Occupational Therapy Researchers Research Articles

Leisure studies and occupational therapy in Latin America: a scoping review

ABSTRACT This study explores the role of leisure in occupational therapy within Latin America, recognising its importance for health, well-being, and participation. Despite its significance, investment in this area is limited in the region. Using various databases and sources like Web of Science, PubMed, and others, alongside theses, dissertations, and books, a scoping review was conducted without time constraints. Employing Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR checklist, 30 eligible references were identified out of 2,276 retrieved. Primarily qualitative and mostly from Brazil, these studies revealed four conceptions of leisure: sociocultural, self-motivated occupation during free time, attitude, and subjectivity with “life production.” The findings indicate a promising but emerging body of research. Emphasis is placed on fostering research agendas through establishing networks and scholarly events dedicated to this theme. It is suggested that occupational therapy researchers create consistent dialogues with leisure studies; commit to the theoretical development of leisure based on the findings of theoretical and empirical research; diversify the analytical scale, including collective and structural processes related to leisure; and invest in creating networks of researchers and scientific events around the theme.

Effectiveness of Interventions for Meaningful Activity Participation in Homelessness: A Systematic Review.

Background. Meaningful activity participation has been identified as a key outcome of services designed to support individuals during and following homelessness. Little is known about the effectiveness of interventions for promoting this outcome. Purpose. To identify the range and effectiveness of interventions on promoting meaningful activity participation among persons with experiences of homelessness. Method. We conducted a systematic review using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology following PRISMA guidelines including a critical appraisal and narrative synthesis. Findings. Of 12,343 titles and abstracts screened, we included 12 studies. The authors of the included studies primarily used standardized measures of meaningful activity engagement. Critical appraisal scores ranged from 50.0 to 77.8. The most common interventions evaluated in the included studies were psychosocial interventions (n = 6; 50.0%), followed by case management and housing support interventions (n = 4; 33.3%) and Housing First (n = 2; 16.7%). While several interventions demonstrated effectiveness in promoting meaningful activity participation including psychosocial and case management interventions, Housing First, Critical Time Intervention, and a peer support intervention were found to be ineffective for promoting engagement in meaningful activity. Conclusion. Few intervention studies have been conducted that demonstrate effectiveness for promoting participation in meaningful activity for individuals during and following homelessness. Occupational therapy researchers and practitioners can build on existing evidence by developing and evaluating novel approaches by co-designing interventions in collaboration with persons with experiences of homelessness and service providers.

Practitioner Perspectives on Occupation-Based Practice Across Varied Settings

Occupation-based practice (OBP) is considered a cornerstone of occupational therapy practice. However, there is no consensus-based definition of OBP, let alone agreement on its mediators across practice settings. To describe how OBP is currently conceptualized and enacted across different practice settings, a descriptive qualitative approach of focus groups and elicitation of visual data (e.g., photographs, video recordings) was used with 65 participants. Multiple rounds of qualitative data analysis were used to identify codes and themes. Three themes were identified: (a) contextual factors of OBP, (b) client status, and (c) temporal characteristics of OBP. OBP is influenced by institutional, historical, and temporal aspects of practice settings, with further exploration needed across different practice settings and occupational therapy pedagogy styles. Considering the influence of contextual aspects may support occupational therapy practitioners and researchers’ efforts to support their advocacy for occupation as a foundational concept in the profession.

An Integrative Review of Outcome Measures Used in Occupational Therapy Research for School-age Children with Cerebral Palsy in Iran

Introduction: Identifying the currently-used outcome measures for clients with cerebral palsy (CP) in the Iranian occupational therapy (OT) research can declare the new trend of such researchers and identify the more focused domains regarding such individuals. Accordingly, this integrative review aims to define the utilized outcome measures for school-age children with CP in the Iranian OT research.
 Materials and Methods: We conducted an integrated review of online Persian and English databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, Otseeker, Cochrane, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, OVID Medline, Magiran, ISC, SID, IranMEDEX, Irandoc, and IRCT, along with the Google Scholar search engine from January 2000 to March 2021.
 Results: Out of 605 potentially relevant articles that were initially retrieved, 51 articles met the inclusion criteria, and their used outcome measure(s) was identified. A total of 42 identified outcome measure(s) were not diagnosis-specific and or child-report. A maximum of 15 tools, which assessed the motor components of CP children based on a biomedical bottom-up approach, was commonly used by the majority of studies.
 Conclusion: Most Iranian OT studies utilized bottom-up outcome measures. Iranian OT researchers were suggested to highlight the current paradigm of OT in their research regarding school-age children with CP to comprehensively address their multiple challenges and needs according to a top-down client-centered approach.

International consensus on occupational therapy interventions for people with palliative care needs: A European Association for Palliative Care Group Concept Mapping study

Background: While evidence shows that occupational therapists can play a key role in the care of people with palliative care needs, more knowledge about effective occupational therapy interventions for this group is needed. Aim: To identify, organise and prioritise intervention components considered to be effective within occupational therapy for people with palliative care needs from the perspective of occupational therapy clinicians, managers and researchers. Design: Group Concept Mapping utilising a mixed methods participatory approach. Using a focus prompt, participants brainstormed, sorted, labelled and rated generated statements about effective occupational therapy intervention components. Multidimensional scaling analysis and cluster analysis were conducted. Setting/Participants: Snowball recruitment was used to recruit participants. Participants included occupational therapists worldwide who were able to read and write in English and were working as clinicians, managers and/or researchers with occupational therapy interventions for people with palliative care needs. Results: Seventy-two occupational therapists from 15 countries participated in the study representing Asia (n = 3, 20%), Europe (n = 8, 53%), Oceania (n = 2, 13%) and North America (n = 2, 13%). A total of 117 statements were identified and organised into five clusters: (1) being client-centred, (2) promoting occupational engagement to optimise quality of life, (3) involving the social and relational environment, (4) enabling occupations and (5) facilitating occupational adaptation. Conclusions: Five clusters of core occupational therapy intervention components were considered to be effective when supporting people with palliative care needs. Research should use this knowledge to inform future occupational therapy interventions for this group of people.

The 30th Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference and Exhibition 2023: An opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and ignite our occupational achievements

The 30th Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference and Exhibition 2023: An opportunity to acknowledge, celebrate and <i>ignite</i> our occupational achievements

A scoping review of occupational therapy scoping reviews – utilisation of the WFOT proposed international occupational therapy research priority

Introduction: This study aims to map existing occupational therapy scoping reviews to identify their characteristics and highlight research priorities to help occupational therapy researchers conduct further research in the eight prioritized research areas proposed by the WFOT Delphi study. Method: The review followed the scoping review guidelines from Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Six electronic databases (PubMed, ProQuest Central, Scopus, CINAHL and AHMED, and Web of Science) were used for the search. The inclusion criteria were set as follows: written in English; related to occupational therapy and scoping reviews. Results: A total of 189 articles were mapped to the WFOT research priorities: Effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions (n = 57); evidence-based practice and knowledge translation (n = 74); healthy aging (n = 26); participation in everyday life (n = 29); occupational therapy professional issues (n = 29); community development and population (n = 10); occupational therapy and chronic conditions (n = 41); technology and occupational therapy (n = 11); and some non-categorized studies. Conclusion: Our findings also support the WFOT study findings indicating the current research focus in evidence-based practice and knowledge transition.

Quality of Occupational Therapy Research in India - A Descriptive Review.

Occupational therapy (OT) enhances functional independence in the daily activities of people with disabilities and subsequently their quality of life. Research in OT generates evidence to provide safe and effective services to the disabled. However, OT research in India has been shown to have various methodological limitations. These methodological limitations are expected to impact the quality of OT research as well as the evidence derived from this research to inform decision-making in rehabilitation. The majority of the OT research is disseminated and promoted through the All India Occupational Therapists' Association's (AIOTA) annual national conference (ANC). Analyzing the abstracts, selected for the presentation at the ANC could help understand and strategically improve the quality of OT research in India. To explore and describe the quality of OT research in India. Descriptive analysis. Descriptive, nonsystematic review and analysis of the key methodological aspects of the conference abstracts submitted for the AIOTA ANC published in the Indian Journal of OT (IJOT) from 2017 to 2021 was carried out. Information related to the methodological aspects of the research abstracts was extracted using a data extraction form and the data were synthesized and reported descriptively. About 218 abstracts had been selected for either poster or oral presentations in the AIOTA ANC. All the abstracts were included for the review. A total of 8055 participants were recruited for the studies conducted from 2017 to 2021. About 5757 (72%) of the participants were recruited for cross-sectional studies. Nearly 72 (33%) of the abstracts presented were related to cross-sectional studies, 52 (24%) were case studies and 66 (30%) were experimental studies. However, research designs implying highest level of evidence such as systematic reviews were only 4 (2%) and randomized controlled trials were only 9 (4%) with 297 participants. Notably, 203 (98%) of the all the studies evaluating effectiveness of interventions or aiming to investigate associations reported positive results with statistically significant improvements and associations. The review provides invaluable information related to the quality of OT research in India. It implies the need to improve the scientific rigor of the evidence generated in relation to OT research in India. This review also implies the need for a radical change and strengthening of OT research within OT education and professional practice in India. National and global OT associations need to prioritize good quality OT research by enhancing the research skills and competencies of OTs in India. This could help promote evidence-based OT science and develop the OT profession in the world's second-most populous country. In addition, it is also expected to encourage those OT researchers who have been striving to build OT research standards in India.

AOTA's Societal Statement on Gun Violence.

Occupational therapy researchers play a vital role in the expansion of how occupational and social injustices impact community engagement and participation related to the prevalence of gun violence. Occupational therapy practitioners support prevention strategies and treatment interventions at the individual, community, and population levels.

The State of the Science on Adverse Childhood Experiences.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study was conducted to advance understanding of psychological trauma in early life as a possible determinant of adult health. In the past decade, there has been a movement to use the ACEs research questionnaire in a variety of clinical settings to screen individuals and assess their trauma score. But critics argue that the ACEs questionnaire was never intended to be used for individual-level screening, and even that harm can be done by using the questionnaire for this purpose. In the meantime, researchers have developed a protective factor questionnaire that they call the "Positive Childhood Experiences" (PCEs) survey that captures experiences that predict trauma resilience. The objective of this article is to explain the history of the ACEs questionnaire, the current controversy about its use for screening, the emergence of the concept of PCEs, and implications for occupational therapy practitioners and researchers.

Gross and applied anatomy pedagogical approaches in occupational therapy education: protocol for a scoping review

IntroductionHistorically, dissection is considered the ‘gold standard’ for teaching foundational anatomy to student occupational therapists. However, many programmes no longer have access to gross anatomy laboratory resources, as it is...

Fidelity Protocol Development for a Telehealth Type 1 Diabetes Occupation-Based Coaching Intervention.

Background. Preserving fidelity ascertains that the intervention is delivered as intended in occupational therapy (OT) contexts. The process of conceptualizing and developing fidelity standards, however, is seldom documented in the existing literature. Purpose. The purpose of this methodological description paper was to (a) describe the process of generating a comprehensive fidelity plan based on the National Institutes of Health Behavioral Change Consortium's five-domain fidelity framework and (b) evaluate the development process and utility of the end product, the Occupation-Based Coaching (OBC) Fidelity Protocol. Key Issues. There is no known research that documents the process of developing fidelity standards and tools to support the OBC intervention. Implications. The OBC Fidelity Protocol proposes an example of how a comprehensive fidelity plan and tools can be developed from a well-established scientific framework. This can also inform OT practitioners and researchers to deliver OBC sessions with consistency across clients, providers, and interventions/studies.

Implementation strategies and outcomes for occupational therapy in adult stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review

BackgroundStroke survivors often encounter occupational therapy practitioners in rehabilitation practice settings. Occupational therapy researchers have recently begun to examine the implementation strategies that promote the use of evidence-based occupational therapy practices in stroke rehabilitation; however, the heterogeneity in how occupational therapy research is reported has led to confusion about the types of implementation strategies used in occupational therapy and their association with implementation outcomes. This review presents these strategies and corresponding outcomes using uniform language and identifies the extent to which strategy selection has been guided by theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs).MethodsA scoping review protocol was developed to assess the breadth and depth of occupational therapy literature examining implementation strategies, outcomes, and TMFs in the stroke rehabilitation field. Five electronic databases and two peer-reviewed implementation science journals were searched to identify studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers applied the inclusion parameters and consulted with a third reviewer to achieve consensus. The 73-item Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) implementation strategy taxonomy guided the synthesis of implementation strategies. The Implementation Outcomes Framework guided the analysis of measured outcomes.ResultsThe initial search yielded 1219 studies, and 26 were included in the final review. A total of 48 out of 73 discrete implementation strategies were described in the included studies. The most used implementation strategies were “distribute educational materials” (n = 11), “assess for readiness and identify barriers and facilitators” (n = 11), and “conduct educational outreach visits” (n = 10). “Adoption” was the most frequently measured implementation outcome, while “cost” was not measured in any included studies. Eleven studies reported findings supporting the effectiveness of their implementation strategy or strategies; eleven reported inconclusive findings, and four found that their strategies did not lead to improved implementation outcomes. In twelve studies, at least partially beneficial outcomes were reported, corresponding with researchers using TMFs to guide implementation strategies.ConclusionsThis scoping review synthesized implementation strategies and outcomes that have been examined in occupational therapy and stroke rehabilitation. With the growth of the stroke survivor population, the occupational therapy profession must identify effective strategies that promote the use of evidence-based practices in routine stroke care and describe those strategies, as well as associated outcomes, using uniform nomenclature. Doing so could advance the occupational therapy field’s ability to draw conclusions about effective implementation strategies across diverse practice settings.

Competencies for occupational therapy practice in homelessness: A Delphi study

Background Homelessness is growing internationally, and resources to guide occupational therapy practice in this area are needed. Objectives To identify competencies needed for occupational therapists to support individuals during and following homelessness. Material and Methods We conducted a three-round Delphi study with occupational therapy practitioners and researchers with expertise in homelessness. Results Of 35 potential participants, n = 16 participated in Round I, n = 20 participated in Round II, and n = 18 participated in Round III. Participants included occupational therapists and researchers in Canada, United States, Brazil, UK, Ireland and New Zealand. Consensus was achieved on a total of 93 competencies in 10 categories after 15 were eliminated in Rounds II and III. The categories with the greatest number of competencies included occupational knowledge (n = 18), followed by psychosocial competencies (n = 16). Conclusions and Significance This study represents the first to identify the competencies needed for occupational therapists working in the area of homelessness. Practitioners and educators are encouraged to view the identified competencies as a guide for the professional development of occupational therapists in this context. Stakeholders consulted for this study were able to communicate in English and situated in middle to high-income countries. As such, the competencies identified in this study only apply to these sociocultural contexts.

Translating Knowledge to Optimize Value-Based Occupational Therapy: Strategies for Educators, Practitioners, and Researchers.

With the continued evolution of health care reform and payment models, it is imperative that the occupational therapy profession consistently and clearly articulate its distinct value. As payment models shift from paying for the volume of services provided to paying for the value of services, the field of occupational therapy must be sure to implement high-quality care by translating evidence into practice and facilitating improvements in client outcomes. Yet the process of translating evidence-based interventions and programs to real-world settings can be quite complex, and successful implementation often requires active collaboration across occupational therapy stakeholders. In this Health Policy Perspectives article, we provide occupational therapy educators, practitioners, and researchers with key recommendations for how the profession can translate evidence into practice, ultimately leading to the improvement of client outcomes and the provision of value-based care.

Occupational Therapy in Postacute Care for Survivors of COVID-19: Research Gaps We Need to Fill.

This column discusses issues in the delivery of postacute care (PAC) rehabilitation services for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors and gaps in the current research. Occupational therapy practitioners must not only better understand factors that influence the type of PAC rehabilitation a COVID-19 survivor will receive but also comprehend how wide variations in delivery of PAC occupational therapy have affected important outcomes for survivors. The COVID-19 Rehabilitation Research Framework, developed by Cochrane Rehabilitation and the World Health Organization Rehabilitation Program, offers a guide for occupational therapy research priorities that may fill two important gaps: (1) the need for high-quality PAC rehabilitation studies and (2) the need for research on activity and participation assessments and outcomes for COVID-19 survivors. Using electronic health records and other data sources, occupational therapy practitioners and researchers can help build the evidence base to support and guide PAC rehabilitation for survivors of COVID-19 and, perhaps, future pandemics.

Inside an Occupational Therapy-Disability Community Partnership to Promote Health Management: Ethnography of a Research Collaboration.

Disability studies-informed occupational therapy is predicated on full and equal partnerships among occupational therapy practitioners, researchers, and disability communities. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an approach to research that aligns with this vision yet is not without challenges. Understanding the tensions that arise from stakeholders' perspectives and priorities is critical for promoting collaboration between occupational therapy professionals and disability community partners. To understand the group dynamics and relational processes of a CPBR team in the context of an intervention development study focused on health management for people with disabilities (PWD). This 9-mo ethnographic study included semistructured interviews and participant observation. Data were analyzed thematically. Community-based multiagency collaborative. Nine participants (6 academic team members, 4 of whom were trained as occupational therapists; 2 disability partners; and 1 managed-care organization representative) took part. Three participants self-identified as PWD. CBPR processes, although productive, were fraught with challenges. Team members navigated competing priorities, varying power dynamics, and multifaceted roles and identities. Flexibility was needed to address diverse priorities, respond to unexpected challenges, and facilitate the project's success. Deep commitment to a shared goal of health care justice for PWD and team members' willingness to address tensions promoted successful collaboration. Intentional relationship building is needed for occupational therapy researchers to collaborate with members of disability communities as equal partners. What This Article Adds: Disability studies-informed occupational therapy research demands that team members intentionally nurture equitable relationships through shared governance, clear communication, and recognition of the fluid nature of power dynamics.

The Occupational Participation of Latinx Cancer Survivors and Their Family Caregivers Living in Survivorship: A Qualitative Exploration Informed by Multiple Stakeholders

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of Latinx cancer survivors and their family caregivers during survivorship. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with a variety of stakeholders including Latinx cancer survivors (n = 8), their family caregivers (n = 5), and cancer care providers (n = 5). Data were analyzed thematically to describe occupational participation. Latinx families lived in political, economic, language, and social contexts that facilitated and hindered their well-being. Survivors simultaneously experienced occupational deprivation and posttraumatic growth. To promote occupational justice, occupational therapy practitioners and researchers are called to partner with Latinx survivors and their families to facilitate skills needed for everyday participation.

The Association between LGBTQIA+ Self-Identification and Factors Facilitating Homelessness: A Scoping Review of the Occupational Therapy Peer-Reviewed Literature

The purpose of this paper was to perform a scoping review examining the occupational therapy peer-reviewed literature regarding the LGBTQIA+ community to (a) determine what types of scholarship have been generated and (b) whether the association between LGBTQIA+ self-identification and homelessness has been identified and addressed in occupational therapy practice. A database search of seven peer-reviewed, health care publication indexes, with 19 key search terms was performed. The database search targeted articles published prior to January 2020. Fifty-three articles were identified within the occupational therapy literature and addressing the LGBTQIA+ community. The majority of this literature (n = 40) was exploratory studies through which researchers sought to better understand the unique needs of subgroups within the LGBTQIA+ community. Only three articles addressed the link between LGBTQIA+ self-identification and homelessness with no articles that addressed evaluation and intervention of the factors predisposing this population to homelessness. As occupational therapists have a unique skill set that could be used to help LGBTQIA+ community members transition from and remain free from homelessness, occupational therapy researchers must develop and assess interventions that target these factors. Occupational therapy educators should develop and assess curricular programming to heighten student comfort and preparedness in service delivery to this community.

Perspectives of Productive Aging: How Occupations Affect Health and Well-Being of Older Adults in Retirement

A predicted surge in the aging population presents a major challenge for public health in the USA. As occupational therapy researchers, we wondered how continued engagement in productive occupations affected the health and well-being of older Americans. Today’s retirees already understand the basics of successful aging, such as maintaining physical and mental fitness, and continuing an active lifestyle. Productive aging represents the next step: choosing roles and occupations that keep them engaged with others and their communities. As suggested by Clark (Jackson, Carlson, et al., 2012), occupations have the potential to provide a protective barrier to declining health, thereby lowering health care costs for the older population. Our Productive Aging qualitative studies (1 & 2) explore the lived experiences of life transitions, challenges, and adaptive skills implemented by participants (ages 65-80) in their own productive occupations. The findings of this follow-up study confirm and enhance themes of our first study (Cole & Macdonald, 2015): 1) prominence of the self-manager role, 2) intentionally maintaining social connections, and 3) engaging in self-fulfilling activities. Additional findings reflect current technology effects and elaborate how participants have met health challenges by adapting activities and environments (self-management), and using social resources (connections) to help them remain engaged in the occupations that give their lives meaning. Cole, M., & Macdonald, K. (2015). Productive aging: An occupational perspective. Thorofare, NJ: Slack, Inc. Clark, F., Jackson, Carlson, et al. (2012). Effectiveness of Lifestyle Intervention in promoting well-being of independently living older adults. Journal of Epidemiology and Community health.