Sources of Stress and Coping Strategies in Basic Grade Occupational Therapists

Little research has been carried out investigating the sources of stress and methods of coping with them in recently qualified basic grade occupational therapists. A postal survey was conducted involving 80 basic grade occupational therapists nationwide who graduated in 1995. The results, from 62 respondents (78%), indicated that organisational issues were the most popular sources of stress, with ‘too much paperwork’, ‘limited resources for client/patient care’ and ‘staff shortages' being the top stressors. The findings suggest that many coping strategies are available to basic grades in the workplace, including formal supervision and informal support, and that they are using them.