Introduction: Occupational therapy has traditionally focused on child development but motherhood as an occupation is rarely analyzed. This study aimed to identify practices, theoretical perspectives, and concepts described or used in occupational therapy research concerning the early periods of motherhood and explore the literature to contribute to the advancement of practice. Method: A scoping review was conducted to map and synthesize multiple perspectives, provide current insights into motherhood as an occupation, and inform occupational therapists’ practice. Search across five databases and manual research in periodicals in the area were conducted up to mid-2024. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Findings: Eleven articles were included. The analysis revealed three themes: occupational therapy practitioner goals; occupational therapy practices; and theories and concepts supporting the relationship between motherhood, occupation and occupational therapy. The study underscores the limited number of studies available and highlights the need for clearer conceptual definitions and more explicit links between intervention strategies and underlying theoretical frameworks. Conclusion: There is a compelling need for more research to enhance our understanding of the significance of motherhood as an occupation. This understanding will serve as a foundation for refining the role of occupational therapy in supporting motherhood.

Introduction: Frailty in older adults is a multidimensional condition that affects healthy life expectancy. Engagement in meaningful activities (MA) is thought to support healthy aging, but the specific relationship between satisfaction with MA and frailty remains underexplored. This study investigated the longitudinal association between satisfaction with MA and frailty (physical, social, and cognitive domains) in community-dwelling older adults. Method: A total of 231 community-dwelling older adults who completed a 2-year follow-up were analyzed. Frailty in each domain was assessed at baseline and at 1- and 2-years. Participants’ MA and satisfaction were obtained through face-to-face interviews. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to examine the longitudinal associations between satisfaction with MA and frailty status trajectories. Results: At follow-up, changes in physical frailty status were observed in most participants. Robust status was commonly maintained in the social and cognitive frailty domain. Participants’ MA primarily involved leisure, sports, and domestic activities. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis showed that satisfaction with MA was significantly associated with physical frailty, even after adjusting for potential covariates (odds ratio 0.68; 95% confidence interval 0.45, 0.99, p = 0.045). However, this association was not significant for social or cognitive frailty. Conclusion: Satisfaction with MA was longitudinally associated with physical frailty, but not with social or cognitive frailty.

Introduction: This study analyses the applicability of validated work stress and resilience assessment tools to the Occupation Therapy (OT) workplace, and OT’s understanding and experiences of the meaning of work stress and resilience, to inform current OT leadership and management approaches to work stress and resilience. Method: The study utilises mixed quantitative and qualitative methods involving a self-completed online questionnaire ( n = 36), the completion of three standardised work stress assessment tools and further qualitative semi-structured interviews ( n = 15) with thematic analysis of the transcriptions. Findings: Findings from the mixed methods data indicated divergence between the results from the validated tools and the Occupational Therapist’s actual experiences of resilience. Quantitative data indicated participants as having a ‘normal’ level of self-efficacy and resilience in the workplace with many of the stressors being reflected as positive and motivational pressures rather than harmful stress. However, findings from the qualitative data related negative experiences that system constraints and demands are having on participants’ self-efficacy, professional identity, integrity and consequently resilience. Conclusion: The findings highlight three key interrelated issues which inform current OT leaders and managers’ use of validated work stress and resilience tools, towards the development of a service resilience framework to better meet the needs of the OT workforce.

Introduction: This study aims to compare the quality of life (QoL), kinesiophobia, perceived occupational performance and satisfaction (POPaS) levels between individuals experiencing low back (LBP) and/or neck pain (NP) and control group (CG) without such pain, as well as to identify occupations in daily life where problems occur. Method: QoL was evaluated using the Nottingham Health Profile, kinesiophobia using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, and POPaS levels through the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Results: QoL scores revealed significant differences between the CG and the LBP and LBNP groups ( p < 0.001). Kinesiophobia levels were significantly higher in groups with LBP and LBNP compared to the CG ( p < 0.01). Regarding POPaS, the CG scored significantly higher than the LBP and LBNP groups ( p < 0.05). The NP group showed significantly lower satisfaction scores compared to the CG ( p < 0.001). Individuals reporting pain experienced notable difficulties in areas such as personal care, mobility and home management. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that LBP and/or NP negatively impacts QoL and daily activities, with kinesiophobia potentially contributing to this condition. Consequently, the impact of LBP and/or NP on occupational performance should not be underestimated. Intervention strategies aimed at reducing kinesiophobia and enhancing occupational performance should be considered in intervention plans.

Telerehabilitation is a tool for patients who, for different reasons, cannot participate in person with their physical presence. We aimed to identify the factors associated with satisfaction with telerehabilitation in families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders through a program that included physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The program was developed during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Outcome measures: Child's age, the school stage to which they belonged, the person of reference in their daily care at home. The resources provided to the families, as well as the frequency of activities and difficulties detected, were evaluated through a survey. One hundred thirteen families responded to the survey. The general assessment resources were classified as very good. The average frequency of carrying out the activities was two times a week, with an average of 30 minutes per session. The ability to understand the information in the manual was not affected by the academic status of the caregivers (p = 0.286). This is the first study to quantify the multidisciplinary approach to children with neurodevelopmental disorders using telerehabilitation. The results show high levels of participation and satisfaction. The resources could be shared for their applicability in other countries whose families have similar needs conditioned by COVID-19.

The James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships bring together people who access health and care services and people who deliver them, to identify and prioritise the questions they want research to answer. In partnership with the JLA (Occupational Therapy | James Lind Alliance (nihr.ac.uk)) the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) identified the top 10 research priorities for occupational therapy in the UK.

Introduction Occupational therapy (OT) has a rich history of integrating physical and mental health care services, however, there is a limited evidence base regarding the effectiveness of OT interventions for mental health disorders in primary care. Methods A comprehensive systematic review was conducted from database inception through 31 January 2021. Eligible studies had to include: (1) an intervention that involved an occupational therapist in design and/or implementation; (2) a quantitative outcome assessing symptoms related to a mental health disorder; (3) a comparison group; and (4) primary care or community dwelling patients and/or primary care clinical settings. Results The researchers identified five studies and there was heterogeneity in the OT interventions. There were no significant differences between intervention and control groups in depression symptoms at different time intervals. Several trials employed interventions that involved interprofessional team members, including OTs, to provide training in specific strategies that promoted functioning. Other studies utilized only OTs within the intervention arm. OT interventions demonstrated no significant difference in anxiety in one study, however, another indicated a reduction in symptoms. The overall risk of bias was considered low in three studies and unclear in two studies. Conclusion There is limited evidence demonstrating the impact of OT interventions in primary care settings on quantitative outcomes measuring symptoms related to a mental health disorder. Given the heterogeneity of interventions and variation in reported findings, there is need for further pragmatic trials in this area.

Objective The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the efficacy of sensory discrimination training (SDT) on sensorimotor performance in individuals with a neurological condition affecting the central nervous system. Methods MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, AMED, CENTRAL, PsychINFO, Scopus, OT Seeker, PEDro, ETHOS, Web of Science and OpenGrey were systematically searched for appropriate randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Included studies were assessed for risk of bias, and the quality of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017055237). Results Six RCTs met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All studies used manual tactile discrimination to retrain somatosensation. Somatosensory effect sizes (0.12–0.92) and motor function effect sizes (0.12–10.39) ranged from trivial to large with narrative analysis revealing some between-group difference in favour of the intervention group. However, the total sample size ( n = 220) was relatively small, and the quality of the included studies was low. Conclusions SDT may have potential to be an efficacious treatment option for improving sensorimotor performance in individuals with neurological disease. However, at present there is limited evidence on which to base any firm clinical recommendations.

Introduction This study aims to determine the guidelines for the design of a social skills training programme for people with schizophrenia using virtual reality. Methods This article encompasses two studies: Study 1, a systematic review of five articles indexed in the databases B-on, PubMed, Clinical trials and Cochrane Library (2010–2020); Study 2, a focus group of occupational therapists trained in mental health and multimedia professionals, in which they discussed the outline of such a programme. Results A set of guidelines were identified as central and consensual which should be included in the programme. It must have multilevel logic and gradual learning, with simulations of everyday situations, in which it is possible to practise the skills of conversation and communication. Virtual reality provides people with schizophrenia with unlimited opportunities, enhancing a personalized intervention. Conclusion Social skills training could be part of the treatment for people with schizophrenia, and virtual reality is a promising tool to complement traditional training, although still little implemented in mental health services. Occupational therapists have a prominent role in the development and application of this because of their knowledge of activity analysis and their ability to facilitate the generalization of skills in different contexts.

Introduction The dearth of clinical trials of individualised occupational therapy with people with a diagnosis of psychosis limits the evidence base globally for occupational therapy practice. This study evaluated the feasibility of conducting a pragmatic clinical trial. Method Mixed methods design using a pragmatic perspective; two-centre, one-group pretest-posttest study, at six months. POINTER Occupational Intervention Specification captured routine individualised occupational therapy. Process evaluation included recruitment, retention, intervention delivery, fidelity, adherence and outcome measurement. The primary outcome was participation in activities of everyday life, measured by Time Use Survey, Participation Scale and Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure measured self-reported experience of and satisfaction with occupational performance. The Short Form-36v2 Health Survey measured health-related quality of life, a secondary outcome. Participants’ experiences were explored using a questionnaire. Intervention providers’ perspectives were investigated via the POINTER occupational intervention log and focus groups. Results Recruitment was (20/36) and drop-out 20% (4/20). Fidelity was 77%, and adherence was good; POINTER had validity and utility. Outcome measurement was acceptable to participants, indicating increased participation in activities of everyday life. Conclusion A larger clinical trial is merited; recruitment processes need further exploration, and outcome measurement needs refining.