The Perceived Role of Occupational Therapists in Climate Change

Introduction. In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that climate change would cause thousands of additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone between the years of 2030 and 2050. With such health consequences and environmental changes, climate change is impacting human occupations globally. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the occupational therapists' role in climate change, particularly in the Canadian context. Objectives. Our research aimed to explore what is the perceived role of occupational therapists in climate change and climate action from the perspective of Canadian occupational therapists and international experts. Methods. This qualitative study used interpretive description methodology. We recruited 12 occupational therapists, including 4 research experts in the field. We conducted semi-structured interviews with each participant. Data were analyzed thematically. Results. This study uncovered three themes that focused on the complex interconnections between climate challenges and climate actions that occupational therapists are wrestling with personally, clinically, and professionally. Specifically, this study emphasized the importance of supporting individual occupational therapists with their personal challenges, integrating climate actions into clinical practices, and incorporating climate change and climate justice into occupational therapy curricula and professional advocacy. Conclusions. The environment, including the planet's ecosystem, is a fundamental component in many models of occupational therapy practice. This research provides a rich understanding in the themes of occupational therapists' perceptions of climate change and climate actions, particularly within a Canadian context. Introduction. En 2022, l'Organisation mondiale de la sant & eacute; (OMS) a pr & eacute;dit qu'entre 2030 et 2050, les changements climatiques entra & icirc;neraient des milliers de d & eacute;c & egrave;s suppl & eacute;mentaires dus & agrave; la malnutrition, au paludisme, & agrave; la diarrh & eacute;e et au stress thermique. Avec de telles cons & eacute;quences sur la sant & eacute; en plus des changements environnementaux, le changement climatique affecte les occupations humaines & agrave; l'& eacute;chelle mondiale. Cependant, il y a des lacunes dans la litt & eacute;rature concernant le r & ocirc;le des ergoth & eacute;rapeutes dans les changements climatiques, particuli & egrave;rement dans le contexte canadien. Objectifs . Notre recherche vise & agrave; explorer le r & ocirc;le per & ccedil;u des ergoth & eacute;rapeutes dans le changement climatique et l'action climatique du point de vue des ergoth & eacute;rapeutes canadiens et des experts internationaux. M & eacute;thodologie . Cette & eacute;tude qualitative a recours & agrave; une m & eacute;thodologie de description interpr & eacute;tative. Nous avons recrut & eacute; 12 ergoth & eacute;rapeutes, dont quatre chercheurs experts dans le domaine. Nous avons men & eacute; des entretiens semi-structur & eacute;s avec chaque participant. Les donn & eacute;es ont & eacute;t & eacute; analys & eacute;es th & eacute;matiquement. R & eacute;sultats . Cette & eacute;tude a permis de mettre en relief trois th & egrave;mes ax & eacute;s sur les interconnexions complexes entre les d & eacute;fis climatiques et les actions climatiques auxquelles les ergoth & eacute;rapeutes sont confront & eacute;s sur les plans personnel, clinique et professionnel Plus pr & eacute;cis & eacute;ment, cette & eacute;tude souligne l'importance de soutenir les ergoth & eacute;rapeutes individuellement dans leurs d & eacute;fis personnels, d'int & eacute;grer les actions climatiques dans les pratiques cliniques et d'int & eacute;grer les changements climatiques et la justice climatique dans les programmes d'ergoth & eacute;rapie et la d & eacute;fense des droits et int & eacute;r & ecirc;ts professionnels. Conclusions . L'environnement, y compris l'& eacute;cosyst & egrave;me de la plan & egrave;te, est une composante fondamentale de nombreux mod & egrave;les de pratique de l'ergoth & eacute;rapie. Cette recherche offre une riche compr & eacute;hension des th & egrave;mes qui ressortent des perceptions des ergoth & eacute;rapeutes & agrave; l'& eacute;gard des changements climatiques et de l'action climatique, particuli & egrave;rement dans le contexte canadien.