Occupational therapy and professional object: theoretical-practical conceptions of professionals in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: In Brazilian occupational therapy, various ways of expressing and understanding its object of intervention and its constituent elements are observed. However, the literature reveals a scarce production of studies on how occupational therapists in practice describe and conceptualize this work object, especially considering experiences in other regions of the country, distinct from the Southeast region. Objective: To identify how occupational therapists working in northeastern Brazil describe the professional object of occupational therapy. Method: This is a qualitative, exploratory study conducted between September and November 2022 with 33 professionals from various fields of intervention. Data were collected using a semi-structured online questionnaire and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: The occupational therapists described the professional object based on their professional role and its purpose, highlighting the competencies and responsibilities of occupational therapy. These professionals also used a variety of terms to name and characterize their work object in practice, such as occupation, human doing, occupational performance, practical activities, among others. Conclusion: Although the term “occupation” stood out in their discourses, it did not always align directly with consistent theoretical, methodological, or practical frameworks. The practical experience of the occupational therapists in this study proved to be the main foundation for explaining their professional know-how.