Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of manual operation on occupational therapy teaching. Methods 83 students were randomly divided into 2 groups: 41 students of general teaching group and the other 42 of manual operation teaching group, who received the ordinary classroom teaching and manual operation teaching respectively. After 4 h of study, they were measured with Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (CMOP). Results There were 37 and 41 questionnaires recalled from the general teaching group and the manual operation teaching group, and 2 and 3 questionnaires excluded as incomplete respectively. The scores of the classroom atmosphere, interesting stimulation, explanation of curriculum connotation, obtaining professional ideology, ability cultivated to solve practical problems, good relationship between doctors and patients developing, and thinking of discussion stimulating were more in the manual operation teaching group than in the general teaching group (P<0.01). Conclusion Manual operation is a new, effective, convenient, and low-cost mode of teaching for occupational therapy.

Key words: occupational therapy, manual operation, education, Canadian Model of Occupational Performance