Clinical Reasoning in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy: The Evaluation Process

Abstract

This qualitative study attempted to explore and describe the initial evaluation process in psychosocial occupational therapy. Observation of 19 therapists interviewing patients, detailed transcripts of those interviews, interviews with the therapists, and two questionnaires on therapists' beliefs and attitudes about psychosocial occupational therapy and mental illness were analyzed. Results suggested that the initial evaluation interview process varies in terms of content and format; links exist between interview formats and types of treatment programs; communication of therapist beliefs seems to be an important facet of the interview; as with other health professionals, much routinization seems to exist in clinical decision making; and the environment appears to be a more pervasive influence on clinical reasoning than personal beliefs and attitudes.