Refining the first Global Strategy for the Occupational Therapy Workforce: results from a mixed-methods survey and multimodal expert feedback

Abstract

Abstract Background The occupational therapy workforce remains underdeveloped and inequitably distributed, against the backdrop of increasing population needs. The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) led a multistage development process to launch the first global strategy for this workforce. An initial draft Strategy was previously reviewed for utility by country representatives, then redrafted. Here, we assess the perceived utility of the redrafted Strategy for refinements before its launch. Methods Mixed-methods online survey of country representatives (e.g., delegates to the WFOT) complemented by experts’ feedback, including from outside the profession. The survey asked for a utility rating (0–10) for each strategic direction (n = 7) and associated specific actions (total n = 21). A comment box was provided for scoring rationale, concerns, or improvement suggestions. Experts that were previously engaged in a situational analysis provided improvement suggestions for the Strategy, first in writing individually and then through an online focus group. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics (e.g., average scores > 8 considered high) and thematic analyses. Results Forty-five country representatives (45%) completed the surveys, 40% from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). All major strategies (average ranges: [9.13–9.33]; SD ranges: [0.80–1.20]) and specific strategies (average ranges: [8.29–9.33]; SD ranges: [0.87–2.03]) received high utility scores. The mode value was “10” for all items. From the survey comments, the central theme was: “account for context-sensitive priorities”. From the experts’ feedback, the central theme was: “provide additional framing”, such as contextualizing the Strategy as a global framework that helps guide but does not dictate local priorities or action plans. Conclusions The strategies for the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce were positively appraised by country representatives. Altogether, the multimethod, multi-stakeholder evaluation helped refine the Strategy and tailor its report according to the feedback of global experts and its potential end-users. It also provided insights on the need for context-specific implementation plans.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Human Resources for Health, 2026 · DOI ↗