OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Research for occupational therapy

Papers an occupational therapist can act on, across daily living, mental health, hand therapy, paediatrics and rehabilitation, each read in full rather than from its abstract.

10,853 PAPERS · PAGE 1 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTRNRCT2016Associations among pain, depression, and functional limitation in low-income, home-dwelling older adults: An analysis of baseline data from CAPABLE.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)In low-income home-dwelling older adults, higher depressive symptoms and pain interference were linked to more difficulty with daily activities. Depression was linked to part of the pain-function relationship, but this baseline analysis does not show treatment improves function.
• PTOTRNSurvey2016A Comparison of the Quality of Life in Patients With Primary and Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema: A Mixed-Methods Study.Western journal of nursing researchPatients with primary, cancer-related, and non-cancer-related lower-limb lymphedema reported similar high psychosocial symptom burden. They described body-image distress, clothing and access problems, and burdensome self-care.
• OTOther2017Gender Differences in Cognitive Test Performance in Adults With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingWomen with heart failure scored better on memory tests than men, but attention and executive function scores and impairment rates did not differ by gender.
• PTOTRNQualitative2017A Study of the Amputee Experience of Viewing Self in the Mirror.Rehabilitation nursing : the official journal of the Association of Rehabilitation NursesAmputees described first mirror views as shock and anguish. They recommended nurses offer mirrors gradually, with support and privacy, and said mirrors helped them recognize the limb, check skin, and watch gait. These practices were not tested.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2017Interventions Promoting Physical Activity in African American Women: An Integrative Review.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingInterventions for African American women produced mixed results, with many showing increased activity but others showing no change. Culturally tailored and home-based strategies showed promise, though most studies relied on self-reported data and lacked long-term follow-up.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2016Biobehavioral determinants of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Patient education and counselingFor people with type 2 diabetes, dietary adherence was most linked to long-term glucose control, self-efficacy was linked to adherence and BMI, and glucose monitoring was linked to higher short-term glucose. Match diabetes education to the specific goal.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2016Enhanced Physical Activity Improves Selected Outcomes in Children With ADHD: Systematic Review.Western journal of nursing researchPhysical activity is linked to better attention and behavior in children with ADHD, but effects on physical health measures are inconsistent. The evidence is weak due to small, varied studies, so it supports adding activity to care rather than replacing treatment.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2017Collective Care: Multiple Caregivers and Multiple Care Recipients in Mexican American Families.Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing SocietyMexican American families often provide collective care, with one person caring for several relatives or multiple people sharing one patient's care. Daughters were usually the primary caregivers, and families viewed this duty as an honor rather than a burden, even when their own health suffered.
• OTRNSystematic Review2016Adaptation and coping in patients living with an LVAD: A metasynthesis.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careLVAD patients described living with the device as four stages: before implant, hospital, early home, late home. Routines for device care and daily activities helped patients feel independent, but fear, dependence, body image, intimacy, and lost roles remained hard.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Preferences and concerns for care needs in advanced Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study of couples.Journal of clinical nursingCouples with advanced Parkinson's disease described frequent falls, speech and swallowing problems, financial strain and lack of prognostic information as major concerns. They wanted to stay home but often had no plans because they did not know what to expect.
• OTRNPilot2016Impaired Work Productivity After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience NursesSurvivors of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who returned to work reported persistent productivity loss at 12 months. Self-perceived cognitive deficits, rather than objective test scores, were most strongly linked to reduced work output and time management difficulties.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2016Protein Supplementation Does Not Significantly Augment the Effects of Resistance Exercise Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationProtein supplements did not significantly boost the strength or muscle gains from resistance training in older adults. While training itself worked, adding protein made no difference compared to training alone for most people.
• PTOTRNCohort2017Ability of Self-Reported Frailty Components to Predict Incident Disability, Falls, and All-Cause Mortality: Results From a Population-Based Study of Older British Men.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAsking older men about slow walking, low activity, exhaustion, and weight loss flagged later disability, falls, or death. These simple questions pointed to higher risk as well as or better than objective frailty tests.
• PTOTQualitative2016Interprofessional Perspectives on ABCDE Bundle Implementation: A Focus Group Study.Dimensions of critical care nursing : DCCNICU staff said early mobility was the hardest part of the ABCDE bundle to carry out. Unclear roles, missing protocols, equipment problems, staffing gaps and fear of dislodging tubes blocked coordination.
• PTOTRNPilot2016Message Framing and Physical Activity Promotion in Colorectal Cancer Survivors.Oncology nursing forumGain-framed and loss-framed brochures increased physical activity equally in colorectal cancer survivors. Since there was no control group, it is unknown if the brochures worked better than no information or standard advice.
• OTRNOther2016A comparison of two assessments of levels of functioning in clients with intellectual disability between occupational therapists and nursing staff within a long-term mental healthcare facility in South Africa.CurationisIn 586 residents with intellectual disability, occupational therapists’ creative ability ratings and nurses’ Fairview developmental scores were strongly related. OTs and nurses can use the two ratings together to set supervision and activity expectations.
• OTRNCohort2017The effect of early psychological symptom severity on long-term functional recovery: A secondary analysis of data from a cohort study of minor injury patients.International journal of nursing studiesMinor injury patients with higher depression or anxiety symptoms soon after injury were more likely to have lower work performance and more bed days over the next year. Screening these symptoms early may help identify people at risk of slower recovery.
• OTRNQualitative2017Tri-focal Model of Care Implementation: Perspectives of Residents and Family.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingResidents and families described long-term care as often excluding them from choices and decisions. After staff were taught a partnership model, they reported more listening and choice, but still wanted staff to know their lives and have enough time.
• OTOther2017Glaucoma patient-provider communication about vision quality-of-life.Patient education and counselingGlaucoma visits rarely discussed vision quality of life: only 13 percent covered specific tasks, and patients usually raised them. Providers seldom asked about night vision, reading, walking, or falls.
• PTOTSLPRNCase Report2017Living in Limbo: Latinas' Assessment of Lower Rio Grande Valley Colonias Communities.Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)Latinas in Texas colonias described a theme of "living in limbo" where fear of immigration enforcement, poverty, and unsafe environments severely limited their willingness to engage in physical activity. Existing community assets like parks and schools were often viewed as inaccessible or exclusive.
• PTOTRNOther2017Falls, Cognitive Impairment, and Gait Performance: Results From the GOOD Initiative.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationIn older adults able to walk without help, non-Alzheimer dementia was linked to more falls than cognitively healthy adults, while Alzheimer dementia was not. Slower walking speed tracked falls broadly; variable stride time did so mainly in cognitively healthy adults.
• OTRNQualitative2017Experiences of patients undergoing dialysis who are from ethnic and racial minorities.Journal of renal careBlack and Latino adults on dialysis said starting treatment felt abrupt and unexpected, everyday life and family roles changed, and they leaned on faith, family and resignation to keep going.
• PTOTRNCohort2017ED Utilization and Self-Reported Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.Journal of emergency nursingPain, tiredness and breathlessness were common whether older adults went to the emergency department or not. ED use was linked more to taking more medications, difficulty with daily activities and balance problems than to symptoms alone.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Cardiovascular risk and communication among early stage breast cancer survivors.Patient education and counselingMost breast cancer survivors had cardiovascular risks but felt healthy. Half of overweight survivors never discussed weight with their team. Those who did often found it dismissive. Survivors wanted specific, actionable lifestyle guidance rather than general advice.
• OTSLPRNCohort2017Identification of Risk Factors for Poor Feeding in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease and a Novel Approach to Improve Oral Feeding.Journal of pediatric nursingOral motor exercises did not improve full oral feeding at discharge beyond chance: 57% versus 45%. Longer intubation, withheld feeds, reflux, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome were linked to poor feeding.
• PTOTRNQualitative2017Life after stroke in Appalachia.International journal of nursing sciencesRural stroke survivors described recovery as adjusting to a new body, emotions, and dependence. Anger, guilt, loneliness, and transport barriers shaped post-discharge life. Mood and access need assessment alongside function.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Changes in Daily Life of Iranian Patients with implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: A Qualitative Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyIranian patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators described losing work and social roles, facing marriage rejection, and experiencing family conflict from excessive care. They shifted to light activities and self-care to manage fear of shocks, highlighting the psychosocial burden beyond the device's technical function.
• OTRNOther2017Needs of family caregivers in home care for older adults.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemFamily caregivers of older adults in home care reported needing information and support for medication care, dressing, diaper changing and bathing. Observation found essential steps not performed or incomplete, especially in medication care and dressing, even when caregivers did not report needing information.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2017Assessment of Activity of Daily Living Among Older Adult Patients in Home Healthcare and Skilled Nursing Facilities: An Integrative Review.Home healthcare nowOlder adult ADL assessments in home health and skilled nursing use different tools, definitions, scoring and reporters, so scores may not be comparable. Check the method before using it to guide care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2017Mobilization of prolonged mechanical ventilation patients: An integrative review.Heart & lung : the journal of critical careMost studies in prolonged mechanical ventilation patients found mobilization improved function and ventilation time, but protocols and outcome definitions varied, and low-quality evidence means benefit is not proven. No harms were reported.
• PTOTCohort2017Perceptions of Workload Burden and Adherence to ABCDE Bundle Among Intensive Care Providers.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesUnits whose providers reported more workload burden were less likely to complete the ABCDE bundle. Units whose providers found it harder to carry out were less likely to do early mobility. Attitudes about safety, confidence and evidence were not linked.
• PTOTRNOther2017Assessment of Fall Characteristics From Depth Sensor Videos.Journal of gerontological nursingMost falls in senior housing videos came from incorrect transfers or shifts of body weight, not slips. Check mobility aid use, because aids were present but unused in 20% of falls and in use in 40%.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2017The effect of Tai Chi exercise on motor function and sleep quality in patients with stroke: A meta-analysis.International journal of nursing sciencesTai Chi added to usual care improved balance and daily activities in stroke patients, but did not improve walking speed or sleep quality. The evidence is weak due to high variability between studies and short follow-up, so it should not replace standard rehab.
• PTOTRNSurvey2017The Prevalence, Subtypes and Obstetric Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence in Reproductive Age Women Referred to Community Health Care Centers of Dezful, Iran- 2015.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyOver half of reproductive-age women attending community health centers in Iran reported urinary incontinence, yet only 0.85% sought help. Mixed incontinence was the most common subtype. Vaginal delivery and irregular menstruation were significant risk factors, while regular menstruation was protective.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2017Quality of life of patients using intermittent urinary catheterization.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemQuality of life scores were similar in Brazil and Portugal, but Brazilian patients rated their general health higher. Patients who self-catheterized reported better physical and psychological well-being than those needing caregiver help.
• PTOTRNCohort2017Changes in frailty conditions and phenotype components in elderly after hospitalization.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemOne year after discharge, the most common change was non-frail to pre-frail (56.7%), and deaths occurred among frail and pre-frail adults. Depression, medicines, illnesses and daily-living scores did not predict overall frailty change.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2018Multicomponent Palliative Care Interventions in Advanced Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review.The American journal of hospice & palliative careAcross 64 palliative care programs for cancer, heart, lung or kidney disease, nurses were involved in 88%, but few delivered all 7 components. More disciplines or components were not clearly linked to better outcomes.
• OTSurvey2018Informal care: choice or constraint?Scandinavian journal of caring sciencesMost carers who answered said caring was a free choice, but many also felt constrained by duty, money or lack of help. Those reporting more choice had higher well-being. The study cannot show choice caused better well-being.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2017Self-Reported Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease by Sex and Disease Duration.Western journal of nursing researchMen reported more non-motor symptoms than women. Motor symptoms increased with disease duration, but non-motor symptoms did not. Speech problems peaked in the 6-to-10-year group, while hallucinations appeared most often after 10 years.
• PTOTCohort2017The Relationships Among Pain, Depression, and Physical Activity in Patients With Heart Failure.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingDepressed heart failure patients spent a median of 60 minutes per week in light activity and 210 minutes in moderate activity. Sitting time was the only significant predictor linked to depression levels, though the model did not reach statistical significance.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2017Nursing home care trajectories for older adults following in-hospital palliative care consultation.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Ten of twelve patients discharged to a nursing home after palliative care received aggressive rehabilitation despite poor prognoses, often contradicting their own goals. Only two followed a comfort-focused path. Most patients experienced high symptom burden and rehospitalization, with no documented spiritual support or goal renegotiation in the nursing home.
• OTQualitative2017Pilot testing a digital pet avatar for older adults.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Ten older adults living alone used a tablet-based digital pet for three months. They valued the companionship and reminders but grew frustrated with repetitive conversations, technical glitches, and privacy concerns. Two dropped out early due to device issues and a lack of genuine connection.
• PTOTCohort2017Objective Measures of Activity in the Elderly: Distribution and Associations With Demographic and Health Factors.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults aged 70 to 94 spent 78.2% to 79.5% of waking time sedentary, and average moderate-to-vigorous activity was 71.5 to 75.0 minutes/day. Activity was lower with older age, higher BMI, disability and chronic disease.
• OTRNQualitative2017Older Adult Residents' Perceptions of Daily Lives in Nursing Homes.Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of NursingNursing home residents described comfort from staff handling daily care, but also loneliness, limited choices, and needing permission to go outside. They valued staff who listened and wanted more control over daily life.
• OTSurvey2017Socially Assistive Robots: Measuring Older Adults' Perceptions.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults' responses to a robot survey were consistent. After a brief robot interaction, all main areas became more positive except anxiety items. It tested acceptance, not patient outcomes.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2018Physical Activity and Survival in Women With Advanced Breast Cancer.Cancer nursingWomen with advanced breast cancer who did one hour of moderate activity daily had a 23% lower risk of death. This held after adjusting for age, treatment, and depression. Nurses can encourage simple daily movement like walking or housework.
• OTRNQualitative2017Perceptions of Brain Health and Cognition in Older African Americans and Caucasians With HIV: A Focus Group Study.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANACOlder adults with HIV described everyday memory and word-finding problems. Some used lists, calendars, family help, and driving limits. They knew lifestyle factors might help brain health but could not explain how.
• PTOTSLPRNSurvey2017Beliefs About Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Parkinson's Disease.Holistic nursing practicePeople with Parkinson's disease using complementary health approaches believed these methods were effective for symptom control and necessary for general health. They reported low concern about side effects or drug interactions but expressed willingness to disclose their use to healthcare professionals.
• OTRNCohort2017FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool and Short-Term Outcomes in Geriatric Fracture Patients.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationFrailty scores on the FRAIL scale tracked worse outcomes in 175 older fracture patients: 20% delirium overall, almost 29% in frail patients, longer stays, and fewer going home. It flags risk, but was not tested as an intervention.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2018The Relationship Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Incident Frailty: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationOlder adults with the most pro-inflammatory diets had a higher risk of becoming frail over eight years. This link was strong in men, where the highest diet score group had four times the risk, but no association was found in women.