Experiences of Ethical Dilemmas by Occupational Therapists: A Focus Group Study

Background: Little is known about the ethical dilemmas that occupational therapists are facing, and it is imperative to explore the ethical dilemma experiences for establishment of ethical guidelines beyond the Code of Ethics. The objective of this study is to explore the experiences of ethical dilemmas faced by occupational therapists and the meaning of overcoming the conflicts. Methods: Two focus group interviews were used to collect the data from 12 occupational therapy clinicians for interpretative phenomenological analyzation. The analyzation took an interpretative approach to gain deeper understanding and meaning of the experiences. Twelve participants were recruited using convenience sampling method. Results: The data analysis resulted in three main themes: 1) striving for best practice, 2) lack of awareness in occupational therapy, and 3) barriers in policy regarding occupational therapy services. Conclusion: Ethical dilemmas encountered by the participants were results of attempting to provide best available practice and meant that they were putting great efforts to deliver services effectively and efficiently, and advocating for themselves were the main means of overcoming the dilemmas. A new guideline beyond the Code of Ethics that supports ethical decisions is needed.