FEATURE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY WEEK 2021
Ensuring equal access , outcomes and opportunities
We hear from Sherri Kapadia , who is on the panel for the # OTsForEquity : Launch event
OTnews : What does health equity mean to you ? Sherri Kapadia : Allocating resources to ensure there is equal access , outcomes , and opportunities to engage in occupations for all individuals .
OTnews : What are the main factors that stop a person from achieving their best health ? Sherri Kapadia : The lack of action taken by services to tackle the social determinants of health that may be perpetuating disease . As well as the focus on living with or curing a disease instead of promoting healthy habits across one ’ s lifespan .
OTnews : As occupational therapists ( or AHPs ) we know that working towards tackling the factors that create health inequality is the way forward , but how do we achieve this as a profession ? Sherri Kapadia : We move to collaborate with and learn from services that tackle various social determinants of health , such as socioeconomic positions or early life . As a profession , we should attempt to use our unique skill set , such as our occupational focus or advocacy skills , to support these services or broaden their reach .
OTnews : Can you give us some examples of work that occupational therapists can do to support people with specific needs and to help promote health equity ? Sherri Kapadia : Occupational therapists may work with asylumseeking or refugee communities to support their resettlement into a host country . In addition , occupational therapists may work to enable asylum seekers and refugees to navigate complex health services . In doing so , occupational therapists may improve the accessibility of health services so that individuals can seek intervention ( including preventative treatment ) within a good time frame .
A second example would be that occupational therapists may empower young asylum seekers and refugees to access employment and social participation opportunities . In doing so , they can attempt to promote their wellbeing and help them live healthy , productive life ’ s .
OTnews : How are you promoting health equity in your professional role ? Sherri Kapadia : As a student , I attempt to promote health equity by actively listening to the individuals and communities that have been deprived of accessing occupational therapy services or have not received the same interventions outcomes .
Personally , I have endeavoured to do this by reading key reports from the Kings Fund , talking to clients and staff on placement and through my volunteering at the Refugee Council . I try to use my assignments to challenge these inequitable ways of working and debate viable solutions . I hope that in doing so , I can bring both an informed and equitable perspective to my future practice .
Sherri Kapadia , student occupational therapist
Digital technology and health equity
We talk to Suzy England about what health equity means in terms of the digital technology agenda
Health equity in relation to working with digital tools means taking the time to find out if these tools make it easier or harder for people to access your services . Some common digital accessibility problems are connectivity , access to a device , digital literacy skills alongside the usability of the tool . When considering accessibility , you need to think about all the people who might need to use these tools , for example work colleagues , as well as people who access your service .
When it comes to the main factors that stop a person from achieving their best health , in a nutshell , providing information or a service that digitally excludes some people can lead to poor health outcomes .
No assumptions can be made about digital accessibility , anybody can experience problems with being able to finance a data plan or device , as well contextual factors like not having a safe or designated space to talk confidentially .
Occupational therapists are well positioned to think about how factors that relate to People ( P ) Environment ( E ) and Occupation ( O ) stop a person from achieving their best health in an increasingly digitalised society .
When it comes to tackling health inequalities as a profession , all occupational therapists are trained to think about the multiple factors that impact on performance . We are therefore well positioned to use this knowledge and experience in our own organisations and champion digital inclusion .
We need to take time to listen and work collaboratively with people who access / or could benefit from accessing occupational therapy services . Members of RCOT have provided some great examples of how they have done this in their workplaces – so check out the digital occupational therapy topic page : https :// bit . ly / 3uIR7yU .
Suzy England , RCOT professional adviser – health informatics
16 OTnews October 2021