Occupational therapists' knowledge, attitudes and practices in facilitating reasonable accommodation for employees with major depressive disorder

Abstract

Introduction Major depressive disorder is forecast to become the leading burden of disease in 2030. Occupational therapists have a pivotal role to play in facilitating reasonable accommodations for employees with major depressive disorder. Even though reasonable accommodations have been mandatory for the past 22 years in South Africa, few occupational therapy studies have addressed the implementations and outcomes of reasonable accommodations in the workplace for employees with major depressive disorder. Aims The aim of the study was to explore and describe occupational therapists’ knowledge, attitudes and practices in facilitating reasonable accommodations for employees with major depressive disorder. Research design The researcher employed an explorative descriptive contextual design from a social constructivist paradigm.

Methods The study was done in Gauteng, focusing on occupational therapists working in mental health, performing return-to-work and/or vocational rehabilitation during data collection for this study. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling were used to recruit research participants. The researcher used one-on-one semi-structured interviews to collect data. Inductive thematic analysis according to Creswell, was used to analyse data.

Findings Five themes were: (1) collaborative approach, (2) dynamic process of reasonable accommodation, (3) enablers of successful reasonable accommodations, (4) challenges of reasonable accommodations, and (5) proficiencies of occupational therapists.

Conclusion The study found that occupational therapists play an integral part in the collaborative approach during facilitation of reasonable accommodation During collaboration, employee’s limitations and abilities to perform a specific job are discussed and confidentiality must be maintained. The occupational therapist presents recommended reasonable accommodation during the discussion.

Key terms: occupational therapist, knowledge, attitudes, practices, reasonable accommodation, major depressive disorder.