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 13 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTRNOther2024Inactivity May Identify Older Intensive Care Unit Survivors at Risk for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesVery low wrist-measured activity in older ICU survivors was seen with worse attention, strength, dexterity, and more depression or anxiety. The study was small and exploratory, and it cannot show that activity causes these problems.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Reducing the Burdens of Paid Caregivers of Older Adults by Using Assistive Technology: A Scoping Review.Western journal of nursing researchPaid caregivers reported less physical strain with handrails, transfer devices and bidet seats, but sensors and robots were also reported to bring alarm burden, extra effort and worry. The evidence is too small and mixed to prove these technologies work.
• PTOTRNMeta-Analysis2024A Meta-Analysis of Fall Risk in Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAcross studies, 44.27% of older adults with Alzheimer's disease fell at least once a year, and 42.08% of those fallers fell again. Use this high fall risk to guide tailored fall-risk assessment and prevention planning.
• OTRNQualitative2024The Strategies Used to Balance Health and Work Across the Solid Organ Transplantation Trajectory.Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)Fifteen transplant workers described telling supervisors early, asking for reduced load, flexible hours, remote appointments, and using clinicians’ language to explain limits and infection risks. These are reported strategies, not tested interventions.
• OTRNCohort2024Trajectories of self-management and independence in youth with spina bifida: Family-related predictors of growth.Research in nursing & healthHigher observed family cohesion was linked to higher self-management at age 18, and more family stress events were linked to faster growth. Other family variables were not linked at age 18.
• PTOTSLPRNRCT2024Feasibility of In-Home Virtual Reality for Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease.Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management NursesIn-home virtual reality for chronic pain in sickle cell disease was feasible but had high dropout. Daily diary completion was 43.6%, and follow-up surveys dropped to 21%. Users reported slight cybersickness but no nausea. This is a test of logistics, not proof the treatment works.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2024Perspectives and experiences of community-dwelling older adults who experience falling: A qualitative meta-synthesis.International journal of nursing sciencesOlder adults after falls described pain, fear, less activity and independence, and social withdrawal. Some blamed themselves, denied falls, or saw them as inevitable; others used walking aids, home changes, and slowing down.
• PTOTRNSurvey2024What is the burden of multimorbidity and the factors associated with its occurrence in elderly Brazilians?Revista brasileira de enfermagemOver half of community-dwelling elderly Brazilians have two or more chronic conditions. Being female, older, having low education, smoking in the past, being physically inactive, and high screen time were associated with higher multimorbidity prevalence.
• PTOTRNPilot2024Long-Term Effect of a Tablet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Group Intervention on Step Count, Fatigue, Self-Efficacy, and Quality of Life in Older Adults With Arthritis: A Pilot Study.Journal of gerontological nursingOlder adults with arthritis who received a tablet program with Fitbit tracking, four weekly video CBT walking sessions, and homework reported more steps, less fatigue, higher self-efficacy, and better quality of life than controls over 10 weeks. Small pilot.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Integrating Perspectives on Family Caregiving After Critical Illness: A Qualitative Content Analysis.American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care NursesFamily caregivers of ICU survivors report unmet needs for hands-on skills training and self-care support. Providers recognize logistical needs but overlook caregivers' mental health and personal well-being. Interventions must address these instrumental gaps rather than focusing solely on psychoeducation.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Lean methodology: contributions to improving work processes in health and nursing.Revista brasileira de enfermagemLean methods cut waiting times, surgical durations, and costs in hospital units by removing waste and standardizing workflows. However, most included studies did not measure patient satisfaction or financial gains, and long-term sustainability of these changes remains unproven.
• OTRNOther2024Privacy Barriers in Health Monitoring: Scoping Review.JMIR nursingPrivacy concerns about home health monitoring technologies did not show a clear pattern. The review found they varied by person, technology, age, health needs, trust and context, and current evidence was too inconsistent to call privacy a major barrier.
• OTSLPRNQualitative2024"I can't provide what my child needs": Early feeding experiences of caregivers of children with craniofacial microsomia.Journal of pediatric nursingCaregivers of infants with craniofacial microsomia described breastfeeding attempts as distressing due to poor latch and weight loss, often feeling judged by providers. Many switched to formula or tube feeding with guilt, citing unmet needs for practical support, clear information, and emotional validation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Low back pain self-management mobile applications: a systematic review on digital platforms.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PBack pain apps available in Brazil had some exercise and self-management features, but only two had been tested in clinical research. They are not proven treatments, so suggest them only as an adjunct with safety advice.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024Guides or guidelines for interacting and playing with medical complex children: a qualitative documentary research.Revista latino-americana de enfermagemGuides for children with medical complexity recommend play through the adult's voice, repeated simple interactions, high-contrast and textured objects, bath routines, and safe mobility. These are care prompts, not proof that play improves outcomes.
• PTOTRNOther2024Leprosy and its impact on the quality of life of people with physical disabilities: a scoping review.Revista brasileira de enfermagemLeprosy-related physical disability was linked to impaired daily living, social participation, income, mental health, and pain. Mapping these themes can guide assessment and patient education rather than prove a treatment works.
• PTOTRNNarrative Review2024Mobility Assessment Instruments.Seminars in oncology nursingNo single mobility test fits all cancer patients. Quick bedside options include gait speed, chair rise, Timed Up and Go and BMAT; longer PT and OT evaluations use balance, strength and patient-reported measures.
• OTRNOther2024Does self-care improve coping or does coping improve self-care? A structural equation modeling study.Applied nursing research : ANRIn heart failure caregivers, better self-care was linked to less stress, more active coping and better mental health. Targeting caregiver self-care may be a practical entry point, but these cross-sectional data cannot prove it causes change.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Caregivers' voices: From the world of autism spectrum disorder.CurationisCaregivers of children with autism described not understanding the child's behaviour as communication, learning the child's own signals, and carrying stigma, financial strain and lost self-care. Clinicians can ask about these barriers when supporting these families.
• PTOTSurvey2024Health-Related Quality of Life and its Determinants among School-going Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study.International journal of community based nursing and midwiferyAdolescents in Indian government schools rated quality of life around half the possible score, highest for social relationships. Older age was linked to better well-being scores, while failing a back-stretch test was linked to lower scores.
• OTSLPRNOther2024Tracheostomy care for adults and the elderly in the home environment: a scoping review.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S PHome tracheostomy care for adults and elderly people is described mainly as suction, stoma cleaning, dressing changes, tube fixation and humidification. Communication and social reintegration appear less often. Spiritual care is absent. The review maps practice, not tested outcomes.
• OTRNQualitative2024Perspectives of practitioners on support for caregivers of children with intellectual disability.CurationisPractitioners said caregivers of children with profound intellectual disability need regular training, emotional support, adequate equipment and staffing, and better pay. No patient outcomes were measured.
• OTQualitative2024A qualitative exploration to inform an oral health training for disability care workers in Burkina Faso.Nursing openCare workers in disability centres in Burkina Faso said they lacked brushes, toothpaste and water to start regular toothbrushing. They wanted training, and sugary snacks and drinks were common.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2024'A team around the child' professionals' experiences of unmet needs, access and expectations in children's palliative care services, a phenomenological study in the UK.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityProfessionals reported that families often had to 'fight' to access basic equipment and respite care. Staff felt blocked by other services or overwhelmed by staffing shortages, while families who did not shout were perceived to suffer in silence.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2024Community paediatric clinics and their role in supporting developmental outcomes and services for children living in disadvantaged communities.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityCommunity clinics in disadvantaged areas engaged vulnerable families better than hospital settings. Parents valued shorter wait times, familiar surroundings, and respectful communication. These clinics improved attendance and facilitated earlier diagnosis of developmental delays compared to traditional hospital-based care.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2023Experiences and Unmet Needs of Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of a Brain Tumor (Aged 15-39 Years): A Systematic Review and Meta-ethnography.Cancer nursingAdolescent and young adult brain tumor survivors report both positive coping and severe emotional distress, often feeling like a burden. Families carry the weight of managing late effects and navigating school or work support, while survivors frequently lack specific information on long-term needs.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Social exercise interventions for children who have complex developmental needs: A systematic review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityGroup exercise with social elements produced motor skill gains after intervention in children with developmental needs, but total physical activity effects are unknown. Evidence for social, emotional, and thinking outcomes remains unclear.
• OTSurvey2025Using the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behaviour to assess provider perception of implementing solution-focused goal-setting in paediatric rehabilitation.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityPaediatric rehabilitation providers valued solution-focused goal-setting but felt least confident actually doing it, especially with children. They said they needed more support beyond training; time, team processes and documentation were barriers.
• PTOTRNQualitative2025Elucidating children's understanding of brachial plexus birth injury.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityChildren with brachial plexus birth injury understood it mainly through pain, activity limits and unwanted attention, not through nerve terms or clinic diagrams. Ask what their arm stops them doing, and check readiness before teaching.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Identifying research priorities with children, youth, and families: A scoping review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityChildren and families set priorities like pain management, mental health access, and hospital-to-home transitions. Yet they were outnumbered by professionals in 28 studies. Clinicians should verify if current care plans address these family-identified needs, not just clinical metrics.
• PTOTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Children and young people's participation in decision-making within healthcare organisations in New Zealand: An integrative review.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityMost evidence on child participation in New Zealand healthcare comes from adult opinions, not children's own voices. Barriers include lack of time, resources, and belief in children's competence. Few studies directly consulted children under five.
• OTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Changing bodies: A scoping review and thematic analysis of family experience during serious childhood illness.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communitySerious childhood illness causes significant psychological distress, often exceeding physical pain. Children create safe spaces and seek play to cope. Parents experience vicarious trauma. Consistent, age-appropriate information builds trust, while inconsistent communication causes fear. Technology supports engagement but cannot replace human interaction.
• OTRNOther2025Establishing priorities in child health: Giving parents and youth a voice.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityParents and youth in Alberta named mental health, vaccines, access to care, and behaviour and development topics as child health research priorities. Parents prioritized screen time and neurodevelopment; youth prioritized early anxiety and depression signs.
• OTQualitative2025Transitioning from paediatric to adult healthcare: Exploring the practices and experiences of care providers.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityFifteen providers supporting youth with complex needs described paediatric-to-adult transitions as variable, under-resourced and dependent on individual effort. They proposed navigators, overlap care, virtual visits and better knowledge of adult services.
• PTOTSLPRNQualitative2025"A very different place from when the pandemic started": Lessons learned for improving systems of care for families of children with medical complexity.Journal of child health care : for professionals working with children in the hospital and communityParents of children with medical complexity preferred virtual care for scheduling and rural access but found it ineffective for therapies requiring physical engagement. They urgently requested flexible funding for respite and exceptions to hospital visitor policies to support caregiving demands.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024The meaning of health to persons aging with longstanding multiple sclerosis.Research in nursing & healthPeople aging with MS valued health as function and adaptation more than absence of disease. Over 26 years, agreement with both definitions declined slightly, but self-rated health remained largely stable. Wellness-focused views linked to more health behaviors.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024Qualitative Description of Exercise Perceptions and Experiences Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the High-Intensity Exercise to Attenuate Limitations and Train Habits Study.The Journal of cardiovascular nursingMost older adults with HIV stopped exercising due to practical life changes like relocation or cost, but their current barriers were physical pain, fatigue, and medication side effects. Providers often encouraged activity, but participants frequently perceived this advice as pressure rather than support.
• PTOTRNSystematic Review2025Inpatients' experiences of falls: A qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of advanced nursingPatients who fell in hospital often misjudged their balance, avoided calling nurses, and could not find or reach the call bell. They then feared walking independently. Ask why they did not call for help.
• OTRNSystematic Review2025Resilience in family caregivers of Asian older people with dementia: An integrative review.Journal of advanced nursingDementia caregivers' burden was associated with more severe dementia, role strain, stigma, family stress, being female, low income and low education. Positive caregiving aspects, family support and religiosity were associated with better adaptation.
• OTRNSystematic Review2024Psycho-social Stressors Experienced by Young war Refugees in Developed Countries: A Scoping Review.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresYoung war refugees in developed countries faced stressors before, during and after migration, especially language barriers, separation, discrimination, money worries and strained parent-child relationships. These stressors shape mental health and daily participation.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Post-Acute Care Trends and Disparities After Joint Replacements in the United States, 1991-2018: A Systematic Review.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationAfter joint replacement in the US, skilled nursing facility or nursing home discharges decreased in four studies and increased in one, but Black patients were more likely than White patients to go to institutional care and less likely to go home without home health care.
• OTSLPRNSystematic Review2024Impact of Cognitive Rehabilitation on Cognitive and Functional Outcomes in Adult Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.Seminars in oncology nursingCognitive rehabilitation programs for adult cancer survivors reported improvements in cognitive tests and self-reported thinking, but real-world function was rarely measured and benefits over control were inconsistent. Strategy training may help patients report better thinking; computer training may help processing speed.
• PTOTSLPRNCohort2024Crosswalk Algorithms for Cognitive and Functional Outcomes Among 2013-2018 Medicare Beneficiaries With Dementia.Journal of the American Medical Directors AssociationHome health admission scores often disagree with nursing facility discharge scores for patients with dementia. Cognitive impairment can be ruled out reliably using specific OASIS items, but ADL limitations are over-identified, making cross-setting comparisons unreliable.
• PTOTRNOther2025Interventions facilitating the involvement of relatives of patients with acquired brain injury or malignant brain tumour: A scoping review.Journal of clinical nursingRelatives of stroke and brain tumour patients were involved in many varied interventions, commonly including education and physical activity or training, often delivered by nurses. Outcomes and involvement were not measured consistently, so it cannot show which approach works.
• OTQualitative2025'There are things I have learned the hard way' Patient experiences on lasting challenges 4 months after Transient Ischemic Attack: A qualitative study.Journal of clinical nursingPeople with transient ischemic attack who reported lasting challenges described fatigue, thinking changes, and ongoing worry four months later. Many improved slowly, but they said they needed earlier acknowledgement of lasting symptoms and support for mental wellbeing.
• OTQualitative2025The Value of an Informal Before-School Exercise Opportunity for Adolescent Girls Living in a Low-Socioeconomic Community.The Journal of school healthGirls in a disadvantaged school said informal before-school exercise helped them make new friends, feel more confident, and want to come to school. They valued choosing activities and having teachers present.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Healthcare professionals' experiences of required competencies in mentoring of interprofessional students in clinical practice: A systematic review of qualitative studies.Journal of advanced nursingMentoring interprofessional student teams requires specific skills in building team identity, facilitating shared reasoning, and balancing clinical care with teaching. Nurses, therapists and doctors described feeling unprepared to supervise peers from other professions without clear coordination and manager support.
• PTOTRNQualitative2024The Saskatchewan Caregiver Experience Study: Support Priorities of Caregivers of Older Adults.The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieresCaregivers of older adults in Saskatchewan prioritized immediate practical help, especially homecare and long-term care access, plus being listened to by healthcare teams. They also wanted clearer information, respite, and workplace and policy supports.
• OTRNCohort2024Factors associated with change in activities of daily living performance in home health care patients with diabetes.Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)Home health patients with diabetes improved ADL performance, and only 3% did not improve. Black patients and those with bowel incontinence or ostomy improved less, while surgical wounds, pain, confusion, better prior function, and caregiver training needs were linked to greater improvement.
• PTOTRNQualitative2025Exploring physical activity experiences of community-dwelling oldest-old adults with chronic multimorbidity: A qualitative study.Journal of advanced nursingOldest-old adults with multiple chronic conditions described pain, tiredness, cold weather and caregiving as reducing activity. Fear after falls led them to stop activities. Companions, home adaptations, aids and tailored activities were described as supporting safety, confidence or activity.