| Occupational Therapists are concerned with the | | | | According to WHO (1986), health is the extent to |
| engagement of persons in meaningful and | | | | which an individual or group is able, on one hand, |
| purposeful occupations in ADLs, work and play. | | | | to realize aspirations and satisfy needs, and one |
| Occupations are goal-directed pursuits which | | | | another hand, to change or cope with the |
| typically extend over time, have meaning to the | | | | environment. |
| performer, and involves mutiple tasks. (AOTA, | | | | Thus, the unique contribution of occupational |
| 1995). They are 'the ordinary and familiar things | | | | therapy is to maximize the fit between what is |
| that people do everyday.' | | | | the individual's wants and needs to do and his or |
| Functioning in one's roles, such as being a parent, | | | | her capabilities to do it (Baum & Christiansen, |
| employee or student, depends on successful | | | | 1997). The resources of the client when coupled |
| performance of multiple occupations. Used in this | | | | with the skilled intervention of the occupational |
| manner, the term occupation is more | | | | therapist often can effectively resolve |
| comprehensive than the conventional usage by | | | | health-related functional performance limitation |
| the public as referring only to one's vocation. | | | | (Baum & Christiansen, 1997). |
| Participation restrictions, activity limitations and | | | | Occupational therapists are experts in |
| impairments or risks for these problems may | | | | understanding the multidimensional nature of |
| constrain, restrict, or reduce engagement in | | | | occupations and their impact on health. They use |
| occupations, thus contributing to a lifestyle of | | | | two clinical reasoning tools in recommending a a |
| inactivity that may lead to further physical, | | | | program of intervention to improve occupational |
| cognitive, and psychological complications and | | | | performance, which includes tasks and activity |
| eventual decline in health. | | | | analysis (Watson, 1997). |