Ewelina
author_facet Cabak Anna
Dąbrowska-Zimakowska Anna
Bartoszewicz Ewelina
author_sort Cabak Anna
collection DOAJ
description Occupational therapy has been practised for several decades across various medical entities. However, it was only since 2012 that opportunities for professional development in this area began to be created. It can be considered that with the establishment of higher education training in occupational therapy, the perception of this profession has changed and is becoming increasingly important among professionals and the Polish society. Various measures are being taken to regulate the profession (including a law on certain health professions currently under procedure in the Sejm), but the topic of professionalisation and autonomy is still not sufficiently explored and addressed in Polish literature. The aim of this article is to present occupational therapists’ opinions on the professionalisation and autonomy of their profession. A questionnaire was used to survey 188 middle-aged people (35.18±9.72 years). The results show a need to regulate the occupational therapist profession, to guarantee assistance for therapists in improving their qualifications and to increase their remuneration. According to a significant number of respondents, therapists are undervalued and treated unequally in their work environment. The prestige of the occupational therapist profession was rated at a low level. The main conclusion of the study indicates that in the process of professionalisation and autonomy of the profession in Poland, more attention should be paid to the promotion of the contemporary model of occupational therapy in order to increase its recognition and raise awareness of the essence and importance of the role of an occupational therapist in both the medical (therapeutic team) and social environment.
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issn 1899-4849
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spelling doaj-art-b59239b459c84baea6470910d32667e22025-02-10T13:25:56ZengSciendoPhysical Culture and Sport: Studies and Research1899-48492024-12-0110611710.2478/pcssr-2024-0026Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in PolandCabak Anna0Dąbrowska-Zimakowska Anna1Bartoszewicz Ewelina2Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in WarsawJózef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in WarsawJózef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in WarsawOccupational therapy has been practised for several decades across various medical entities. However, it was only since 2012 that opportunities for professional development in this area began to be created. It can be considered that with the establishment of higher education training in occupational therapy, the perception of this profession has changed and is becoming increasingly important among professionals and the Polish society. Various measures are being taken to regulate the profession (including a law on certain health professions currently under procedure in the Sejm), but the topic of professionalisation and autonomy is still not sufficiently explored and addressed in Polish literature. The aim of this article is to present occupational therapists’ opinions on the professionalisation and autonomy of their profession. A questionnaire was used to survey 188 middle-aged people (35.18±9.72 years). The results show a need to regulate the occupational therapist profession, to guarantee assistance for therapists in improving their qualifications and to increase their remuneration. According to a significant number of respondents, therapists are undervalued and treated unequally in their work environment. The prestige of the occupational therapist profession was rated at a low level. The main conclusion of the study indicates that in the process of professionalisation and autonomy of the profession in Poland, more attention should be paid to the promotion of the contemporary model of occupational therapy in order to increase its recognition and raise awareness of the essence and importance of the role of an occupational therapist in both the medical (therapeutic team) and social environment.https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0026occupational therapyprofessionalisationprofessional autonomyprofessional developmentsocial context
spellingShingle Cabak Anna
Dąbrowska-Zimakowska Anna
Bartoszewicz Ewelina
Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
Physical Culture and Sport: Studies and Research
occupational therapy
professionalisation
professional autonomy
professional development
social context
title Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
title_full Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
title_fullStr Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
title_short Professionalisation and Autonomy of the Occupational Therapist Profession in Poland
title_sort professionalisation and autonomy of the occupational therapist profession in poland
topic occupational therapy
professionalisation
professional autonomy
professional development
social context
url https://doi.org/10.2478/pcssr-2024-0026
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