Occupational Therapy Graduate Students’, Recent Graduates’, and Educators’ Perceptions of the Value of Anatomy Knowledge

This non-experimental descriptive survey study examined the relationship between occupational therapy (OT) graduate students’, recent graduates’, and educators' values of the regional and specific anatomy knowledge required for OT clinical practice. The researcher collected survey data from 94 OT graduate students, recent graduates, and educators at a private university. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics used to analyze the value of anatomical regions and structures and a one-way ANOVA with a post-hoc Tukey to compare the group means on the value of anatomical structures. Results revealed that the regions of the highest value were the back and spine, thorax, and head and neck. The results further revealed that the anatomical structures of the highest value generally included skeletal, muscular, and nervous system structures. Structures rated with the least value included abdominal and reproductive viscera. Statistically significant results revealed that generally, OT graduate students found anatomy knowledge of greater value than recent OT graduates and educators. The results suggest a gap between OT anatomy education and the anatomy needed for OT clinical practice. This study helps educators better understand the education practice gap and provides data on the anatomical knowledge that the prospective groups find valuable for competent clinical practice.