Level of Education of Students Involved

Graduate

Faculty Sponsor

Sara Story

College

College of Nursing & Health Professions (CONHP)

Discipline(s)

Occupational Therapy

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 2026

Abstract

This study examines the perspectives of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners on the purpose and use of the white coat. The white coat ceremony is common in many healthcare programs and professions, but little is known about how OT practitioners perceive and use the white coat. An anonymous Qualtrics survey, distributed through social media platforms (CommunOT, Instagram, Facebook), will collect data on practitioners’ education levels, years of practice, type of recognition ceremony, and frequency and context of white coat usage. Results from 79 practitioners showed that most did not receive a white coat ceremony during their OT education and that the white coat is rarely used in clinical practice. Participants who experienced white coat or alternative recognition ceremonies expressed mixed perceptions of their significance, with alternative events often viewed as more meaningful. These findings indicate uncertainty regarding the white coat’s relevance to occupational therapy and suggest a need for recognition traditions that better reflect the profession’s holistic and client centered values.

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