Becoming an occupational therapist: perceived influence of international fieldwork placements on clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Many occupational therapy programs have augmented curricula to provide students with opportunities to engage in international fieldwork placements (IFPs). However, limited research exists exploring the perceived influence that IFPs may have on future occupational therapy roles and characteristics. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore how Canadian occupational therapists who participated in IFPs as students perceive the influence of their IFP experience on their subsequent practice. METHOD: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 occupational therapists who participated in IFPs as occupational therapy students. The interview guide was developed based on the Profile of Occupational Therapy Practice in Canada and relevant literature. A directed content analysis was used in conjunction with the DEPICT model of data analysis to guide the analysis process and summarize the results. FINDINGS: Participants described how IFPs nurtured the development of six skills, or active ingredients, which supported the development of competence in occupational therapy roles. IFPs were also perceived as providing a competitive edge. IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that IFPs shape the development of competence in key practice skills and occupational therapy roles.

Children with disabilities in low-income countries.

Disability is a major public health concern worldwide and the situation for children with disabilities is even more serious. The present article will focus on the issue of children with disabilities in low-income countries. Approximately one-third of the world's disabled population is children and many of these disabling conditions are preventable. In Africa, one the foremost causes of disability is infectious and communicable disease; the incidence of these diseases have been greatly reduced or eliminated in higher income countries. Other causes include war, trauma, accidents, and congenital and noninfectious diseases. The recent HIV/AIDS epidemic has further contributed to the prevalence of disability because many people living with HIV develop different types of impairments and functional limitations. Community-based rehabilitation is one approach that has been used in many low-income countries and which often focuses on children and their families. The work of one organization providing community-based rehabilitation in Tanzania is highlighted. The experiences of the coauthors in their work in Tanzania provide some field examples. For those readers who would like to become involved in international health, opportunities for engagement are described, including short-and long-term volunteer service or research experiences.