Preparing students for practice in a changing community environment: An innovative course

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of an innovative course in community occupational therapy. The course emphasises and prepares students for community practice in an environment profoundly affected by ongoing changes in Canada's health and social systems. Its rationale, objectives, structure, and content are outlined. In particular, the paper highlights the in vivo, problem-based component of the course, which centres around community-based fieldwork. A summary of the major results of the evaluation of the course is also presented. Although this course was designed for Canadian occupational therapy students, much of the mate' rial presented is potentially useful to educators of occupational therapy students in other countries. J 996 © Whurr Publishers Ltd.