An empirical investigation into the role of values in occupational therapy decision-making

摘要: The importance of values in occupational therapy is generally agreed, however there no consensus about their nature or influence on practice. It widely assumed that therapists hold and act a body shared values, yet lack evidence to support this. The research tested the hypothesis therapists’ responses ethically challenging situations would reveal common specific profession. 156 were asked decide what should be done 5 common-place complex situations, presented as scenarios for debate. The results show while most share very general they frequently disagree do practice often justifying choices with different sometimes conflicting values. In some cases, same respondents espouse contradictory similar situations. The extensive literature decision-making - together study’s – confirm when make decisions, draw multiple factors, consciously unconsciously. These factors vary between individuals. Value judgements are one part only process which includes personal experience, intuition, social influences, culture, psychological influences relationships both colleagues clients.