Professional Competences of Occupational Therapists – the Synergy of Knowledge, Skills and Values

Abstract

Introduction: Professional competences play a key role in the development of specialists working in the fields of education, social assistance, healthcare, including occupational therapists. The study of occupational therapists’ professional competences provides important insights into the specifics of this profession and the developmental needs of its representatives.
Research Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the subjective perception of occupational therapists’ professional competences from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship in three dimensions: knowledge, skills, and values.
Research Method: The study was quantitative and based on a diagnostic survey. The research sample consisted of 205 individuals, selected through a random quota sampling method. The study is representative of the population of occupational therapists from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie
Voivodeship. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. In addition, Donald E. Super’s Questionnaire of Preferred General Values was employed. To examine dependencies, Pearson’s chi-square test was applied.
Results: The results indicate that occupational therapists place great importance on specialized knowledge related to the planning and organization of occupational therapy, as well as knowledge in the fields of psychology and pedagogy. In terms of skills, the highest value is attributed
to establishing and maintaining therapeutic contact and recognizing and diagnosing patients’ needs. Analyzing values, the study reveals the dominance of values such as altruism, social relations, and theachievement.
Conclusions: The conclusions of the study can serve as a basis for developing educational programs and continuing education that more fully address the specific developmental needs of occupational therapists.