{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T06:49:19Z","timestamp":1791528559401,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]],"date-time":"2026-01-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768953600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["British Journal of Occupational Therapy"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Understanding the factors that shape occupational therapy (OT) career pathways is crucial for strengthening recruitment and retention. In the Philippines, limited research has examined why students choose OT and how they navigate their entry-level education. This study explored the lived experiences of Filipino OT graduates to understand their career decision-making and educational journeys.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Method:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine Filipino OT graduates who completed their entry-level education in the Philippines. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi\u2019s method to identify key influences and shared experiences.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Findings:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Four themes captured participants\u2019 experiences: (1) deciding to enter OT, shaped by family guidance, immersion experiences, personal interests, and peer influence; (2) affirming their decision through clinical exposure, academic preparation, and personal growth; (3) navigating challenges associated with academic load, OT\u2019s broad scope, pandemic-related gaps, and limited public awareness; and (4) perspectives on raising awareness through school-based advocacy, digital platforms, and personal storytelling. Supportive learning environments and mentorship contributed to their persistence.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Findings underscore the need for strengthened career guidance, improved public awareness of OT, and educational strategies supporting identity formation and resilience. These insights may inform program development and workforce policies in the Philippines and similar contexts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/03080226251412251","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,22]],"date-time":"2026-01-22T06:40:41Z","timestamp":1769064041000},"page":"528-536","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Career choice and entry-level educational experiences of Filipino occupational therapy graduates: Implications for workforce development"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"89","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-9900-8426","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kenya U","family":"Siao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"April Heart A","family":"Siachua","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-2893-0611","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Czarramagne G","family":"Fuentes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-0543-9278","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Learnie Kate D","family":"Desiderio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-6456-9742","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lynn Jezreel A","family":"Mercado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-8540-5969","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Steffi Kate E","family":"Asayas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5182-3224","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo Miguel P","family":"Bulan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Velez College, Cebu, Philippines"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.55890\/2452-3011.1317"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21834\/ebpj.v8i24.4617"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_4_1","unstructured":"Buenaobra ATA Escano MTR (2023) Raising public awareness: An infographic on occupational therapy as an aid in optimal mental health and welfare in Davao City. University of the Philippines Mindanao. Available at: https:\/\/koha.upmin.edu.ph\/cgi-bin\/koha\/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=20540&shelfbrowse_itemnumber=26913 (accessed 9 June 2025)."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003321217-4"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.26681\/jote.2025.090102"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0308022617700653"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_8_1","unstructured":"Commission on Higher Education (2017) CMO No. 52 s. 2017: Policies Standards and Guidelines for the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Education (BSOT) Program. Philippines. 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