Exploration of the relevance and quality of occupational therapy training programs in Latin American countries

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational therapy training programs in Latin America were created in the 1950s. Their curricula are designed to identify and respond to local needs in accordance with principles of quality and social relevance, based on studies on training conducted since 2014. However, there is still no overall picture of academic programs in the region. Objective: To describe the characteristics that contribute to the relevance and quality of undergraduate occupational therapy training programs in Latin America. Methodology: Exploratory study with a hermeneutic perspective, in four phases: program updates, website searches, online questionnaire, processing, and analysis. Results: We identified 142 undergraduate programs in 15 countries, offered by 123 higher education institutions, 57% private and 43% public, with 53% programs approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). The curricula range from 5 to 10 semesters, with a bachelor’s degree for 8 semesters and a professional degree for 9 or 10 semesters. Fifty-four percent of teachers have specialized training and 25% have a master’s or doctoral degree. Conclusions: Undergraduate academic programs in occupational therapy in the region are mainly represented by Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia, in urban areas and identified in medical fields, with curriculum structures according to WFOT guidelines, where the main resource is the teacher, advancing in terms of specialization and training.