Enabling work: occupational therapy interventions for persons with occupational injuries and diseases: a scoping review
Abstract
Purpose This review aims to map the scope of published research on occupational therapy (OT) interventions and pertinent work and work-related outcomes for persons with occupational injuries and diseases. Methods The scoping review adapted Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Six electronic databases were searched. Ancestral search was also done on five systematic reviews. The search was conducted from September 2015 to October 2015. Interventions and outcomes were coded using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for Vocational Rehabilitation to plot trends. Results Forty-six articles were included in the review. The top five intervention approaches included: acquiring skills (12.27%), health services, systems, and policies (10.43%), products and technology for employment (9.20%), handling stress and other psychological demands (7.98%), and apprenticeship (6.74%). The top five outcomes targeted included: remunerative employment (15.71%); sensation of pain (10.99%); emotional functions (5.76%); handling stress and other psychological demands (5.76%); economic self-sufficiency (4.71%); muscle endurance functions (4.71%); exercise tolerance functions (4.71%); undertaking multiple tasks (4.19%); acquiring, keeping, and terminating a job (4.19%); and looking after one's health (4.19%). Conclusion The trend in interventions show the use of activities and environment facilitators which are attuned to the conceptual nature of OT. Furthermore, the trend in outcomes show that there is substantial evidence that supports the use of OT to target work. This review may provide a platform for collaboration with other professionals and also help identify research directions to strengthen the evidence base for OT in work-related practice.
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In one occupational therapy review, a synthesis of outcomes pertaining to distress was not reported.
“While a broad range of types of interventions and the outcome measures taken were listed in the reviews, a synthesis of outcomes pertaining to distress was not reported in one review,112 and improvements for mental health outcomes were reported in the other review.113”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
Two reviews of occupational therapy interventions were captured, both with large numbers of included studies.
“This category of interventions captured two reviews, both with large numbers of included studies.112 113”
From Impact of healthcare interventions on distress following acute musculoskeletal/orthopaedic injury: A scoping review of systematic reviews (2024) · cites this paper as [112]
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Sim, A., McNeilage, A. G., Gholamrezaei, A., Rebbeck, T., & Ashton-James, C. (2024) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085778 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Blas, A. J. T., Beltran, K. M. B., Martinez, P. G. V., & Yao, D. P. G.
- Affiliations
- University of the Philippines Manila (PH)
- Corresponding author
- Blas, Alexa Jane T.
- Yao, Daryl Patrick G.
- Venue
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2017-09-08
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 201-214
- ISSN
- 1053-0487 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3688
- OpenAlex
- W2754776748
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 0.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Disability Education and Employment
- Keywords
- occupational therapy intervention, occupational injuries, occupational diseases, return to work, vocational rehabilitation, work-related outcomes, pain, stress management, apprenticeship, skill acquisition, assistive technology, economic self-reliance
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Therapy, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Occupational Injuries, Return to Work
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