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 43 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTPilot2018Can telerehabilitation games lead to functional improvement of upper extremities in individuals with Parkinson's disease?International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationParkinson's patients who played a home 'Fruit Picking' game for three weeks wrote letters and moved light objects faster, and scored better on hand dexterity and motor exams. No control group was used, so these gains cannot be separated from time or other factors.
• OTSLPPilot2018Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN): Description and usability of app-based coaching intervention for adolescents with TBI.Developmental neurorehabilitationFour adolescents with brain injury used an app, a website, and weekly coaching for four weeks. Feedback was positive and two achieved social participation goals. Measured social and behavior scores did not show a clear change.
• PTOTSurvey2018Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Fatigability Index for Full-Time Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFull-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury reported physical and mental fatigue across many activities. The new physical and mental scales each behaved mainly as one overall score, but they were tested in a self-selected sample and are not proof of treatment benefit.
• OTSLPOther2018Problem Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Association with Verbal Ability and Adapting/Coping Skills.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 346 psychiatric inpatients with autism, minimally verbal people did not have more problem behaviors than verbal people. Verbal people had more aggression and oppositional behavior. Lower coping skills were associated with more problem behaviors.
• OTSLPCase-Control2018Predictors of Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMood disorders, sleep problems, and higher social communication severity were associated with psychiatric hospitalization in children and adolescents with ASD. Higher adaptive functioning and married caregiver status were associated with lower likelihood.
• PTOTPilot2018Preliminary findings of altered functional connectivity of the default mode network linked to functional outcomes one year after pediatric traumatic brain injury.Developmental neurorehabilitationOne year after mild to moderate brain injury, children showed altered brain network connections associated with poorer complex motor inhibition. Basic motor speed and simple inhibition were not related. This is preliminary evidence from 11 injured and 11 uninjured children.
• OTCohort2018Factors associated with sustained community employment among adults with autism and co-occurring intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAmong adults with autism and intellectual disability, only 14.3% kept paid community work for 18 months. Daily living skills, family income, mother's social network, school inclusion, and living in larger-population areas were linked with staying employed.
• OTOther2019Vocational Rehabilitation of Young Adults with Psychological Disabilities.Journal of occupational rehabilitationYoung adults with psychological disabilities in German vocational rehabilitation waited longer to start rehabilitation and obtained employment less often than other rehabilitants. Interviewees described needing early access and gradual work routines.
• PTOTSLPOther2019The Gestalt of functioning in autism spectrum disorder: Results of the international conference to develop final consensus International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health core sets.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceExperts chose a list of autism functioning areas to assess: daily tasks, participation, environment and supports across ages. This is a framework, not evidence that a treatment works.
• OTSLPQualitative2019Educator perspectives on the postsecondary transition difficulties of students with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEducators said students with autism relied on parents for choices and supports after high school. They also identified casual conversation, problem solving, and schedule management as key transition difficulties.
• PTOTRCT2019Effect of Reassuring Information About Musculoskeletal and Mental Health Complaints at the Workplace: A Cluster Randomized Trial of the atWork Intervention.Journal of occupational rehabilitationThe modified atWork programme (manager sessions, mental-health and back-pain employee sessions, one review session) did not reduce sick leave more than the original programme (back-pain employee sessions and peer support). Sick leave showed no significant difference between groups, and most other outcomes were similar.
• PTOTCohort2019Psychosocial Comorbidities Related to Return to Work Rates Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.Journal of occupational rehabilitationOlder age and higher depression or anxiety scores predicted failure to return to work after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. State anxiety at three months was linked to not returning to work at twelve months. Screen for both mood and anxiety disorders to identify patients needing support.
• OTCohort2018Prematurity may negatively impact means-end problem solving across the first two years of life.Research in developmental disabilitiesPreterm infants took longer to shift toward goal-directed object-to-goal problem solving through 24 months. Full-term infants were more likely to pull a towel or spin a turntable to get a toy. Early object exploration was associated with later success, so offer varied object play.
• PTOTOther2018Hand-Use-at-Home Questionnaire: validity and reliability in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy.Clinical rehabilitationParents can use the Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire to report how often a child with one weak arm spontaneously uses it at home. Scores were stable over two to four weeks and related to severity, but ability alone did not fully predict use.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Participation in Daily Life: Influence on Quality of Life in Ambulatory Children with Cerebral Palsy.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationHigher overall participation linked to better psychosocial and total quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. However, simply doing activities more often correlated with lower quality of life scores. Satisfaction with participation did not predict quality of life.
• OTSystematic Review2018Systematic Review of Caregiver and Dyad Interventions After Adult Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationSome caregiver and dyad interventions after adult TBI reduced caregiver depression and burden in 3 studies with positive results, but the evidence is too mixed to recommend one approach.
• PTOTCohort2018Validation of the Work-Disability Physical Functional Assessment Battery.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe Work-Disability Physical Functional Assessment Battery (WD-FAB) showed moderate validity against a physical work performance evaluation, but patients reported higher function than their therapists. The test worked best for upper body function and was less reliable for mobility and position tolerance in this high-functioning sample.
• OTSLPQualitative2018The importance of context in early autism intervention: A qualitative South African study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSouth African caregivers of young children said early autism intervention should consider family language, culture, home setting, cost, and stigma. They preferred in-home therapy, language-matched providers, and speech or occupational therapists over local community workers.
• PTOTCohort2018Which Neuromuscular Attributes Are Associated With Changes in Mobility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFor older adults with symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis, low trunk endurance, weak legs and stiff knees predicted mobility decline over two years. These three attributes were also predictive in those without stenosis, suggesting rehabilitation targets should focus on these impairments regardless of diagnosis.
• OTPilot2018Preliminary efficacy of a daily living skills intervention for adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSeven adolescents with high-functioning autism completed a 12-week group program teaching daily living skills. Participants showed significant improvement in cooking, laundry, and morning routines, with gains maintained at six-month follow-up. Money management skills improved less, suggesting this area needs more practice time.
• PTOTCohort2018Two-Year Longitudinal Changes in Lower Limb Strength and Its Relation to Loss in Function in a Large Cohort of Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOver two years, strength normalized to body size declined in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, widening the gap with healthy peers. However, changes in leg strength only modestly predicted loss of walking ability. Plantar flexor strength was a better predictor of losing function than knee extensor strength.
• OTCohort2019Relationship Between Hispanic Nativity, Residential Environment, and Productive Activity Among Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A TBI Model Systems Study.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationFor Hispanic people with TBI, birthplace and local foreign-language share were not linked to productive activity by themselves. Together, foreign-born people in higher foreign-language areas were 2.82 times more likely to work, study, or volunteer at 1 year.
• OTSLPCase-Control2019Concordance between physiological arousal and emotion expression during fear in young children with autism spectrum disorders.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceNo clear group difference was found in the link between arousal and expression during fear in young children with autism and typical children. Both groups showed similar heart rate and visible fear responses. Low visible fear does not prove low internal arousal.
• PTOTCohort2019Assessment of Mobility in Older People Hospitalized for Medical Illness Using the de Morton Mobility Index and Cumulated Ambulation Score-Validity and Minimal Clinical Important Difference.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)The DEMMI detects mobility changes in hospitalized older adults, including those with severe cognitive impairment. A 10.7-point improvement marks a meaningful change. The CAS is quicker but hits a ceiling, making it poor for tracking recovery in high-functioning patients.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Vocational Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of the State of the Field.Journal of occupational rehabilitationMost vocational rehabilitation studies use the ICF only to structure information or link it to existing measures, not to guide clinical assessment or goal setting. The framework is criticized for being time-consuming and too bulky, with limited use of specific VR core sets.
• OTCohort2019Impact of a Safe Resident Handling Program in Nursing Homes on Return-to-Work and Re-injury Outcomes Following Work Injury.Journal of occupational rehabilitationNursing-home staff with resident-handling injuries had fewer recurrent disabling claims after a safe resident handling program. It did not clearly shorten first episodes of disability.
• OTOther2019The Development of an Instrument to Measure the Work Capability of People with Limited Work Capacity (LWC).Journal of occupational rehabilitationA tailored questionnaire for people with limited work capacity can be completed by them and by a supporter, and scores were stable over 3 months. It has not yet been shown to predict job behaviour or performance.
• OTCohort2019Population of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Decade of Change.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMore people with TBI were admitted to U.S. skilled nursing facilities from 2005 to 2014. They were older, and fewer had severe functional or cognitive impairment.
• PTOTCohort2019Functional Capacity Evaluation in Different Societal Contexts: Results of a Multicountry Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationFunctional capacity test scores in patients with musculoskeletal pain were consistently linked to height, reported pain, and the specific clinician and country conducting the test. These contextual factors must be considered when interpreting results for return-to-work decisions.
• OTCohort2018Health care utilization among children with chronic conditions in military families.Disability and health journalAmong 140,533 military children with chronic conditions, those with both behavioral and physical conditions used more care. In one year, 20.1% had inpatient stays, versus 10.0% with physical conditions only and 7.8% with behavioral conditions only.
• OTRCT2018Nerve Stimulation Enhances Task-Oriented Training for Moderate-to-Severe Hemiparesis 3-12 Months After Stroke: A Randomized Trial.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAdding nerve stimulation to intensive arm training improved task-based hand performance more than sham stimulation with the same training at the end of treatment in adults with moderate-to-severe stroke arm weakness.
• OTSurvey2018Parent Expectations and Preparatory Activities as Adolescents with ASD Transition to Adulthood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of adolescent females with ASD reported lower expectations for their future and enrolled daughters in adult-roles classes far more often than sons. Higher expectations predicted some transition talks and activities, but not all.
• OTSurvey2018Functional Impairments Associated With Patient Activation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOlder adults with greater limitations in basic self-care or household tasks reported lower confidence managing their own care and poorer communication with doctors. Health information-seeking was less consistent, especially with basic self-care limitations.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2019Intrathecal baclofen in metachromatic leukodystrophy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTen non-walking children with metachromatic leukodystrophy received intrathecal baclofen. Doses increased steadily over six months as the disease progressed. Families reported clear improvements in comfort and daily care, though no standardized outcome measures were used.
• PTOTOther2019Understanding Health-Related Quality of Life in Caregivers of Civilians and Service Members/Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: Establishing the Reliability and Validity of PROMIS Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance Item Banks.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationThe PROMIS Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance tests are reliable and valid for caregivers of people with traumatic brain injury. They take under a minute to complete and accurately distinguish caregivers of high-functioning patients from those of low-functioning patients.
• OTSurvey2019Burnout and Quality of Life Among Massage Therapists with Visual Impairment.Journal of occupational rehabilitationAmong 43 blind or poor-sighted massage therapists in Poland, burnout was generally low. Quality of life was highest in psychological health and lowest in physical health. This small survey does not show that massage work caused these outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2018Brief Report: Postural Balance and Daily Living Skills in Children and Adolescents with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPostural balance predicted daily living skills only in children with ASD and IQs of 104 or lower. For those with IQs above 104, balance scores showed no relation to daily living performance, suggesting higher-IQ individuals may already use strategies to compensate for balance challenges.
• PTOTSLPOther2018State-Level Trends in the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from 2000 to 2012: A Reanalysis of Findings from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Network.Journal of autism and developmental disordersASD prevalence varied widely by state from 2000 to 2012. State differences grew over time, with 2012 estimates ranging from 6.9 to 24.6 cases per 1000 8-year-olds. A national average can hide large state differences.
• PTOTSLPOther2018Quality of life and psychological well-being in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS): Importance of adopting a biopsychosocial model.Disability and health journalIn newly diagnosed MS, anxiety and locus of control predicted 40% of quality of life variance, outweighing disease symptoms. Clinicians should assess coping and perceived control early, not just physical disability.
• OTOther2018Older Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Sweden: A Register Study of Diagnoses, Psychiatric Care Utilization and Psychotropic Medication of 601 Individuals.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong older adults with registered autism spectrum disorder diagnoses who needed municipal support in Sweden, specialist psychiatric care use and psychotropic medication were common, particularly in those with Asperger’s syndrome or intellectual disability.
• OTSLPCohort2018Adaptive Behaviour and Cognitive Skills: Stability and Change from 7 Months to 7 Years in Siblings at High Familial Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigh-risk siblings scored lower than low-risk siblings on cognitive and adaptive tests from infancy to age 7. Among high-risk children, those later diagnosed with ASD showed worsening daily living and social skills over time.
• PTOTSLPCohort2018Improvement During Inpatient Rehabilitation Among Older Adults With Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson Disease, and Stroke.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationOlder adults with Guillain-Barré, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, or stroke all improved in self-care, mobility, and cognition during inpatient rehabilitation. Patients with Guillain-Barré showed the largest gains, followed by stroke, while those with multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease made more modest but still meaningful progress.
• OTSurvey2018Gender Identity in Autism: Sex Differences in Social Affiliation with Gender Groups.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults felt less attached to gender groups and viewed them less positively than controls. Autistic females felt less attached than autistic males, unlike controls.
• PTOTOther2018Influences of Age, Obesity, and Adverse Drug Effects on Balance and Mobility Testing Scores in Ambulatory Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)Age, body mass index, and a new drug index score predicted poorer balance and mobility test results in 57 older adults. The drug index worked even when standard fall-risk tests showed normal scores, suggesting it may help identify hidden risks.
• OTOther2019The Development of a New Computer Adaptive Test to Evaluate Feelings of Being Trapped in Caregivers of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: TBI-CareQOL Feeling Trapped Item Bank.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA new caregiver measure of feeling trapped after TBI gives a score in under a minute. The computer test often asked 4 items and averaged 32 seconds. It can flag caregivers who may need respite or support.
• OTOther2019What Employer Actions Are Considered Most Important for the Return to Work of Employees with Cancer? A Delphi Study Among Employees and Employers.Journal of occupational rehabilitationEmployers and employees with cancer independently ranked practical support, communication, emotional support, sufficient sick leave, work ability assessment, appreciation, and return-to-work planning among the most important supports, varying by phase.
• OTQualitative2019Multi-stakeholder perspectives on information communication technology training for older adults: implications for teaching and learning.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyCare providers, trainers and older adults described individualized technology training tied to meaningful daily life as important. They reported fear, low interest and unsupportive peers as barriers, and rapport, simplicity, patience and self-directed learning as supports.
• PTOTSLPOther2019Understanding Health-Related Quality of Life of Caregivers of Civilians and Service Members/Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: Establishing the Reliability and Validity of PROMIS Social Health Measures.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPROMIS social health measures provide reliable, rapid scores for caregivers of people with TBI. They accurately distinguish caregivers of those with low functional ability, who report significantly worse social health than the general population, enabling targeted support.
• PTOTRCT2019Effects of geriatric interdisciplinary home rehabilitation on complications and readmissions after hip fracture: a randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationOlder adults with hip fracture who received conventional geriatric care plus home rehabilitation had similar complications and readmissions as those who received conventional geriatric care. Adding home rehabilitation did not reduce complications, readmissions, or days in hospital after discharge.
• PTOTCohort2019Reliability and Fall Risk Detection for the BESTest and Mini-BESTest in Older Adults.Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)The BESTest and Mini-BESTest are stable over four weeks in older adults with balance problems, so a drop in score likely reflects a real change rather than test error. However, neither test reliably identified people who had fallen in the past year.