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.

35 papers

• Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID · 2026 · QualitativeSystemic Barriers and Emotional Complexities in the Transition to Adulthood: The Lived Experience of Parents of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities in Italy.Seventeen Italian parents of adults with intellectual disabilities describe a 'total void' after school ends: no clear employment path, fragmented services, and they must coordinate everything alone. The emotional toll — exhaustion, frustration, powerlessness — runs alongside pride and determination.
• Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026 · OtherClinical factors associated with motor imagery ability in individuals with subacute stroke.In 40 subacute stroke patients, motor recovery, proprioception, and working memory together were associated with motor imagery ability, but no single factor independently predicted it. Cross-sectional design; associations only, not causation.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · OtherBest Practices for Supporting Occupational Therapy Students With Disabilities During Clinical Education: Results From a Three-Round Delphi Study.A Delphi consensus panel of OT educators, clinicians, and disabled students and practitioners agreed on 53 recommended practices for supporting disabled OT students on clinical placements. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions — no study here shows they improve outcomes.
• Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026 · PilotEvaluating the suitability of the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform System of Task Analysis (PRPP-A) for assessing work-related cognitive difficulties in women after breast cancer: A comparison with Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).In 12 women after breast cancer, a structured cognitive interview (PRPP-A) tracked with computerised neuropsychological tests and flagged attention and planning difficulties that were linked to reduced work. Too small to change practice, but a starting point for OTs assessing work-related cognitive change.
• Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2026 · SurveyImproving Research Engagement in Occupational Therapy: Results of an International Consultation.This is a workforce consultation, not a clinical trial. 39 of 100 occupational therapy national organisations reported that therapists value research but lack time, funding, and mentorship to do it, with low- and middle-income countries facing significantly greater barriers.
• Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026 · Meta-AnalysisBrain-computer interface for upper limb functional recovery post-stroke: a meta-analysis of improvement in upper limb motor function and changes in neurophysiological markers.BCI training added to standard stroke rehab improved upper limb movement scores across 16 trials. The benefit was clearest in the subacute phase; in chronic stroke it did not reach significance. Consider BCI as an adjunct for subacute upper limb rehab, not a replacement.
• Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2026 · CohortInvestigation of Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Extended Barthel Index in Inpatients With Acute to Subacute Stroke in China.In stroke inpatients, a 4-point gain on the 64-point Extended Barthel Index is the smallest improvement a patient notices; 6 points is what a family member would call meaningful. A 2-point drop is what a therapist would call slight decline.
• Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2026 · PilotQuantifying Electric-Powered Wheelchair (EPW) Driving Performance Using Jerk Metrics: A Pilot Study.In 7 wheelchair users, a sensor-based 'jerk' score tracked the Wheelchair Skills Test, suggesting it could add an objective measure to EPW assessment. Training improved scores in all four completers, but with only 4 people the change could not be confirmed. A pilot, not proof.
• Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026 · Systematic ReviewSystematic review of hospital-based interventions to improve post-stroke independence in activities of daily living.Six hospital trials found no clear benefit of activity-based retraining over usual care for daily living tasks after stroke. The evidence is too small and inconsistent to change practice — keep using clinical judgment and patient preference.
• JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies · 2026 · QualitativeGoal Setting During Telerehabilitation in Japan: Qualitative Study of Occupational Therapists' and Physical Therapists' Experiences Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.Nine Japanese therapists described remote goal setting as a distinct practice, not a lesser one: they lost touch and whole-body observation but gained coaching roles, home visibility, and continuity as a goal. Structure remote sessions around what you cannot do, not just what you can.
• Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2026 · Meta-AnalysisThe short-term efficacy of heat therapy for osteoarthritis of the hands: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Heat therapy for hand osteoarthritis reduces short-term pain and improves grip strength, but does not improve overall hand function scores. Multimodal approaches (paraffin, mud baths) outperformed simple heat. Based on 9 trials with 627 patients.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · Systematic ReviewLived Experiences of Occupational Therapy Students From Under-Represented Backgrounds in Professional Educational Programs: A Scoping Review.A scoping review of 24 qualitative studies found that diverse OT students most commonly report isolation, imposter syndrome, and lack of faculty support. The most cited supports were same-background mentorship, holistic admissions, and visible diverse faculty. No intervention was tested.
• The South African journal of physiotherapy · 2026 · OtherCystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator therapy and lived experiences in South Africa: A mixed-methods study.Thirty-seven South Africans on CFTR modulator therapy reported major improvements in breathing, treatment burden, exercise, and attendance. Findings are self-reported and retrospective, so the size of change may be exaggerated, but the direction is consistent across every domain.
• Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2026 · OtherPsychometric Characteristics and Cultural Interpretation of LOTCA Visual Subtests Among Adults in Taiwan.LOTCA visual subtests didn't work as designed in 101 cognitively intact Taiwanese adults. A low score on these tasks may mean the person doesn't recognise the object, uses a different word for the shape, or builds differently — not that their thinking is impaired.
• Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOT · 2026 · OtherPsychometric Properties of the Occupation-Based Practice Assessment.A tool for measuring how occupation-based your OT practice is shows good overall agreement between raters, but the engaged participation subscale is less consistent. Tested only on evaluations in ICU and ED, not interventions.
• Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026 · SurveyA profile of occupational therapy practice in Australia for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.Sixty-three Australian occupational therapists described how they work with people diagnosed with BPD. Trauma-informed care and occupation-based approaches dominated, but time constraints, funding gaps, and fragmented services were the top barriers to delivering consistent, evidence-based practice.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · OtherValidity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the My Family's Accessibility and Community Engagement (MyFACE) Tool.A 9-item questionnaire asking families of disabled children about community access barriers now has a validated Turkish version. It produces a single score and can be used in Turkish-speaking settings to identify which barriers — transport, stigma, physical access — are limiting a family's participation.
• Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy · 2026 · Qualitative'An Embodied Journey Towards Recovery': A Grounded Theory of Mental Health Service Users' Experiences of a Nature-based Intervention.A qualitative study of 20 people with anxiety, depression or exhaustion disorder describes how they experienced a 24-week farm-based programme with horses and nature as a bodily, sensory process of recovery. It offers OTs a framework for understanding embodied recovery, not evidence the programme works.
• Child: care, health and development · 2026 · SurveyStrengthening School-Based Support Systems for Children and Youth With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A National Survey of Canadian Parents.A national survey of 488 Canadian parents of children with DCD found only 17% had a school-based therapist and 75% paid for therapy out of pocket. Assume the school system is not providing adequate motor support and advocate for services.
• Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026 · QualitativeExperiences and perceptions of occupational therapy and physiotherapy practice education in research settings.Students who completed a research-based OT or PT placement reported it was more client-facing than they feared and left them more confident with research. But most students and educators had never considered the option. The gap is awareness and accreditation confidence, not the quality of the experience.
• Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026 · SurveyInfluences on students' decisions to study occupational therapy at a regional Australian university: A mixed methods study.A survey of 134 OT students at one regional Australian university found 80.6% did not understand what occupational therapists do before enrolling. Personal connections were the main way they learned about the profession. This is a workforce and visibility finding, not a clinical one.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · PilotFeasibility of a Home-Based Occupational Positioning Program for Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study.A home-based positioning program for children with spastic cerebral palsy was feasible — high attendance, high satisfaction, no dropouts — but with only 5 children and no control group, it cannot tell you whether the program actually improves function.
• Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARID · 2026 · Qualitative'Let's Just Hope for the Best': A Photovoice Study Exploring the Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Children With Intellectual Disabilities in the UK.Thirteen children with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities described lockdown as a time of anxiety, lost routines, and fear of the virus. They found comfort in sensory activities, special interests, and family time. Their unease continued after restrictions ended, especially around returning to school.
• Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026 · CohortAddressing Common Problems in Autism Research: Cohort Development and Sample Description for a Participatory, Real-World, Longitudinal Study of Outcomes in Autistic Adults.Three ways of recruiting autistic adults (health systems, disability services, community) produced very different groups in age, support needs, health, and independence. Free, accessible outcome measures for autistic adults are now available for clinicians to use.
• Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2026 · OtherCortical neuromodulation by vibration-induced illusion of movement is observed in older individuals, but not in individuals with acute stroke: a cross-sectional fNIRS study.Vibrating the triceps tendon to create an illusion of arm movement produced no measurable brain response in people with acute stroke, while healthy adults showed clear cortical activation. The technique may not engage expected neural pathways early after stroke.
• Autism in adulthood · 2026 · OtherUnderstanding the Impact of Living Situation and Social Satisfaction on Depression and Substance Use in Autistic Young Adults Without Intellectual Disability.Among autistic young adults without intellectual disability, living alone was associated with more social satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms; living with peers was associated with more alcohol and cannabis use. Cross-sectional design means these are associations, not cause-and-effect.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · QualitativeExperiences of Teachers and Occupational Therapists in Identifying Activity Problems Among Primary School Students With Developmental Difficulties in Indonesia: A Focus Group Interview.A qualitative study of 15 Indonesian teachers and OTs found that students with developmental difficulties struggle not just academically but with self-care and religious routines. The structured identification process described likely reflects well-resourced private schools, not the broader system.
• Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026 · Systematic ReviewInclusion of Participants With Limited English Proficiency in Autism Research.A systematic review of 1,007 autism studies found that only 19% included participants with limited English proficiency, and just 18% of randomized trials did — meaning most intervention evidence may not apply to your LEP patients.
• Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026 · Systematic ReviewEmbodied robots in rehabilitation-oriented interventions for older adults with disability or cognitive impairment: a scoping review.A scoping review mapped 11 robot-rehabilitation studies for older adults. The evidence is too small and too varied to say robots improve function — it's a landscape map, not proof of benefit. Four of five physical-rehab studies were done in Chinese hospitals.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · Systematic ReviewOccupational Therapy in Return-to-Work Processes After Stroke: A Scoping Review of Ongoing Therapeutic Support and Implications for Work-Treatment Balance.Across 58 studies of stroke survivors returning to work, therapeutic support was variably integrated with employment. OT roles extended beyond individual rehab into employer liaison and workplace adjustment. Fatigue was the second most common barrier but was rarely measured.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · QualitativeUnderstanding Factors That Influence the Recruitment and Retention of Male Occupational Therapists in Aotearoa New Zealand.Nineteen male OT students and clinicians in New Zealand identified the profession's unclear public image and its association with women as the main barriers to recruiting men, and the hands-on, practical work and the chance to make a difference as the main draws.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · Systematic ReviewScoping Review of Occupational Therapy for Distal Radius Fractures, Including Complications.A scoping review found only five studies of occupational therapy for wrist fractures, and those focused almost entirely on range of motion and grip strength rather than on the daily activities and participation that occupational therapists are trained to address.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · OtherNurturing Opportunities: Assessing the Challenges and Engagement of Young Persons With Disabilities in Ghana's Agribusiness Sector.In Ghana, only 28 of 53 employed young people with disabilities work in agribusiness. The main barriers are structural—farms are physically inaccessible, credit is denied, training excludes them, and stigma persists. This is an environmental and policy problem, not a patient problem.
• Occupational therapy international · 2026 · SurveyExperiences and Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration Among Spanish Optometrists and Occupational Therapists: A Cross-Sectional Study.A survey of 138 Spanish optometrists and 148 occupational therapists found that collaboration between the two professions is rare, informal, and dependent on individual initiative. Where it does occur, satisfaction is high, but clear referral pathways and organisational support are largely absent.
• Occupational therapy in mental health · 2025 · QualitativePsychosocial Support for Clubhouse Members and Staff in Hawai'i: A Maslowian Perspective on Wellness.A qualitative study of 15 Clubhouse members and staff in Hawai'i described how the Clubhouse model supported needs from meals to purpose, and how pandemic closure caused acute isolation for members who relied on it as their main social connection.