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 98 OF 218 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTQualitative2021Providing Verbal Assistance When Assessing Individuals Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieExpert OTs described verbal assistance during dynamic TBI assessments as flexible, not a fixed sequence. They first encourage doing more alone, then adjust cues based on safety, progress, requests, and context.
• PTOTSLPProtocol2021A Co-creation Centre for Accessible Rehabilitation Technology.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper describes the setup of a new technology-driven rehabilitation centre for stroke survivors and outlines the plan for a small pilot study. It reports no results, so there is currently no evidence here to change clinical practice.
• OTQualitative2021Changing Perspectives of Local Therapists Eight Years after the Implementation of an Occupational Therapy Service in a Unique Himalayan Cross-Cultural Setting.Occupational therapy internationalLocal therapists in rural China initially treated all patients identically, dismissing cultural differences. Eight years later, they actively adapted care for language, religion, and education, recognizing that ignoring these factors hinders engagement and recovery.
• PTOTOther2021Are in Person and Telephone Interviews Equivalent Modes of Administrating the CAT, the FACIT-FS and the SGRQ in People With COPD?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor people with COPD, telephone administration of the CAT, FACIT-FS and SGRQ matched in-person scores. Clinicians can use these questionnaires remotely to monitor symptoms and quality of life without losing accuracy, though patient preference for face-to-face contact should still be respected.
• PTOTCohort2021Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOlder women with normal walking speed showed reduced impact absorption in the trunk and lower local dynamic stability compared to young women. These sensor-based differences appeared despite similar spatiotemporal gait metrics, suggesting potential early instability markers not visible in standard clinical observation.
• OTCohort2022The role of parental advocacy in addressing service disparities for transition-aged youth on the autism spectrum.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceYouth with autism whose parents reported more advocacy activities received more services, even after accounting for income, race, and the youth's abilities. This links parental effort to service access but does not prove that teaching advocacy causes families to get more support.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Odour detection in children and young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDChildren and young people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities behaved differently to odours than to the odourless solvent: they aligned their head to the stick, sniffed, moved toward it, and rejected it more often.
• OTQualitative2022"It was surprisingly equivalent to the appointment I had in person": Advantages and disadvantages of synchronous telehealth for delivering primary care for autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and caregivers described virtual primary care visits as more comfortable and safer than in-person appointments, with communication rated as similar or better. They cited reduced anxiety from avoiding waiting rooms and travel. However, they noted technology issues, privacy concerns, and the inability to perform physical exams.
• OTSurvey2021Relationship between Work-Related Quality of Life and Job Satisfaction in Iranian Occupational Therapists.Occupational therapy internationalIranian occupational therapists reported moderate job satisfaction and work-related quality of life. Better working conditions predicted higher satisfaction. Less experienced therapists reported the lowest levels, while female therapists and those with 5–12 years of experience reported higher satisfaction.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Vision Evaluation Tools for Adults With Acquired Brain Injury: A Scoping Review.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieNo single tool captures all visual deficits after acquired brain injury. Occupational therapists mostly use tests for higher-level vision, risking missed basic problems like eye movement. Use multiple tools together and screen foundation skills first to avoid misidentifying deficits.
• OTCohort2021Investigating the Effectiveness of Using a Situated Simulation-Based Program to Improve Occupational Therapy Students' Interactions and Observation Skills with Children.Occupational therapy internationalFourth-year OT students who completed a simulation program with standardized child patients scored significantly higher on post-course quizzes than those who did not. However, pass rates on the practical exam were low, suggesting video training alone was insufficient for developing communication and interaction skills.
• OTQualitative2021Digital Storytelling as a Reflective Tool in Occupational Therapy Curriculum.Occupational therapy internationalOT students found digital storytelling helpful for reflection if they were visual learners, but burdensome if they preferred writing. Grading the stories felt unfair due to vague criteria. Unequal access to technology and software made the assignment stressful for many.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Systematic Review of Biopsychosocial Prognostic Factors for Return to Work After Acute Orthopedic Trauma: A 2020 Update.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesInjury severity was the clearest early factor and a late barrier to return to work after acute orthopedic trauma. In the late phase, older age, high pain, low self-efficacy, lower education, blue-collar work, and compensation status were linked to delayed return.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2021Child Maltreatment and the Child Welfare System as Environmental Factors in the International Classification of Functioning.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChild welfare involvement and maltreatment history are environmental factors that disrupt adolescent functioning. Clinicians should assess for dating violence, substance use, and sleep problems in these youth, recognizing that trauma symptoms often mediate these risks.
• OTOther2021Critiquing the Canadian Model of Client-Centered Enablement (CMCE) for Indigenous Contexts.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThis paper critiques the CMCE for Indigenous contexts but reports no methods or outcomes. It offers arguments, not evidence, so there is nothing here to change clinical practice.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Patients Suffering From Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Its Correlation With Pulmonary Rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor patients with COPD starting pulmonary rehab, normal BMI often hides low muscle mass. Assess body composition and hand-grip strength directly. Combine exercise with nutritional support for weight loss, but skip creatine and other supplements, which lack evidence.
• OTQualitative2022Work transitions after serious hand injury: Current occupational therapy practice in a middle-income country.Australian occupational therapy journalSouth African OTs prioritized matching job demands to function over pure restoration. They engaged employers early to secure graded return-to-work and accommodations, treating the employer as a partner to protect clients' income in a high-unemployment context.
• OTCohort2022Quality of Life Outcomes in a Community Cohort of Adults With an Intellectual Disability Using the Personal Outcome Scale.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe Personal Outcome Scale can be used as a total score and three broad scores, independence, social participation and well-being, in this sample, not as separate well-being domains. Adults attending local day services had the lowest quality-of-life scores.
• OTOther2022Closing the Gap Between Theory and Practice: Conceptualisation of a School-Based Intervention to Improve the School Participation of Primary School Students on the Autism Spectrum and Their Typically Developing Peers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn My Shoes is a school-based intervention designed to improve participation for autistic students and their peers. It combines teacher training, whole-class lessons, peer support, and parent handouts. It has not yet been tested for effectiveness, so it is a resource to consider, not a proven treatment.
• PTOTQualitative2022The COVID-19 Pandemic Related Lived Experiences of Individuals With a Spinal Cord Injury/Disease.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPeople with spinal cord injury said pandemic rules made mobility, home care, social interaction and health care harder, while telehealth, physical activity and social connection helped them cope.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Chronic conditions and self-perceived health among older employees in relation to indicators of labour participation and retirement over time.Work (Reading, Mass.)Employees with both mental and physical chronic conditions had higher risks of losing employment and receiving disability benefits over six years. Self-perceived health predicted retirement intentions at baseline but showed no significant associations with labour outcomes over time.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Co-occurring conditions and racial-ethnic disparities: Medicaid enrolled adults on the autism spectrum.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMedicaid-enrolled autistic adults had higher rates of most mental health conditions and several physical ones, but lower rates of others like stroke and cerebral palsy. Significant racial-ethnic disparities existed in both physical and mental health diagnoses compared to white autistic adults.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Feasibility and Reliability of a Novel Game-Based Test of Neurological Function in Youth: The Equilibrium Test Battery.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescents completed this game-based neurological test independently, but scores varied widely between days. Reliability was poor to moderate, meaning single scores are not stable enough for clinical decisions. Practice effects were prominent early on.
• OTSurvey2021Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Caregivers of People with Spinal Cord Injury.Occupational therapy internationalCaregivers of people with spinal cord injury reported lower quality of life when depression and caregiving burden were higher. Injury level also mattered. This helps occupational therapists target caregiver training and support, but it cannot show training improves outcomes.
• OTQualitative2021The Concept of Oppression and Occupational Therapy: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieAcross 28 occupational therapy and occupational science articles, oppression appeared as microaggressions, invisibility, fear of violence, structural constraints, and constrained choices. Therapists, clients, and colleagues were described as affected, and the profession was not immune.
• OTQualitative2021Identifying Occupational Therapy Research Priorities in Trinidad and Tobago: A Group Concept Mapping Study.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists and students in Trinidad and Tobago prioritized research into public health sector roles and school-based services. They viewed these areas as most important but less feasible than practitioner development, which was rated highly feasible but least important.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Normative Data for the NeuroCom Sensory Organization Test in United States Military Academy Boxers.International journal of sports physical therapyMilitary cadets aged 17-23 scored lower on computerized balance tests than adults aged 20-59, suggesting balance systems are still maturing. Baseline scores did not differ between males and females or those with prior concussions, providing new reference values for this specific age group.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Participatory co-creation of an adapted physical activity program for adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdults with moderate-to-severe TBI valued a 9-month community gym program for its structure, peer support, and clear visual aids. They reported feeling more capable and autonomous, with barriers like fatigue and social comparison easing over time.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Who gets coached? A qualitative inquiry into community clinicians' decisions to use caregiver coaching.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceClinicians reported deciding against caregiver coaching for families facing poverty, competing priorities, or cultural barriers. They often attributed these decisions to family deficits rather than systemic constraints, potentially widening disparities in access to evidence-based early intervention.
• OTSurvey2022Algo's Integrated Knowledge Translation Process in Homecare Services: A Cross-Sectional Correlational Study for Identifying its Level of Utilization and its Associated Characteristics.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieMost homecare OTs did not use a new bathing equipment algorithm, even though those who knew it found it useful and easy to use. The main barriers were organizational: unclear roles for OTs in decision-making, lack of evaluation mechanisms, and reliance on word-of-mouth rather than structured training.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2022High-Risk Preterm Infant Born to a Mother With COVID-19: A Case Report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA preterm infant born to a mother with COVID-19 tested negative after birth and had age-appropriate motor skills, but language and self-care lagged. This describes one child's course, not evidence that any intervention worked.
• OTSurvey2022Exploring Metro and Non-metro Differences in Satisfaction With Services and Community Participation Among Low-Income Personal Assistance Service Users.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSatisfaction with personal assistance services did not differ between rural and urban users. However, rural users reported significantly more difficulty running errands independently. Number of disabilities and health status predicted satisfaction with community participation, but rurality itself did not.
• PTOTQualitative2022The role of contextual factors on participation in the life area of work and employment after rehabilitation: A qualitative study on the views of persons with chronic pain.Work (Reading, Mass.)Participants described chronic pain as consuming the energy needed for work and home life. They identified three critical needs for rehabilitation success: feeling understood by peers and staff, early employer involvement, and ongoing support after the program ends to help maintain new habits.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Predicting Individual Treatment Response to rTMS for Motor Recovery After Stroke: A Review and the CanStim Perspective.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPotential predictors of better rTMS response after stroke include purely subcortical lesions, preserved motor pathways, and the BDNF Val/Val genotype, but evidence is inconsistent and many studies were small or uncontrolled.
• OTSurvey2021Role Perception of Occupational Therapists in Education Systems: Self-Efficacy and Employability Skills.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists in education systems who felt more capable also reported stronger employability skills, and those skills were linked to how clearly they understood their role. Feeling capable alone was not linked directly to this understanding.
• OTSystematic Review2021Spiritual Care in Advanced Dementia from the Perspective of Health Providers: A Qualitative Systematic Review.Occupational therapy internationalNursing home staff described spiritual care in advanced dementia as often neglected, despite recognizing needs. They reported lacking training, fearing death talk, and using music, prayer, meaningful activities, and Namaste Care to connect.
• PTOTCohort2022Predictors of Productivity and Leisure for People Aging with Intellectual Disability.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieFor adults aging with intellectual disability, difficulty getting around the home environment was the strongest predictor of not engaging in work or leisure activities. Poor physical health and older age also predicted reduced engagement. Addressing home accessibility and physical health may sustain participation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022The importance of home: Satisfaction with accommodation, neighborhood, and life in adults with autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMost autistic adults in this study lived independently, and they rated their homes and neighborhoods as satisfying as matched non-autistic adults. Sensory sensitivity did not predict accommodation satisfaction. However, independently living autistic adults reported significantly lower overall life satisfaction than the community group.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Development and validation of a shortened and practical frailty index for people with intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRA 17-item frailty index for adults with intellectual disabilities closely matched the original 51-item tool and predicted survival. It is practical for clinical screening, though it is less precise than the full version.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Lower Extremity and Trunk Electromyographic Muscle Activity During Performance of the Y-Balance Test on Stable and Unstable Surfaces.International journal of sports physical therapyStanding on an unstable surface during the Y-Balance Test increased muscle activity in most trunk and leg muscles, but shortened reach distance. This suggests the unstable version is a more demanding exercise, not a better measure of balance.
• OTQualitative2022An exploration of the role of occupational therapists in addressing sexuality with service users post stroke.The British journal of occupational therapyThree occupational therapists in Wales said they rarely discuss sexuality with stroke survivors due to embarrassment, lack of training, and ageist assumptions. They viewed it as a shared multidisciplinary responsibility rather than their sole role, despite recognising it as a meaningful occupation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Injury and Illness in Elite Athletics: A Prospective Cohort Study Over Three Seasons.International journal of sports physical therapyOveruse injuries caused half of all time loss in elite track and field athletes, with hamstring strains being the most frequent diagnosis. Illness accounted for 12% of time loss, and respiratory issues were the most common medical presentation.
• OTQualitative2022Systemic Racism in Canadian Occupational Therapy: A Qualitative Study with Therapists.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieTen racialized occupational therapists in Canada described racism from clients, colleagues, and managers. They faced social exclusion, client refusals, accent comments, extra hidden work, and few racialized leaders. They also described emotional harm and daily coping.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Adaptation and validation of two autism-related measures of skills and quality of life in Ethiopia.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThe Amharic versions of the ATEC and PedsQL Family Impact Module reliably distinguish children with neurodevelopmental disorders from those with physical health conditions. They are suitable for monitoring change in low-resource settings, though they do not yet track clinical severity.
• OTOther2021Examining the validity and reliability of the revised developmental work personality scale (RDWPS)-traditional Chinese version.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTA translated work-personality scale was validated in 113 Taiwanese students. It was reduced from 14 to 11 items to fit the local culture. The final version showed adequate reliability and consistency for assessing work personality in this population.
• PTOTOther2021Differences of expected intervention effects between participant-led and facilitator-led preventive care services in Japan.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTNeither style was best. Facilitator-led classes improved sit-to-stand speed. Participant-led classes improved self-rated health and occupational deprivation, but facilitator-led classes had better Timed Up and Go scores.
• OTCohort2021Patient functional independence and occupational therapist time-use in inpatient services: Patient demographic and clinical correlates.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAcross 4549 inpatient admissions, lower functional independence was associated with more occupational therapy time, but the amount varied by hospital site. Patient and situational factors alone did not capture enough of therapist workload to support ratio-based workforce planning.
• OTOther2021Psychometric properties and correlates of Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS-10) in people with common mental disorders with different employment Statuses.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe 10-item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale reliably measures stress in adults with common mental disorders. It splits into two parts: one for feeling overwhelmed and one for coping ability. Scores correlate with depression, anxiety, and poor functioning, but show no difference between employed and unemployed people.
• PTOTCase Report2022Phantom Sensations Influenced by Global and Local Modifications of the Prosthetic Socket as a Potential Solution for Natural Somatosensory Feedback During Walking: A Preliminary Study of a Single Case.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFor one transfemoral amputee, a pressure patch inside the prosthetic socket changed phantom sensations into dynamic cues that varied with the gait cycle. The participant preferred this setup, and heel strike and toe-off angles shifted, though the link between sensation and gait remains unclear.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Nonoperative Management of Traumatic Acromioclavicular Joint Injury: A Clinical Commentary with Clinical Practice Considerations.International journal of sports physical therapyCurrent literature lacks details on nonoperative AC joint rehab, making evidence-based protocols impossible. The authors propose a kinetic chain approach focusing on scapular control and short-lever exercises, but these are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.