ABSTRACT

Objective : This study was conducted to diagnose the competency level of occupational therapists and analyze the difference among variables. Methods : We used the competency index for occupational therapists, developed by Ku (2014), to conduct the competency level diagnosis. After making the survey questionnaires, we conducted the survey directly or via email with 337 respondents. We analyzed the importance of the competency level and the difference in competency retention level, and verified the difference among variables including gender and the type of working hospital. Results : The importance of the competency level rated by occupational therapists was the high level of mid-point 4, whereas the competency retention level rated by occupational therapists themselves was generally lower than the importance level (3 point for 50s and above). After analyzing the difference among variables, we found that male therapists had a higher consciousness expertise and self-management competency than female therapists, and the therapists with more than 3 years of experiences had a higher rating in terms of theoretical knowledge, performance, and self-management. We also found that the therapists with a Master’s degree or higher, and aged 30 years or older, generally had a higher competency retention level. Conclusion : This study will be used as basic data to maintain and develop the competencies through a selfdiagnosis of the importance of the competency index and competency retention level for occupational therapists. In addition, this study will also provide the direction of educational content necessary for the continuing education of occupational therapists.