Exploring the application of acceptance and commitment therapy by occupational therapy practitioners: a scoping review protocol.

Abstract

Objective: The proposed scoping review aims to explore the literature on the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) by occupational therapy (OT) practitioners, including how OT practitioners use ACT in the evaluation or intervention process, what types of client concerns they are addressing through ACT, in what settings they are using ACT, and what outcomes are being reported.

Introduction: ACT is a third-wave cognitive behavioral therapy that is effective across a wide range of diagnoses commonly seen by OT practitioners. Given the increased use of ACT by OT practitioners, a comprehensive understanding of its use in clinical practice would benefit OT practitioners, referring health care providers, and clients, as well as informing future research.

Inclusion criteria: The proposed review will consider studies that include participants of any age or diagnosis receiving OT services that involve ACT. All pertinent published studies will be considered, without limit on publication date or restriction on publication language. All primary studies, gray literature, text and opinion papers, and clinical guidelines will be considered.

Methods: The proposed review will follow JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase (Ovid), Scopus, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), OTSeeker, OTDBase, SciELO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, MedNar, and Google Scholar. All relevant sources will be screened by 2 reviewers independently, and data will be extracted using a standardized tool modified for the review. The results will be presented with frequency tables and narrative summaries.

Review registration: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/ngzkq.