Innovation and Development within Occupational Therapy (Fieldwork)

The student works independently and perform an occupational therapy process model with different user groups. The student is working evidence-based and focusing on project work, innovation and/or professional development.

An asterisk (*) in the learning outcome descriptions refers to § 7b and d, § 8a and b, § 9bd, § 11b, § 12a and b, § 14c, § 16c, d and f, § 17e, § 19a and b, § 20b and § 21a, in Regulations on National guidelines for occupational therapist training, which is based on regulations of 4. juli 2025 no.1478 on joint framework plan for health and social studies education § 2, and adapted to the education.

Knowledge

The student

• has broad knowledge of how people's activity, participation, and health influence each other and interact with the environment throughout their life span.
• has broad knowledge of therapeutic guidance, communication, ethics, and relationship-building, *(§ 7 d).
• has knowledge of client involvement in innovation and research.

Skills

The student

• can apply and documents an occupational therapy process with a high degree of independence.
• can promote client participation throughout the entire occupational therapy work process.
• can identify their own therapeutic style and applies different styles adapted to meet the clients’ needs.
• can distinguish between everyday communication and targeted, professional communication in interaction with users, next of kin, healthcare personnel, and other partners.
• can discuss how activity analysis can be implemented as part of service development at the individual, group, and/or system level.
• can assess the environment's impact on independence, health, and quality of life.
• can use therapeutic strategies appropriate to the situation and explains one's choice of strategies.
• can apply new knowledge and can make professional assessments, decisions, and carry out treatment in line with evidence-based practice, *(§ 20 b).
• can find and evaluate scientific literature relevant to their own professional practice.
• can explain the connection between political guidelines/legislation and the services offered at the fieldwork placement.

General Competence

The student

• can explain the use of innovative methods that contribute to service innovation and systematic quality improvement processes. *(§ 21 a).
• can follow the occupational therapists’ professional ethical guidelines to promote individuals’ right to activity and participation, *(§ 9 b).
• can convey, document, and promote occupational therapy professional practice, *(§ 9 c).
• can assess and prevent the risk of adverse events and is familiar with methods for systematic follow-up, *(§ 9 d).
• can plan and collaborate across disciplines, professions, sectors, and organizational levels, and initiates such collaboration, *(§ 12 b).

The course lasts 11 weeks, which consists of one week of preparatory learning with lectures, skill training, seminars and submissions, and 10 weeks of fieldwork. Additionally, there will be learning activities such as writing a logbook, supervision and oral presentation.

The course has longitudinal teaching. External fieldwork mainly take place in the municipal and specialist healthcare services (The Central Norway Health Trust and private specialist healthcare services), and with private service providers.