Table 3 Overview of practice in the six supporting roles presented in order of highest to lowest proportion of perceived competency level Frequency of exposition to situations or level of agreement with quotes; most frequent is bolded (n = 304 and varies because of missing data)

This role is perceived as being highly solicited and valued: “We collaborate with really, really many people”. [P11]; “Collaborator is quite easy. Even our institution requires us to make many interdisciplinary intervention plans, so teamwork is very highly valued.” [P12].

Mean = 9.8 ± 3.8

Median = 10; Mode = 12

Range = 2 to 24 different collaborators

I can manage conflicts in my team (n = 304)

I can manage conflicts with professionals outside my team(n = 304)

Respondents (n = 301) estimated spending on average 24.9 ± 11.8% of their time in writing charts (see Table 2) which is the second most important activity after spending direct time with clients (average of 43.4% of week time ± 19.1%; n = 302). A participant in phase 2 corroborated this: “I find that [writing charts] takes a lot of time in my practice. I feel like I can’t see the clientele as much as... I should see people more than that in my weeks, but I can’t because I have too much writing to do” [P12]. A colleague added “And I really agree with my colleagues at the communicator level, as far as oral communication is concerned, it’s still going well, it’s really written communication that poses the challenge. Indeed, the writing time is enormous, and I find that I am falling behind like that cannot be done. From there comes the role of manager, to know how to organize my week well and also to know how to be succinct in my charts’ writing” [P11].

In my clinical environment, I am exposed to complex (multidimensional) situations (n = 303)

This role was not perceived as challenging. As P12 stated “At the professional level there is no problem at all.”

I manage to deal effectively with ethical situations in my practice (n = 304)

This role is perceived as especially challenging.

I manage my time effectively in my various professional activities (n = 304)

Considering the scarcity of resources, I manage to find solutions to achieve the objectives set for my clients (n = 303)

I supervise non-occupational therapy staff effectively (n = 304)

I play a leadership role in the team (n = 304)

How much time do you spend on committees/working group for the institution where you work? (n = 302)

Few hours/month

57 (18.9%)

I supervise trainees/interns (n = 246 eligible as having more than one year since graduation)

No

143/246 (58.1%)

Yes

103/246 (41.9%)

While the vast majority of respondents (294/303; 97.1%) agree or strongly agree with the statement I understand the term evidence-based practice, the proportion decreases to nearly half (160/303; 52.8%) for those who agree or strongly agree with being aware of evidence-based practice in my profession

I understand the term evidence-based practice (n = 303)

I am aware of evidence-based practice in my profession (n = 303)

I try to develop skills in accessing, acquiring and appraising evidence relevant to my area of practice (n = 303)

I read relevant literature (n = 303)

Evidence-based practice helps me to make decisions about clients in my work (n = 303)

is also perceived especially as challenging. It could be defined as a second degree of the expert in enabling occupation and for some, remains unclear: “Change agent even when we were doing the portfolio at university, we would say that it was always the one [role] we didn’t really know what to write about in there and I would say that it is even going to practise... change agent we try to do more in everyday life, to teach to those in charge of resource, to try to educate... it’s more small changes like that that that I find we are able to make, by our knowledge and the way we behave that we can influence colleagues and partners. But change agent remains a challenge, to put bigger things in place, it’s not easy” [P11].

I participate in the development of the profession (n = 303)

I participate in professional discussions on professional forums, sent by email or social network (n = 302)

During the last year, I implemented some actions to promote the profession (n = 302)