Occupational therapy in Belgium and Spain
Freya De Vroede
Astrid Peeters
Estibaliz Fernandez Goméz
Occupational therapy in Belgium
(Brussels)
= ergotherapie
 Greek word: "ergos" = work.
 Old name = arbeidstherapie /
labortherapy, but it’s outdated
HUB
 Hogeschool - Universiteit Brussel
= Graduate school – University Brussels
 Campus terranova
In the centre of Brussels
Healthcare
History
History of OT
Development + legal recognition of OT in Belgium
from 1945
 After WW2: a structured manner of revalidation of the
wounded people
 In 1965:= certificate of “labor therapy”
 Only since 1992 = certificate of graduated in occupational
therapy
(Vercruysse), (le Granse, van Hartingsveldt, &
Kinébanian, 2012)
History of OT
Study of occupational therapy and
professionalization:
 Since 2003-2004: Bachelor in OT
 Since 2011-2012 connection year to master in OT in the
Flanders
 Since 2012-2013: master in OT in the Flanders
(Vercruysse), (le Granse, van Hartingsveldt, &
Kinébanian, 2012)
Bachelor
Study of OT
 Bachelor of 3 years
 60 credits each year
 First year: analysis of the normal human functioning and discover the
job of an OT
 Second year: analysis of disturbed functioning / diseases and
developping the professional skills
 Third year: a lot of internships/practice, indepentley working, literature
and practical thesis and an experience abroad
OT vs. other disciplines
 OT : focus on activities of the daily life
 Overlap  making good agreements with other disciplines
Courses first year
 Fundamentals of occupational therapy
 Human sciences
 Philosophy and ethics
 Psychology (basic knowledge, adults and children)
 Psychomotoric development
 Biomedical sciences
 Anatomy and fysiology
 Pathology
 Organisation of the health care
 Cleanical reasoning, therapeuthic skills, social skills
 Scientific education
 Evidence Based Practice !!
Courses second year
 Human sciences

Philosophy and ethics 2
 Biomedical sciences


Neuroscience
Biomechanics (~fysiotherapy)
 Specific sciences and skills about target groups



Fysical en geriatric revalidation
Psychiatry and gerontopsychiatrie
Developmental dysfunctions
 Scientific education

Evidence based practice 2 !!!
Courses third year
 Philosophy and ethics 3
 Practical skills:
 Fysical and geriatric revalidation
 Psychiatric and gerontopsychiatric revalidation
 Development dysfunctions
 Professional development:
 Cleanical reasoning
 A LOT OF PRACTICE (internships) with rapportation
 Practical and literature thesis
Final grades
 Theoretical exams
 Individual and grouptasks
 Practical exams
 Internship grade = important
Work
Workfields
In Belgium we can work in:
 mental health
 geriatrics
 Developmental problems (children)
 physical rehabilitation
It’s easy to find work, especially in geriatrics.
 NEW: Independent occupational therapist
Wide spread of possibilities
BUT!
Learning about a lot of different targetgroups in different
situations and how to..
- Observate them
- Give them advice
- Treat them
- Care for them
Practical experience
Practical experience: Belgium
≠ Spain
Year
Belgium
Spain
First year
2 x 3 days of
observation
2 days of observation
Second year
3 weeks + 4 weeks
internship
4 days of observation
Third year
8 weeks + 8 weeks +
7 weeks internship
4 weeks of internship
Fourth year
8 weeks of internship
HUB: + practice with children from the childrensdaycare
+ practice with patiënts from the daycare center
(located in or next to our school)
Project abroad
International development
 At HUB  It's obligated!
Our choice: TAPAS in Poland
= Therapy for All Patiënts in All Situations
http://www.therapy-tapas.org/
TAPAS
 Association of a multi-disciplinar team
 Coming form Spain, Belgium, Finland, Poland and Denmark.
 Organise different projects across different countries. For
example: Poland
= our chance to have an international experience
http://www.therapy-tapas.org/
References
 le Granse, M., van Hartingsveldt, M., & Kinébanian, A.
(2012). Grondslagen van de Ergotherapie. Amsterdam: Reed
Business.
 TAPAS. (sd). Opgeroepen op november 25, 2013, van
http://www.therapy-tapas.org/
 Vercruysse, L. (sd). PPT. Klinisch Redeneren en Ergo
Fundamenten 1a. HUB.
Occupational therapy in Spain
(Burgos)
History
Goal
 Train health professionals who are specialized in
evaluating the skills of people to perform the activities
of daily life and to intervene when they are at risk for
damage.
History of OT
 Doctor in Medicine Heliodorus Ruiz García introduced
OT studies in Spain in 1960.
 In 1959 nurses had moved to France for training in OT
and returned in 1961 being the first occupational
therapists in Spain.
History of OT
 In 1964 the National School of Occupational Therapy is
created in Madrid.
 In 1967 these studies were regulated, whose duration was set
at three years.
 Studies of OT are recognized as university studies since
1990.
Degree
OT in the University of Burgos
 Faculty of Humanities and Education.
 University degree (4 years)
O On campus (full
time classroom
courses)
O Required
240
credits
OT in the University of Burgos
 Courses: health sciences, social sciences and
therapy.
 More theoretical than practical.
 OT is more conducted towards psychology
General skills
 Professional autonomy and accountability.
 Knowledge of Occupational Therapy.
 Occupational
Therapy
Process
and
professional
reasoning.
 Professionals, clinics and community relations.
 Communication skills.
Courses first year
Basic knowledges about human funcionating and other resources (60 credits)
O Fundamentals of OT
O Health sciences:
O Anatomy, physiology and kinesiology.
O Social sciences:
O Phycology
O Scientific knowledge:
O Technical english, resources and tools, documentacion and
communication
Courses second year
Basic knowledges about pathology and treatments (60 credits)
 Health sciences:
 Pathology
 Social sciences:
 Sociology, bioethics and law, pedagogy…
 OT knowledge:
 Work on ADL in self-maintenance tasks, activities for
independence in the built environment and the
community…
Courses third year
Improving the scientific knowledge, developing professional skills(60
credits)
 Health sciences:
 Pathology,
 Social sciences:
 Cognitive diseases
 Scientific knowledge:
 Research, methods of investigation.
 OT knowledge
 Ergonomy, OT in physical disiases.
 Optional subjects
 4 weeks of internship
Courses fourth year
Independent work, especialization, internship (60 credits)
 Health sciences:
 Prosthesis and orthesis
 Social sciences:
 Group interventions
 Optional subjects
 8 weeks of internship
 Thesis
Work
Work opportunities
 Hospital
 Psychiatrist
 Nursing home (old’s people home)
 Social work center
 Independent occupational therapist
Associations
 APETO(Asociación Profesional Española de Terapia
Ocupacional)
 APATO (Asociación Profesional Andaluza de Terapeutas
Ocupacionales )
 ABETO ( Asociación Burgalesa de Estudiantes de Terapia
Ocupacional)
Goals
 The creation of professional associations in the different




Autonomous Communities.
The promotion of the group of occupational therapists and
self-help .
Continuous training.
The legal advice both nationally and internationally .
Linking with other associations.
Research articles
 TOG (Revista Terapia Ocupacional Galicia)
 Portal de terapia ocupacional en español.
Thank you for your attention