This essay intends to compare and contrast three occupational therapy models.

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Assessment

BSc/BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Level 2

Kirsty P Gold OT2

This assignment is my own work.  It has not been, and will not be, presented for assessment for any other module or piece of work, which accrues credit for the award for which I am currently studying.

Kirsty P. Gold

Word count: 2300

This essay intends to compare and contrast three occupational therapy models.

The use of the word ‘model’ in O. T. language has not as of yet, had unified definitions.  "Authors all acknowledge that there are no fixed definitions and on the whole they appear to have ‘agreed to disagree’" (Hagedorn, 2001, p.21).  In this essay, Hagedorn’s definition has been utilised and three of the models that she has pin pointed as ‘O.T. Models’ will be compared and contrasted.  Hagedorn also links the ‘O.T. Models’, which are of similar time frame and concept as P.E.O.P. models.  This term she took from Christiansen and Baum’s (1997) title of model (Hagedorn, 2000, p.9).  The three models I have chosen are: Person Environment Occupational Performance (P.E.O.P.); Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (C.M.O.P.); and Competent Occupational Performance in the Environment (C.O.P.E.).  These models have been developed along the same time-scale and are representative of three different countries' theories of occupational therapy.

The P.E.O.P. was chosen to represent American theory as it has a clear presentation and can be applied to all age groups and is non-specific to a client group.  The model is clearly broken down into its elements and each is individually explained.  In this essay, it is intended to give a brief history of evolution, inspiration of the model and the theorists.  An explanation of how the model guides therapy will be given.    

American theorists Christensen and Baum first published P.E.O.P. model in 1991 and then re-published it in 1997 with some alterations.  Christensen and Baum have compared the model to the Ecological Systems Model by Howe and Briggs (1982, cited in Christiansen and Baum, 1997, p.48) and the Self-determination theory of Decit and Ryan (1991, cited in Christiansen and Baum, 1997, p.48) and stated that these models hold some similarities.  The P.E.O.P.  Model has also been built on previous scientific studies of occupation and rehabilitation (Christiansen and Baum, 1997, p. 49).  

The P.E.O.P. model is a conceptual framework that occupational therapists can use to support their practice.  It is made up of three major parts in the process: firstly, that allows consideration of the client’s characteristics; secondly, how these support optimal achievement in their activities of daily living and finally, their motivation.  The belief is that roles, activities, and tasks should be important to the person.  Successful achievement of personal goals and occupational performance shape the person and allows them to reach a sense of self-identity within themselves and the world.  It is also believed that intrinsic factors (psychological, cognitive, neurobehavioral, and physiological abilities) and extrinsic factors that involve their environment (physical, cultural, social, and society) are the core to either dysfunction or success of occupational performance.  

The PEOP approach to intervention follows a problem-solving model.  The process is:

  • Identification or referral of case
  • Screening + initial assessment
  • Determination of needs
  • Intervention plan
  • Intervention + formative assessment
  • Summative assessment
  • Termination of treatment
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(Christiansen and Baum, 1997, p.63)

During treatment, the therapist is to go back and forth between sections to allow adjustment and refinement.  Success is seen as an important element, as it is believed to increase self-esteem and the motivation to accept new challenges.  The use of adaptation and resources is a means of measuring success.

As with the P.E.O.P. model the C.M.O.P. will be explained in a similar manner.  However, the C.M.O.P. has its own assessment tool and this will be briefly described.  This model was chosen to represent Canada due to the uniqueness of its development.  Like the ...

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