Type of Findings Generated by the Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: Scoping Review and Content Analysis

Tiago S Jesus; Karthik Mani; Claudia von Zweck; Sureshkumar Kamalakannan; Sutanuka Bhattacharjya; Ritchard Ledgerd; On Behalf Of The World Federation Of Occupational Therapists

doi:10.3390/ijerph19095307

Type of Findings Generated by the Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: Scoping Review and Content Analysis

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 27;19(9):5307. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095307.

Authors

Tiago S Jesus¹, Karthik Mani², Claudia von Zweck³, Sureshkumar Kamalakannan⁴, Sutanuka Bhattacharjya⁵, Ritchard Ledgerd³, On Behalf Of The World Federation Of Occupational Therapists

Affiliations

¹ Center for Education in Health Sciences, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
² Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
³ World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT), 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
⁴ Department of Social Work, Education and Community Well-Being, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7XA, UK.
⁵ Department of Occupational Therapy, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.

Abstract

Occupational therapists are needed to meet the health and occupational needs of the global population, but we know little about the type of findings generated by occupational therapy workforce research conducted worldwide. We aim to synthesize these findings and their range of content to inform future investigations. A scoping review with content analysis was used. Six scientific databases, websites of official institutions, snowballing, and key informants were used for searches. Two independent reviewers took selection decisions against the eligibility criteria published a priori in the review protocol. Of the 1246 unique references detected, 57 papers were included for the last 25 years. A total of 18 papers addressed issues of attractiveness and retention, often in Australia, and 14 addressed the issues of supply, demand, and distribution, often in the US. Only these two categories generated subtopics. Many workforce issues were rarely addressed as a main topic (e.g., race/ethnic representation). Cross-national, cross-regional, or cross-professional studies generated more actionable findings. Overall, we found few discernable trends, minimal evidence of research programs, and various gaps in content coverage or in the use of contemporary research approaches. There is a need for a coordinated strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce research worldwide.

Keywords: health personnel; health workforce; human resources for health; occupational therapists; rehabilitation; review.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Australia
Humans
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapy*
Workforce

Grants and funding

Tiago Jesus, completed this work under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number: 90ARHF0003). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this publication do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and endorsement by the US Federal Government should not be assumed.