Free Health Dissertations - Overview There Is Ample Empirical Evidence That Environmental And Cultural
Overview
There is ample empirical evidence that environmental and cultural factors influence occupational performance (e.g. Hancock & Vasmatzidis, 1998; Polatajko et al, 2000; Rebeiro, 2001; Buchan, 2002; Bjorklund & Henriksson, 2003; Chiang & Carlson, 2003; Satink et al, 2004). This essay considers task performance within a public health/academic setting. The discussion is structured around Chapparo and Ranka's (1997; Chapparo & Hooper, 2002) Occupational Performance Model (OPM). Occupational performance is defined as "the ability to perceive, desire, recall, plan and carry out roles, routines, tasks and sub-tasks for the purpose of self-maintenance, productivity, leisure and rest in response to demands of the internal and/or external environment" (Chapparo & Ranka, 1997, p.4). The OPM emphasises the impact of environmental, occupational, and personal factors. Culture is one of several environmental features specified.
Task - Problem Solving
As a public health expert working in an academic setting, my role is ‘productivity' oriented (Chapparo & Ranka, 1997, p.7); my primary task is to provide services to the local community, notably teaching and clinical research. Both routines require a considerable degree of cognitive and interpersonal proficiency. For example, it is essential to have good memory and reasoning skills when delivering a clinical presentation or writing a research paper. Additionally both roles frequently entail face-to-face discussions with an individual or group. There is usually ample to time to make the necessary preparations and hence perform optimally on these tasks. However, problems do arise from time to time. For example, a clinical research assistant who I had employed to help run a research project on breast cancer was asked to prepare two research reports on specific aspects of breast cancer epidemiology. Unfortunately both reports were substandard and hence awarded a poor percentage mark. A potential problem arose when the assistant became seriously disheartened about her poor performance and began to question her ability to complete the project successfully. She was now on the verge of resigning and requested a meeting to confirm her intentions.
Losing the assistant at this stage would have seriously jeopardised the project there was no provision in the budget for recruiting a replacement. Although her report-writing skills were questionable she was an excellent data analyst and presenter, and was highly proficient at conducting literature reviews. Successful resolution of this problem (i.e. convincing her not to leave) was going to require cognitive proficiency in problem solving (e.g., surveying the various options, and appraising their costs and benefits), as well as good interpersonal skills cooperation (ability to compromise, negotiate), empathy (trying to see things from her point of view), and good verbal and non verbal communication (being polite, eye contact, smiling).
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