Themes of Meaning: Occupational Therapists' Perspectives on Practice

As part of the broad effort in occupational therapy to define directions for future education and practice, a pilot study was conducted that focused on the meanings therapists find within their practice. Using a phenomenological approach, therapists were asked to describe their most satisfying practice experience. Five primary themes of meaning in occupational therapy were derived from the pilot data: Making a Difference, Being Valued by Others, Sense of Initiative, Sense of Inventiveness, and Agreeableness. These preliminary findings are discussed as they relate to previous research of job satisfaction in occupational therapy. Implications for occupational therapy and questions to be addressed in an expanded study are presented.