The evaluation of the Occupational Engagement Framework and its application to people with dementia in a day care setting

Hampson, Caroline ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8838-603X (2021) The evaluation of the Occupational Engagement Framework and its application to people with dementia in a day care setting. Doctoral thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

The Occupational Engagement Framework was developed by Karen Morris (2012). The framework positions occupational engagement within a framework of values and consequences, and demonstrates the relationship between participation in occupations and the relationship of this to wellbeing over time. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether the Occupational Engagement Framework was applicable to people with dementia in a day care setting. An initial systematic literature review was completed to establish the current literature around dementia and the value and impact of occupation, which identified the importance and complexities of occupation for people with dementia. Following a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, observations and interviews were carried out with people at a specialist day care setting for people with dementia. Careful consideration was given to the inclusion of people with dementia to maximise their participation in the research process. This enabled participants to share their experiences, allowing a true understanding of their life world to be developed. Data was analysed using framework analysis, initially with the Occupational Engagement Framework as an a priori template for analysis. A second analysis of the data was completed to identify and analyse additional themes discussed by the participants.

The development of the Occupation in Dementia framework followed the second analysis. This framework re-positions the element of ‘value’, placing it with the occupation itself and not the participation, and proposes that occupational engagement is a spectrum of intensities which can be more positive or negative. This reflected the experiences of the participants, who identified that the value of an occupation is central to participation, engagement and consequences, being vital for supporting self and influencing a sense of wellbeing. The framework also identifies personal and occupational factors that affect whether an individual participates in an occupation and induces more positive or negative consequences accordingly. This research further strengthens the argument of the importance of occupation to people with dementia, identifying the significance of this to self-identity, purpose in life and wellbeing. The resulting framework can be used by therapists in a day care setting to analyse participation and engagement in occupations to ensure that the best possible consequences are achieved, and wellbeing increased or maintained.

Item Type:	Thesis/Dissertation (Doctoral)
Departments:	Institute of Health > Rehabilitation and Sport Science
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	01 Apr 2022 15:05
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2024 12:31
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/6412

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