• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.54-68
• /
• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to explore the clinical experiences of occupational therapists who have transitioned from adult to child occupational therapy to provide a basis for developing programs to facilitate rapid clinical adjustment for transitioning occupational therapists. Method : Telephone interviews and Colaizzi's phenomenological research method were employed. The interviewees were six occupational therapists with at least three years of clinical experience who had transitioned from hospital-based adult occupational therapy to sensory integration-focused children's occupational therapy. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed with the participants' consent. Results : The analysis of the interview transcripts yielded 3 categories, 7 themes, and 17 meanings. The three categories were the challenges facing transitioning occupational therapists in clinical practice, the strengths gained from their post-transition clinical experiences, and the facilitators needed before the transition to ensure quick clinical adjustment. Conclusion : Training and institutional arrangements must be in place to ensure that adult occupational therapists transitioning to sensory integration-focused child occupational therapy can quickly adapt clinically and professionally to their new environments.