OTs encouraged to take part in survey about coronavirus’ impact on occupational therapy profession

A new survey has launched to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on occupational therapists (OTs) and their profession, including practice, education and research.

The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) is asking members to participate in its survey to see how the pandemic is affecting members’ work and the different ways they’re responding to it.

During the coronavirus pandemic, many healthcare professionals, including OTs, have been required to work in different ways to respond to the global crisis. For instance, OTs may have: been redeployed to another team, re-joined the workforce following retirement, been asked to carry out video assessments, or taken on new leadership responsibilities.

The survey asks members how the coronavirus impact has impacted their role as an OT and explores how these changes make the professionals feel. It also looks at how the delivery of occupational therapy services might have changed, such as seeing clients less frequently, providing information via leaflets and changing the way services are delivered due to PPE considerations.

In addition, the survey also considers how the COVID-19 outbreak has changed OTs’ professions for the better, with new ways of delivering services being adopted in response to the crisis.

Members’ feedback will be used to shape how RCOT supports them and how the college will promote occupational therapy.

RCOT is encouraging all its members, including practitioners delivering frontline services, students, educators and researchers as well as those who have retired and returned to the workforce, to complete the survey.

The survey is now live and RCOT members can participate here: https://rcot-surveys.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/rcot-covid-survey

The deadline for responding is the 10th of July at 5pm.