Application of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and Evidence-based Practice in a Clinical Situation

Occupational Therapy has a unique focus on human functioning and views human function not merely as a physiological/ physically observable occurrence. It also acknowledges function as the resultant of interactions of several internal factors present within the person, and external factors such as the environment and socio-cultural constructs. In 2002, the American Occupational Therapy Association published a document called the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process. It detailed the profession's unique focus on human occupation as it relates to all activities of daily living and its core values, beliefs and processes to facilitate optimal human occupation. This article explores the applicability of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and principles of evidence-based practice in a clinical scenario. Although, the article is based against the backdrop of the United States healthcare system (only as applied to insurance policies and payment for services), one may easily generalize the applicability of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, and evidenced-based principles in their practice globally.