Document Type
Paper
Publication Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Faculty Mentor
Kelly McGloon
Abstract
Importance: Occupational Therapists (OTs) require a conceptual model that guides their individual and holistic professional development in a way that aligns with the fundamental values of our profession.
Objective: A needs assessment gathered insights from stakeholders regarding current professional development and mentorship practices and areas of need to aid in developing a conceptual model, the Mauna Model. Following the development of the Mauna Model, the usability of the model and its benefit to the occupational therapy profession were measured.
Design: Mixed-Method.
Participants: Licensed OT professionals (OT/OTA) with various experience levels and roles; OT/OTA students.
Outcomes and Measures: The finalized structure, metaphor, visual representations, and application tools of the Mauna Model were evaluated using a mixed-methods survey. This survey incorporated questions from the User Experience Questionnaire, Short Version (UEQ-S) and questions designed to measure individual aspects of the Mauna Model. It aimed to gather quantitative and qualitative feedback on the usability of the Mauna Model.
Results: A needs assessment surveyed 404 total participants, with data saturation reaching 92% regarding the structure, including the components and subcomponents, of the Mauna Model. Following the development of the structure, metaphor, visual representations, and applications of the Mauna Model using quantitative and qualitative data from the needs assessment survey, the usability of the model was measured using a new survey to assess the usability of the model. A total of 101 respondents then completed the usability survey and rated the Mauna Model high in hedonic quality (M=2.043; SD=0.833), pragmatic quality (mean=2.212; SD=0.853), and overall quality (mean=2.127; SD=0.791). Additionally, the usability of the individual aspects of the Mauna Model was rated above 6.0 on a 7-point Likert scale, indicating a perception of high usability overall for each item measured when considering all stakeholder groups combined.
Conclusions and Relevance: The findings indicate that OT professionals and students resonated with the metaphor and visuals of the Mauna Model and found the structure and application tools helpful for professional development. Additionally, they indicated that they were likely to implement the model into practice and found it beneficial to the profession of occupational therapy. The Mauna Model can be used to develop more confident and competent OT professionals, strengthening our profession and our position as an integral part of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Plain-Language Summary: The Mauna Model provides our profession with an accessible, conceptual model that guides the individual, holistic development of the OT professional by helping them identify, develop, and reflect on core professional competencies.
Recommended Citation
Ausec, Jesse D., "The Mauna Model: A Trail Guide for Developing Competencies in Occupational Therapy Professionals" (2025). Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice. 21.
https://medica-musc.researchcommons.org/muscotd-ppotd/21