Development and content validation of updated job competencies for Korean occupational therapists: a modified Delphi and focus group consensus study.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze recent trends in occupational therapy, derive updated job competencies for Korean occupational therapists that reflect recent clinical changes, and confirm their validity. This 5-month expert consensus study, conducted from April to August 2024, used a 3-round online Delphi survey with 20 occupational therapy experts, followed by a focus group meeting with 10 experts, to refine and validate updated job competencies. Considering recent trends in occupational therapy, we adapted the U.S. National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy practice analysis framework to the Korean context and collected expert feedback. The Delphi panel identified several competency items that required contextualization within the Korean legal scope of practice, particularly items related to physical agent modalities. After the concluding focus group discussion, the superficial thermal agents item (D3-T1-K4) was excluded, and the electrotherapeutic modality item for swallowing disorders (D3-T1-K5) was revised; the remaining competencies were finalized. Updated job competencies for new occupational therapists were derived across 4 domains, 16 tasks, and 62 knowledge items. These competencies may support greater flexibility in international research and strengthen responses to the expansion of occupational therapists' scope of practice in community settings. Therefore, the findings of this study are expected to be actively used in research, education, and practice.