| A multiple-case-study, embedded design was used to gain insight into the tasks and roles of occupational therapy support personnel (SP), as well as the process of role negotiation, and role setting from the viewpoint of occupational therapists, case managers, managers and the support personnel themselves. The community case (n = 19) and the hospital case (n = 8) consisted of twenty-seven informants. This case study used five data collection methods. The ordinal data were analysed using frequencies and percentages. The qualitative, descriptive data were analysed using a qualitative software package (QSR NUD*IST V4.0).;The findings indicated that SP role sets were affected by internal and external influences such as personal skills and organizational structure. Although community SP were found to have diverse task and role sets resulting from their involvement with physiotherapy and speech-language pathology in addition to occupational therapy (OT), compared to the hospital SP who focused on tasks and roles solely related to occupational therapy (OT), the fundamental roles were similar. Furthermore, the role negotiation process was identified as having impact on role setting in the areas of training programs, supervision, team dynamics and service delivery.;Study conclusions were that SP are viewed as beneficial and necessary in OT service delivery and that multidisciplinary standardized training programs and professional regulation for SP is necessary to decrease role ambiguity, to facilitate the role setting process and to enhance the cost-effective use of SP. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
