Occupational Therapy in Norway
In Norway occupational therapist must be licensed
by National Health Authorities after WFOT recognised training
to be entitled to practice in Norway (see link below). Law
protects the title Occupational Therapy (Ergoterapeut). Occupational
therapy education is regulated by Law of Higher Education
and Universities and quality ensured through National Standards
set by the Ministry of Higher Education. Norwegian citizens
are entitled to get treatment, rehabilitation and technical
aides paid by the Norwegian welfare system, which subsequently
include occupational therapy. The occupational therapist is
legally responsible for his or her own professional actions
with the duty to do written documentation of assessment and
intervention under the frame of common law for all health
professionals.
Nine out of ten occupational therapists work
for health-, social- and hospital services. More than half
of Norwegian occupational therapists work in community service
within primary care and one third in hospitals and institutions
for somatic and mental illness. Norwegian occupational therapists
work in a variety of settings including institutions with
geriatric care, disability rehabilitation, somatic and mental
hospitals, in primary care with social services for persons
with learning disabilities, in adult and paediatric rehabilitation,
in psychiatric in-patient and out-patient care, ergonomics,
technical aids centres, supported employment and labour market
institute. There is no tradition in Norway with private practice,
but a growing number of occupational therapist are working
with private counselling, ergonomics and health promotion.
Occupational therapy constitutes prevention
and treatment of occupational dysfunction. The occupational
therapist has extensive knowledge of the relation between
human function, environment and occupational performance.
The main objective in occupational therapy is to assist persons
in social participation and performance of daily activities
in play, work, leisure and self-maintenance. The main tasks
are health promotion and disease prevention, treatment, habilitation
and rehabilitation.
Health promotion and disease prevention
The occupational therapist knows
why occupational dysfunction and health risks occur, and can
give advice on how to prevent such problems. The occupational
therapist’s duty in primary care at home, at schools, in work
places and community is mainly preventive. This involves universal
design for participation, ergonomics, organising work environment
and prevention of accidents and heavy load. Some companies
have their own occupational therapist that gives advice on
how to promote health and to improve the environment and safety
in the work place.
Treatment
Most of the occupational therapist
that works in hospitals offers treatment of functions that
is fundamental for occupational performance. The occupational
therapist collaborate with clients in finding resources and
problems related to occupational performance which also include
a thorough examination of body and mental functions necessary
for occupational performance, including motor control, sensory
function, cognition etc. The type of treatment given depends
on the client’s resources and wishes. Creative and daily activities,
training and exercise, are among the types of treatment that
can be given. The treatment is given either individually or
in groups.
Habilitation
The training of children with different
dysfunctions to a best possible level of functionality is
called habilitation. This is interdisciplinary work where
the occupational therapist is part of a habilitation team.
Habilitation takes place in kindergartens, at home or schools,
at the hospitals and in special institutions. The occupational
therapist assesses the child abilities to play and perform
daily activities as well as sensory motor function and mental
function. The intervention includes technical aids, collaboration
with parents and teachers as well as intervention through
play i.e. sensory integration and motor control treatment
Rehabilitation
This is the area where most Norwegian
occupational therapists work. Rehabilitation is aimed at helping
persons with different dysfunctions so they can manage their
own life and participate in society. The aim of this process
is for the client to regain or preserve a best possible level
of functionality through learning and by using own resources.
The term rehabilitation is used about the work with clients
from 16-18 years of age to the end of life. The clients may
have been subject to accidents or disease. Occupational therapists
work with rehabilitation in the client’s home, work places,
in nursing homes and in special institutions. The intervention
includes technical aids, environmental adaptations, counselling
as well as direct intervention through ADL-training, vocational
training, and treatment of body and mental functions.
Norwegian occupational therapy
The Norwegian
Association of Occupational Therapists (NETF)
Work as an Occupational Therapist in Norway
Occupational
Therapy Training and Education
Occupational
Therapy Specialist
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