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 62 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTOther2019Differences between preschool children using tablets and non-tablets in visual perception and fine motor skills.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTPreschoolers who used tablets scored lower on visual perception and fine motor skills than non-users. Tablet use time correlated negatively with motor precision. However, the study design cannot prove tablets caused these deficits, as other factors like lack of siblings may explain the differences.
• OTOther2020The effects of a two-minute original exercise program supported by the workplace unit on the workers' work engagement: the "Bipoji" exercise.Journal of physical therapy scienceEmployees whose workplace supported a two-minute posture exercise for eight weeks reported higher work engagement than those who decided alone. Gains appeared in energy, concentration and total engagement, not dedication.
• OTOther2020Visual fatigue during control room work in process industries.Work (Reading, Mass.)Operators rated tired eyes and blurred vision higher than double vision or sore eyes. Mental workload was the highest strain. Screens were brighter than the surrounding light in eight of nine control rooms.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Interventions for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Oncologic Physical Therapy of APTA.Physical therapyGuideline recommends prospective surveillance and supervised progressive exercise as safe early interventions. For established lymphedema, complete decongestive therapy is standard, but manual lymphatic drainage may be omitted without losing volume reduction. Compression garments are first-line for early stages.
• OTQualitative2020Referral Prioritization in Home Care Occupational Therapy: A Matter of Perspective.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieHome care OTs prioritized falls and safety, while older people and adults with disabilities valued getting out and showering for independence, dignity and participation. OTs said this safety focus clashed with client-centered practice.
• OTOther2020Exploring augmented grasping capabilities in a multi-synergistic soft bionic hand.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA new soft bionic hand allowed amputees to switch grips without opening the hand first. They moved faster on precision tasks than with the previous model, but found it harder to lift heavy cans. This was a small pilot with just three users.
• OTSurvey2020Knowledge about Computer Vision Syndrome among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.Occupational therapy international211 bank workers had heard about computer vision syndrome, but 95 had poor knowledge and 63 had good knowledge. Working experience was associated with knowledge. OTs who advise office workers may need to check breaks, lighting, positioning, and glasses.
• OTOther2020The Development and Psychometric Properties of the Visuospatial Working Memory Assessment (VWMA) for Children.Occupational therapy internationalA new visuospatial working memory test for children was rated as relevant by experts and gave stable scores when repeated, but it separated children with ADHD from other children on some tasks and not all.
• OTSurvey2020A Survey of Occupational Therapists on a New Tool for Sensory Processing.Occupational therapy internationalAll 20 occupational therapists surveyed said they would use The Sensory Form in practice, finding it helpful for linking sensory issues to participation. However, responses were mixed on whether parents or teachers could use it effectively, with many noting it requires professional training.
• PTOTCohort2020Pushing the Rehabilitation Boundaries: Hand Motor Impairment Can Be Reduced in Chronic Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIntensive multi-finger pressing training improved finger independence and hand function in 18 adults with chronic stroke, especially pinch, with gains still present at 6 months, though there was no control group.
• OTCohort2020Mortality of people with intellectual disabilities during the 2017/2018 influenza epidemic in the Netherlands: potential implications for the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRDuring the 2017/2018 influenza epidemic, deaths rose 15.2% among Dutch adults with intellectual disabilities versus 5.4% in the general population. Excess deaths were not only respiratory; diabetes and Down syndrome contributed. ID should not be assumed low risk.
• OTSurvey2020Clinical Relevance and Psychometric Properties of the Swedish Version of the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument.Occupational therapy internationalSwedish occupational therapists rated a cultural competence self-assessment tool as highly relevant to their practice. The study validated a shortened 13-item version that measures openness, workplace support, and interaction skills to help therapists better serve international clients.
• OTCohort2020The role of time in the relation between perceived job insecurity and perceived job performance.Work (Reading, Mass.)Fear of job loss was not linked to core task performance. It was linked to a more than two times larger self-reported productivity loss at baseline and after two years.
• PTOTPilot2020Metrics extracted from a single wearable sensor during sit-stand transitions relate to mobility impairment and fall risk in people with multiple sclerosis.Gait & postureAdding a single thigh sensor to the 30-second chair stand test helped identify people with multiple sclerosis at risk of falls more accurately than counting repetitions alone. The sensor captured how slowly and cautiously participants stood up, which correlated with balance confidence and fatigue scores.
• PTOTOther2020Mental health guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFor people with spina bifida, mental health guidelines recommend screening for depression, anxiety, bullying, and risk behaviors at all ages. They also recommend family support, physical and social activity, self-care, and transition planning. These are consensus recommendations, not proven treatments.
• OTPilot2020Reducing lumbar spine flexion using real-time biofeedback during patient handling tasks.Work (Reading, Mass.)Novice caregivers trained with a video and wearable feedback showed less near-maximal lower-back bending during simulated patient handling after feedback was turned off. The change was in the most flexed postures, not in typical bending.
• OTOther2020The Validity of the Danish Version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalThe Danish Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores showed no meaningful overlap with tests of health, well-being, or general occupational behavior. This confirms it captures unique client priorities that other common assessments miss, so it cannot be replaced by generic health measures.
• OTOther2020Final Year Students' Knowledge on Basic Manual Wheelchair Provision: The State of Occupational Therapy Programs in Colombia.Occupational therapy internationalNo final year occupational therapy students at 7 Colombian universities reached the 70% passing threshold on a basic wheelchair provision test. Fitting and user training were weakest. Graduates may need stronger wheelchair education before practice.
• OTOther2020Occupational Therapy Goal Achievement for People with Stroke: A Retrospective Study.Occupational therapy internationalMost goals written for stroke patients were not functional and lacked specific details like timeframes. Only 54% of goals were achieved. Therapists should write SMART goals focusing on daily activities to improve outcomes.
• OTOther2020Computer Vision-Based Approach for Quantifying Occupational Therapists' Qualitative Evaluations of Postural Control.Occupational therapy internationalComputer vision scores matched therapists' qualitative judgments of postural control better than duration time alone. The visual method also worked well with only 20 seconds of video, suggesting assessments could be shorter and less tiring for children.
• OTOther2020Physical activity level of kindergarten staff working with toddlers and older children in Norway.Work (Reading, Mass.)Most kindergarten staff met daily physical activity guidelines. Staff working with older children moved more overall and during leisure time. Staff working with toddlers moved more during work hours but were less active outside of work, relying on their job to meet guidelines.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Integument: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExperts recommend daily skin checks for people with spina bifida, focusing on weight-bearing areas and insensate skin. Care plans vary by age, shifting from caregiver-led inspections in infants to self-management and pressure-relief routines in older children and adults.
• PTOTCase-Control2020Evaluation of cervical spine muscles thickness in patients with cervical vertigo and healthy controls through ultrasonography.Journal of physical therapy sciencePatients with cervical vertigo had a thicker longus colli muscle than healthy controls, but no difference was found in other deep neck muscles. This suggests the deep neck flexors may be working harder to stabilize the spine in these patients.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Virtual reality hand therapy: A new tool for nonopioid analgesia for acute procedural pain, hand rehabilitation, and VR embodiment therapy for phantom limb pain.Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand TherapistsIn burn wound care and hand therapy, immersive VR reduced pain while patients stretched as far as without VR. Evidence is strongest for short-term procedural pain, not for chronic phantom limb pain.
• OTMeta-Analysis2020Non-pharmacological interventions for challenging behaviours of adults with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analysis.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRNon-pharmacological interventions reduced challenging behaviours in adults with intellectual disabilities by a moderate amount, and these gains held up over follow-up periods of 3 to 18 months.
• OTQualitative2020Occupational Risks in Occupational Therapy Service Learning: A Single-Site "Fear Factor" Study in South Africa.Occupational therapy internationalSeventeen female occupational therapy students in South Africa reported fear of infection, musculoskeletal pain from transfers, and unsafe client behaviour during placements. Inconsistent infection control made them pull back; clear safety practices and support were described as helping them engage.
• OTOther2020Work-focused therapy for common mental disorders: A naturalistic study comparing an intervention group with a waitlist control group.Work (Reading, Mass.)Work-focused therapy combined with CBT or MCT helped more patients on sick leave return fully to work than waiting: 41.4% versus 26.3%. It also improved mood, anxiety and work confidence, but the groups were not randomised.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Self-management and independence guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineStart building self-management and independence in infancy through small daily choices, chores, and condition-care tasks, increasing gradually with family support. These spina bifida guidelines offer practical steps, not proof that any single approach works.
• OTQualitative2020How logical is safety? An institutional logics perspective on safety at work.Work (Reading, Mass.)Railroad supervisors justified safety using different workplace logics: profit, professional expertise, and hierarchy. When these logics clashed, safety decisions became harder and demands conflicted.
• PTOTNarrative Review2020Urologic guidelines for the care and management of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExpert consensus suggests a specific schedule of ultrasounds, urodynamics and blood tests from birth through adulthood to protect kidney function. These recommendations are not based on evidence from trials, so treat them as a starting point for discussion rather than a proven standard.
• OTQualitative2020Behaviour Change Domains Likely to Influence Occupational Therapist Use of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure.Occupational therapy internationalExperienced occupational therapists said client characteristics and anticipated client reactions were the strongest social influence on COPM use. They also described conflicting confidence, skills, and a preference for individual assessment, not team direction.
• OTOther2020Bowel function and care: Guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineConsensus guidelines recommend a stepwise approach to bowel management in spina bifida, starting with diet and fluids before moving to medications or surgery. The goal is social continence without constipation, tailored to the patient's age and abilities.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Sex differences in the first impressions made by girls and boys with autism.Molecular autismAutistic boys made significantly worse first impressions than autistic girls, who were rated similarly to typically developing peers. Clinician ratings of social impairment correlated with first impressions in boys but not girls, suggesting girls may camouflage symptoms during brief interactions.
• OTOther2020A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study of Manipulative Dexterity on Different Subtypes of Multiple Sclerosis.Occupational therapy internationalPeople with relapsing-remitting, primary progressive and secondary progressive MS all showed poor hand dexterity. Subtype differences were not clear except on one hand test. A hand test predicted up to 21.8% of how able participants felt in daily tasks.
• OTSurvey2020The Mediating Effects of Attachment Styles on the Relationship between Sensory Processing Styles and Interpersonal Problems in Healthy University Students.Occupational therapy internationalIn healthy university students, sensory processing styles linked to interpersonal problems only through attachment. Low sensory registration predicted interpersonal issues via anxious attachment. Sensory avoidance predicted interpersonal issues via avoidant attachment. Sensation seeking showed no link to interpersonal problems.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2020A Strength-Based Intervention to Increase Participation in Leisure Activities in Children with Neuropsychiatric Disabilities: A Pilot Study.Occupational therapy internationalTwo boys with autism and ADHD set their own leisure goals. They reached these goals and rated their own ability higher. However, the intervention was time-consuming for staff, and the small number of participants means we cannot know if this works for others.
• OTSLPOther2020Defining clusters of young autistic and typically developing children based on loudness-dependent auditory electrophysiological responses.Molecular autismBrain responses to sound loudness clustered 213 children into four groups. Autistic children with hyper-responsive brains to loud sounds had more caregiver-reported distractibility. However, clusters overlapped heavily with typically developing peers, so neural patterns do not clearly separate diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Health promotion and preventive health care service guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSpina bifida preventive care guidelines rest mostly on expert consensus and general screening, not proof of tested interventions. They flag mobility, daily activity, bowel/bladder, pain, and swallowing changes as conditions to monitor across ages.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Attenuation of core temperature elevation and interleukin-6 excretion during head-out hot water immersion in elderly people.Journal of physical therapy scienceHead-out hot water immersion failed to raise IL-6 in elderly men, unlike in young men. Core temperature also rose less in the elderly. This method does not replicate the exercise-induced IL-6 response in older adults.
• PTOTOther2020Family functioning guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineExpert consensus guidelines recommend assessing family dynamics, stress, and barriers to medical self-management across spina bifida age groups. They suggest referring to OT and PT for self-care. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• OTCohort2020Eating and Grooming Abilities Predict Outcomes in Patients with Early Middle Cerebral Infarction: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Occupational therapy internationalEarly eating and grooming ability, along with hand recovery stage, helped predict whether people after middle cerebral artery stroke went home rather than to another facility. Clinicians can observe these simple bedside tasks soon after admission.
• PTOTSurvey2020Lifetime use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies among community-dwelling older people in Japan.Journal of physical therapy scienceNearly half of older Japanese men and nearly six in ten women have used at least one of three insurance-covered manual therapies. Judo therapy was the most common, used by 44.5% of women and 28.0% of men. These therapies are a standard part of care, not rare alternatives.
• OTSystematic Review2020The Usefulness of the Pressure Algometer in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Orofacial Pain Patients: A Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalPressure algometry should not be used alone to diagnose orofacial pain. Across the included studies, results were too inconsistent and often unreliable, so clinicians should combine it with other assessment.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2020Neuropsychological care guidelines for people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSpina bifida affects the brain, not just the spine. Children often have strong rote skills but struggle with comprehension, math, and attention. Use rule-based instruction and repetition. Treat attention issues as neurological, not behavioral, and expect poor response to standard stimulants.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2020Care coordination guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThese are expert recommendations for coordinating lifelong spina bifida care, not tested interventions. They outline age-specific goals from newborn support to adult transition, but the authors state there is very little database evidence proving these coordination programs improve health outcomes.
• PTOTOther2020Latex allergy guidelines for people with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicinePeople with spina bifida should avoid skin contact with latex and inhalation of latex powder throughout life, with education shifting from caregivers to the person as they age. These are expert consensus recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTCohort2020Characteristics Associated with the Differential Activity of Nondominant and Dominant Affected Hands in Patients with Poststroke Right Hemiparesis.Occupational therapy internationalStroke survivors whose dominant hand was affected used their non-affected hand significantly more than their paretic hand, creating strong asymmetry. However, standard clinical scores for motor function and self-reported use did not correlate with this real-world activity imbalance measured by wearable sensors.
• OTCohort2020Neurogenic bowel treatments and continence outcomes in children and adults with myelomeningocele.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAntegrade enemas were associated with the highest reported continence in this registry study, but the work did not show cause. Overall continence was modest, and independent bowel care was uncommon.
• OTOther2020A structural equation model analysis of the effects of emotional labor and job stress on depression among nurses with long working hours: Focusing on the mediating effects of resilience and social support.Work (Reading, Mass.)For nurses working over 10 hours a day, emotional labor directly increases depression. Job stress does not directly cause depression but does so indirectly by lowering social support. Resilience also mediates the link between emotional labor and depression.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Predictors for the academic success of first-year physiotherapy students at a South African university.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdmission test scores in academic literacy and physical sciences predicted first-year success in a physiotherapy programme. Most students scored below proficient in mathematics, suggesting that support in physics and chemistry may need to be compulsory rather than optional.