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Open research questions in Occupational Therapy Practice and Research

350 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 2,328 Occupational Therapy Practice and Research papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Insufficient time during clinical work. Absence of medical reimbursement for 3D-printed products. Limited resources and required expertise for 3D printing implementation.

    Early occupational therapy use of a 3D printer introduced with minimal formal support: a single-site pre–post observational study · 2026 · DOI

  • Evaluation of a comprehensive implementation strategy aimed at establishing routine clinical use, - investigation of the effectiveness of 3D printing in occupational therapy practice, - exploration of ways to address institutional and operational challenges

    Early occupational therapy use of a 3D printer introduced with minimal formal support: a single-site pre–post observational study · 2026 · DOI

  • more research is required to improve child therapists' occupational health, - investigating the relationship between job resources and job demands and the components of professional quality of life in other occupational settings, - exploring the impact of evidence-based practices on child therapists' occupational health

    Exploring key job demands and resources in Norwegian child mental health services: a cross-sectional study of associations with and relationship between compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress and turnover intention · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: School participation plays a critical role in children's development; however, the extent to which school-based occupational therapy (SBOT) interventions align with the 'F-words for Child Development' (Functioning, Family, Fitness, Friendships, Fun, Future) has not been systematically examined.

    School‐Based Occupational Therapy Interventions Through the Lens of the F‐Words Framework: A Scoping Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Abstract Students entering physical therapy education frequently cite passion as central to their professional aspirations, yet its role in professional identity formation and across learning domains remains underdeveloped and poorly understood.

    Reconceptualizing the Role of Passion within Physical Therapy Education · 2026 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Although research shows that social interaction is related to occupational engagement among adults with mental illness of all ages, this relationship is underexplored among older mental health service users.

    Social interaction, occupational engagement, and related factors among older mental health service users with severe mental illness – an explorative cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore causal mechanisms through longitudinal and interventional studies to deepen understanding and improve outcomes.

    Occupational Balance and Life Satisfaction in Parents of Children With Autism · 2025 · DOI

  • This paper concludes that majority-minority population demographics are insufficient to mitigate the impact of wider societal norms of oppression on hidden curricula.

    Colour-evasive racial ideologies underpinning the hidden curriculum of a majority-minority occupational therapy school in London, England: an analysis of minoritised undergraduate students’ experiences · 2024 · DOI

  • Despite their increase in recent years, very little is known of how hidden curricula manifests in these settings.

    Colour-evasive racial ideologies underpinning the hidden curriculum of a majority-minority occupational therapy school in London, England: an analysis of minoritised undergraduate students’ experiences · 2024 · DOI

  • A growing body of literature has attempted to determine the value and drawbacks of such practice placements on the professional preparedness of OT students with mixed findings.

    Occupational therapy students' perceptions of their experience in a role-emerging Level II fieldwork within higher education student services · 2024 · DOI

  • However, there is no standardized assessment tool routinely used to evaluate the clinical performance of physiotherapy students in Turkey.

    Psychometric and edumetric properties of the Turkish version of the assessment of physiotherapy practice · 2024 · DOI

  • However, the effects of OT on the subsequent social activities of patients with SMI have not been fully clarified.

    Factors encouraging participation in social activities after hospital discharge in people with severe mental illness who received occupational therapy · 2024 · DOI

  • However, little is known about the experiences of higher education students in managing their toileting.

    “I'm a bathroom expert”: a qualitative study exploring how students with physical disabilities manage toileting during college · 2024 · DOI

  • The shortage of caregiving personnel and increasing fiscal pressure on local governments. The lack of sufficient exercise opportunities in daycare centers. The need for the presence or periodic supervision of rehabilitation professionals to integrate functional assessment into the dialogue.

    Practice-Based Quality Improvement Initiative to Support Voluntary Frailty Prevention Through Autonomy-Supportive Dialogue · 2026 · DOI

  • The prevailing service model in daycare centers may unintentionally narrow self-determination and intrinsic motivation. There is a lack of sufficient exercise opportunities in daycare centers.

    Practice-Based Quality Improvement Initiative to Support Voluntary Frailty Prevention Through Autonomy-Supportive Dialogue · 2026 · DOI

  • Less work has examined the relationship between action video game playing and real-world workplace performance. There is a need for more research on the potential benefits of action video game playing for individuals in high-stakes professions.

    Action video game playing impacts occupational screening for high-stakes professionals · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for more research to define occupational therapy's specific role in mood assessments. The role of digital tools in enhancing mood assessment practices is not well defined.

    What research supports the need for mood assessments in acute hospital settings, and why are they important? What guidance is available regarding the occupational therapy role in mood assessment, and is there evidence that early mood assessment leads to better patient outcomes? How can this information inform and strengthen occupational therapy practice? · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior belongingness scales are often too long for routine use. There is a need for a brief and feasible measure of belonging among student physical therapists.

    Development and initial validation of a brief 2-item measure of belonging among student physical therapists in the United States: a psychometric validation study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for further research to understand the impact of participation in meaningful occupations on the mental health and social inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities. There is a need for resource allocation to overcome persistent barriers.

    How does participation in meaningful occupations impact the mental health and social inclusion of adults with intellectual disabilities? · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research concerning the occupational therapist’s role and successes in supporting reasonable accommodation for employees with major depressive disorders. The study identifies a gap in the understanding of occupational therapists’ perceived ability to facilitate reasonable workplace accommodations for employees with major depressive disorders.

    Occupational therapists’ perceived ability to facilitate reasonable accommodations in the workplace for employees with major depressive disorders · 2026 · DOI

  • The strength of this study lies in its pioneering nature in South Africa, focusing on reasonable accommodation within the occupational therapy profession. The interview guide was well designed, providing data saturation with seven participants. There were limitations to the virtual interviews, which impacted the ability to observe treatment areas in person. The study’s focus was solely on facilitating reasonable accommodation for employees with MDD.

    Occupational therapists’ perceived ability to facilitate reasonable accommodations in the workplace for employees with major depressive disorders · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the provision of psychosocial support and community integration resources. The study highlights the need for a more tailored and equity-focused approach to address disparities in responsiveness.

    Responsiveness of Rehabilitation Centers at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences from the Perspective of Service recipients · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should investigate the mechanisms by which clients' work is rendered invisible to professionals and within theories of professions. Future research should explore the implications of incorporating clients' work into theories of professions.

    Beyond Served and Secured: Client Work and Reconceptualisation of Professionalism · 2026 · DOI

  • Theories of professions typically portray clients as passive beneficiaries. The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of clients' work in the context of rehabilitation following traumatic injuries.

    Beyond Served and Secured: Client Work and Reconceptualisation of Professionalism · 2026 · DOI

  • Conclusions and Relevance Addressing the identified gaps in knowledge, skills and infrastructure through the suggested interventions and policy changes could enable occupational therapists in Saudi Arabia to contribute effectively to driver assessment and rehabilitation services for at-risk drivers, as well as promote road safety for all within Saudi Arabia.

    Occupational Therapists’ Perspective on Driver Assessment and Rehabilitation Practice in Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Occupational Therapy Practice and Research

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350 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 2,328 Occupational Therapy Practice and Research papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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