Describing patterns of daily occupations - A methodological study comparing data from four different methods.

• The importance of patterns of daily occupations to health has been emphasised ever since occupational therapy was founded, but little is known about this relationship. The aim of this study was to describe in detail one woman’s pattern of daily occupations as an initial step in developing strategies for further studies of patterns of daily occupations. Four different methods were used, one on each of four days. Three types of occupations were discerned; main occupations, hidden occupations, and unexpected occupations, which intertwined and formed an occupational pattern. The occupations were, in turn, composed of actions. Using the diary method gave an overall picture of main occupations during a whole day. Direct observation and video-recorded observation added additional information about the actions that were the building blocks of the occupations, as well as about hidden and unexpected occupations. The fourth method, a variant of the experience sampling method, gave deeper knowledge about the informant’s reflections when performing an occupation. It was assumed that a detailed description of patterns of occupation is needed to understand its relationship to health. Therefore, if the diary method is used, it has to be combined with a subsequent interview. Direct observation was the single method that best captured the complexity of the pattern of daily occupations as captured in this study.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsterapi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Therapy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

occupational categories

occupational patterns

daily occupation

occupational categories

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)