Howlett, Fiona Katherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9957-1908 (2022) ‘It’s like hope in a dark room’: a phenomenological study of Occupational Therapy Students’ experiences of participating in Students as Co- Researcher projects with asylum seekers and refugees. Doctoral thesis, York St John University.

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Abstract

This study adopted an interpretivist phenomenological design to determine the value and meaning of participating in a Students as Co-Researcher’s project with asylum seekers and refugees. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with eighteen participants who had taken part in one of three projects as pre-registration occupational therapy students. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Key findings were that students valued working together as part of a supportive team. Enabling meaningful occupation provided a means to work with asylum seekers and refugees using purposeful creative activities. Developing a sense of cultural awareness aided the students’ understanding of the importance of connectivity and collectivism in different cultures. The projects had a significant impact on the students’ professional identity and current role.

Recommendations are to encourage occupational therapy pre-registration students to engage in Students as Co-Researchers’ projects to develop their research skills and contribute to the evidence base for occupational therapy, occupational science, and social justice. Working alongside other health and social care professions in the research projects would provide valuable interprofessional learning, offer greater diversity of thought and broader interpretation of findings.

Despite growing numbers of asylum seekers and refugees in the United Kingdom and around the world, there are few occupational therapy posts in this area of practice. Posts that are available tend to be in the third sector, are not occupational therapy specific and are poorly paid. Occupational therapists should collaborate with asylum seekers and refugees to act as advocates in the design and delivery of services and to develop and influence policy at a local, national, and international level. Staff need to be trained to develop cultural humility in their practice and to develop a range of culturally appropriate assessments. Occupational therapy has a clear role in this developing area of practice.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Status:	Published
Subjects:	R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology > RM695 Physical therapy. Occupational therapy
School/Department:	School of Education, Language and Psychology
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/8702

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