An occupational therapy programme for a psychiatric day hospital : voice of occupational therapy practitioners and patients

Abstract

Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners play a critical role in supporting recovery from disruptions in occupational performance caused by mental illness, particularly within psychiatric day hospital settings. Despite this, there remains a notable absence of published evidence-based guidelines to inform the development and implementation of OT programmes in private psychiatric day hospitals in South Africa. This study aimed to evaluate an existing OT programme in such a setting, with the goal of informing the development of context-specific, evidence-based practice guidelines. A qualitative research design was employed to explore the perspectives of both OT practitioners and patients who participated in the programme. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged: (1) the competent facilitator with expertise in group dynamics; (2) the therapeutic group as a cohesive and healing entity; (3) the patient as a unique individual within the recovery process; and (4) the integration of evaluation, intervention and outcomes within a coherent therapeutic process. Findings demonstrated the therapeutic potential of group-based OT led by skilled facilitators, underscoring the importance of integrating clinical reasoning, patient-centred care and group dynamics expertise into programme delivery. The study contributes to the body of knowledge advocating for structured, evidence-based OT programmes in psychiatric day hospitals, tailored to both the therapeutic goals of practitioners and the recovery needs of patients. This research provides a foundation for the formulation of evidence-based guidelines that can strengthen OT practice in private psychiatric day hospital contexts, thereby promoting mental health recovery through structured and purposeful occupation.