Uncovering the foundational heritage of Irish occupational therapy

Background: This study arose from a wider University of Limerick, Clinical Therapies Departmental project, seeking to plot Irish occupational therapy history. Dr. Eamonn O’Sullivan’s, “ A Textbook of Occupational Therapy with Chief Reference to Psychological Medicine” emerged as a primary document outlining occupational therapy in Ireland at the beginning of the 20th Century. Objective: The study aims to identify the philosophical assumptions of occupational therapy articulated within Dr. O’Sullivan Textbook. In an effort to cement Dr. O’ Sullivan’s position within Irish occupational therapy heritage the Textbook is reviewed as a document of historical merit. Methods: Historical documentary analysis of the Textbook, viewed as a primary source of data ensued. A pertinent dataset of eleven chapters was identified after external criticism and Textbook familiarisation. Inductive thematic analysis, at semantic level then followed. Results: Analysis revealed four themes: process and outcome of occupational therapy, consequences of occupational engagement, classification of occupation form and the person. Conclusion: The identified themes enunciated the contradictory philosophical assumptions of pragmatism and structuralism, orthodox philosophies guiding occupational therapy’s evolution. Analysis promotes the Textbook’s relevance in the profession’s contemporary education and practice. Modern Irish occupational therapy University programmes have to date limited the exploration of activity analysis and skilled occupation use, skills deemed paramount within the Textbook. Furthermore, analysis highlights the Textbook’s richness, acknowledging the vast future areas of study. Specifically in relation to fellow early occupational therapy textbooks and within the contextual (political, social, cultural, religion) factors influential in Irish society during this period.