Mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training: Does it make a difference in disciplinary actions of occupational therapy professionals

There have been few studies examining disciplinary actions by state boards of occupational therapy. Researchers have mainly studied mandatory continuing competence but not the influence of mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training. This study is based on disciplinary reports between January 2004 and December 2012 for Tennessee and Alabama State Boards of Occupational Therapy.;The first of two research questions asked if there was a difference in the percentage of disciplinary reports for occupational therapy practitioners licensed in Tennessee who participated in mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training compared to the percentage of disciplinary reports for occupational therapy practitioners in Tennessee prior to mandated ethics and jurisprudence training.;The second research question asked if there was a difference in the percentage of disciplinary reports for the occupational therapy practitioners in Tennessee who received mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training compared to the percentage of disciplinary reports for occupational therapy practitioners licensed in Alabama who did not receive mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training.;Results indicate that mandatory ethics and jurisprudence training did not result in a decrease in disciplinary reports, however, the data may not be telling the entire story. The initiation of mandatory continuing competence in Tennessee may have influenced the outcome of this study. Study findings are discussed in terms of implications of the results and projections for future research.