Occupational therapy in times of pandemic: repercussions of professional community practice

Abstract

Introduction: Since the curricular reform of 2004, the occupational therapy community practice of Universidad del Valle has been conducting face-to-face activities in Cali, Colombia, specifically in the territory of commune 20 and the corregimiento of Los Andes. However, at the beginning of 2020, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of mandatory preventive social distancing measures. As a result, the team of teachers and students in the occupational therapy community practice decided to develop strategies that would allow them to maintain interaction with the groups through technology-assisted presence, utilizing virtual platforms both synchronously and asynchronously. Objective: To document the experience in the occupational therapy community practice and report the actions taken during the period of confinement that facilitated the establishment and/or maintenance of the workgroups. Method: Compilation and analysis of the records from students before 2019 (in-person interactions) and during 2020 (remote interactions). Results: The onset of the pandemic brought about changes in the approach to the community practice areas of focus (early childhood, schoolchildren, and adults) as a transition from face-toface to virtual interactions became necessary. This transition involved the implementation of strategies that would allow continuing the interaction of the groups, synchronous and asynchronous virtual meetings, as well as the creation of programs such as “Everyone has an opinion: dialoguing about OT in the community” and a writing program. Conclusion: During the pandemic period, two challenges were identified. The first challenge was the disparity in the access to and utilization of technology, and the second challenge was the establishment and/or sustainability of the community by the principles outlined in the community approach.