ABSTRACT

Objective : The purposes of this study were to analyze the duties of occupational therapists through the DACUM method, and to present the importance and frequency of the main duties and tasks currently conducted in Korea. Methods : The DACUM method was used to achieve an analysis of the duties of Korean occupational therapists in the present day. In order to achieve this analysis, a DACUM committee was created, a job analysis was executed through a DACUM workshop, and a survey was conducted on 252 Korean occupational therapists working in metropolitan areas in order to analyze the order of priority for all tasks. Results : This study defined the task of occupational therapists and presented 4 duties (assessment, treatment, education, administration and management) and 21 tasks. Important items in each duty among all tasks were decided by conducting a survey in the job analysis committee, which included presenting an interpretation of the results of a duty assessment, execution of treatment, patient and guardian education, and document administration and management, thus coinciding with the order of priority in all duties excluding education. However, the importance of tasks presented a difference according to job factors, such as rank, career, and work classification. Conclusions : The results of this study will be of help for the development of a university curriculum and an improvement in the continuing education content of special interest sections.