Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Sutton, Sureshkumar Kamalakannan
{"title":"UK occupational therapy workforce survey 2024-25: A baseline for workforce transformation.","authors":"Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Sutton, Sureshkumar Kamalakannan","doi":"10.1177/03080226251403331","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226251403331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The United Kingdom (UK) occupational therapy (OT) workforce faces increasing demand amid demographic transitions and workforce shortages. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists developed a national workforce strategy in 2024, necessitating baseline data to measure progress.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A national survey employed adaptive sampling to achieve comprehensive representation of the UK OT workforce, examining demographics, diversity, and practitioner experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two thousand two hundred seventy-seven respondents completed the survey (4.32% of Health and Care Professions Council-registered occupational therapists). Response rates varied by question, with some allowing multiple selections. Sixty-seven percent reported increased service demand, with complex, multiple conditions being the most commonly selected driver (63%). Despite 41% experiencing high stress levels, 57% remained satisfied with their roles. Key retention factors were helping others achieve goals (64%) and direct service user contact (61%). Evidence use favoured service user feedback (71%) over published research (47%) and cost-effectiveness data (13%). Only 6% felt very confident with artificial intelligence technologies, despite 57% seeing potential. Main challenges included understaffing (46%) and system capacity gaps (46%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The workforce demonstrates resilience amid systemic pressures. Priority actions include addressing staffing shortages, enhancing the use of robust evidence to inform practice, building digital confidence, and supporting workforce motivation to help others achieve their goals. Findings provide baseline data with international relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 5","pages":"311-322"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13129311/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Support-receiving networks and the isolation in schizophrenia: A preliminary study toward recovery-oriented occupational therapy.","authors":"Aiko Hoshino, Shinichi Nagata, Tatsumi Asakura, Hideki Tamura","doi":"10.1177/03080226251384175","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03080226251384175","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Social isolation is a major barrier to recovery for individuals with schizophrenia. Although prior studies examined social networks in relation to symptom severity and quality of life, few have integrated structural and relational dimensions of connectedness within a framework relevant to occupational therapy. This study investigated factors associated with social networks among individuals with schizophrenia in Japan, using Wang et al.'s conceptual framework and social network analysis.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with 31 individuals attending a psychiatric day-service center. Social isolation was assessed across four domains: network quantity, network quality, emotional appraisal (mattering and loneliness), and resource appraisal (helping and being helped). Multiple regression analysis identified factors related to network size, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants had extremely small networks, averaging fewer than one close contact. Regression analysis showed that only being helped by others was significantly associated with larger network size (β = 0.214, <i>p</i> < 0.01). Loneliness, helping others, and mattering were not significant predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Individuals with schizophrenia may experience profound social isolation, with networks limited to relationships where they are recipients of help. Occupational therapy should promote opportunities for reciprocal, empowering connections to support recovery and community integration.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 5","pages":"354-363"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniel Cezar da Cruz, Kristine Haertl, George S Tomlin, Chih-Huang Yu, Oscar Hernández-Lanas, Jess Haigh
{"title":"Mapping the occupational therapy process in response to COVID-19 and long COVID: A scoping review.","authors":"Daniel Cezar da Cruz, Kristine Haertl, George S Tomlin, Chih-Huang Yu, Oscar Hernández-Lanas, Jess Haigh","doi":"10.1177/03080226251384177","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03080226251384177","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>COVID-19 and long COVID have had an impact worldwide on people's participation in occupations. Occupational therapists play a role in supporting individuals' recovery and participation in daily life.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This present study undertook a scoping review of research on COVID-19 and long COVID to map the occupational therapy process with this population, including evaluation, intervention and outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>Three online databases were searched to identify research papers published between 2020 and 2023 from all countries, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. From 455 texts, 25 studies were selected for this review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Studies were conducted across varied healthcare settings, mainly inpatient hospitals. Participants ranged from children to older adults, with adults being the most represented group. Standardised assessments included occupational history, activities, body functions, cognition and emotional regulation. Interventions were educational, compensatory, restorative or acquisitional, with outcomes focused on daily living activities, performance skills and client factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our review underscores the need for more comprehensive documentation of occupational therapy effectiveness, particularly in unpredictable circumstances such as COVID.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 7","pages":"435-448"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13310322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148347078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Supporting patients' autonomy as a mediator between healthcare professionals' basic psychological needs and work meaning.","authors":"Eldad Grinberg, Reut Nachoum, Yaniv Kanat-Maymon","doi":"10.1177/03080226251364732","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226251364732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In their everyday clinical practice, occupational and physical therapists face physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges that may undermine a client-centered approach.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Using self-determination theory, we hypothesized that healthcare professionals whose basic psychological needs are satisfied are more likely to support their patients' autonomy. This, in turn, will be associated with the therapists' sense of work meaning, job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire was administered using Qualtrics to public health occupational and physical therapists (<i>n</i> = 152). Structural equation modeling was used to examine a mediation model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Results demonstrated participants' perception of supporting their patients' autonomy mediated the relations between their basic needs satisfaction and work meaning (95% CI [0.07, 0.35]). However, autonomy support did not mediate the association between needs satisfaction and job satisfaction, and compassion fatigue.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We conclude that healthcare professionals' perception of themselves as supporting their patients' autonomy adds to their work meaning but does not relate to their job satisfaction or protect them from compassion fatigue.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 1","pages":"19-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12743976/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145858794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A mixed-methods study of how cancer-related fatigue affects occupational participation and engagement, and is managed in daily life.","authors":"Brooks Charlotte, Rossiter Laura","doi":"10.1177/03080226251377928","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03080226251377928","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a persistent, debilitating symptom that disrupts daily life and occupational participation. Understanding its impact is vital for developing effective interventions that support fatigue management and meaningful engagement. This study examined CRF's impact on occupational participation and how individuals manage it.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A mixed-methods design combined semi-structured interviews with the Activity Card Sort-UK. Seventeen participants with CRF (7 men, 10 women) and diverse cancer types were recruited using purposive, maximum variation sampling. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis, guided by the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Quantitative data showed 59% experienced severe fatigue and 80% reported low fatigue self-efficacy. Leisure, social and high-demand activities were most affected. Three qualitative themes emerged: loss of enjoyment and engagement in meaningful occupations; coping through reactive and proactive strategies; and emotional consequences related to disrupted identity and reduced occupational participation. Participants described trade-offs, diminished spontaneity and altered roles. Gender, age and social context influenced both the impact and coping strategies, and many felt unsupported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CRF impairs occupational engagement and identity. Occupational therapists and multidisciplinary teams should routinely assess CRF and provide tailored, occupation-focused interventions that support fatigue self-management and preserve meaningful participation. Research should further develop these interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 3","pages":"201-212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12929893/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147311761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"SWOT analysis: Results from the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Occupational Narratives Database (OND) project.","authors":"Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak","doi":"10.1177/03080226251392479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226251392479","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Occupational Narratives Database (OND) project strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) were explored.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>SWOT thematic analysis of digital stories uploaded on the OND platform was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 761 digital stories were published from over 29 countries and 14 different languages. They highlighted the significance of everyday activities, social participation, adaptation to life circumstances, barriers to participation, and the importance of cultural engagement as emerging key themes. The SWOT analysis identified diversity of digital stories from multiple countries and different languages, provision of experiential learning, and launching global initiatives to raise public awareness about occupations as strengths and opportunities for growth and development. Lack of variety in terms of co-occupations, contextual environments, languages used, lack of submissions from certain countries, lack of sustainable social media representations, and consequently limited growth in digital stories were all indicated as weaknesses and threats.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The OND project has helped broaden perspectives and understand the diverse meaning of occupations and value of occupational participation across different settings, age groups, and cultures. It provided rich insights into the ways people engage in meaningful occupations and profiled occupation as the domain of occupational therapists globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 5","pages":"346-353"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13133502/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quality of life of children with disabilities in the Sáhara Refugee camps.","authors":"Nuria Menéndez Álvarez, Estíbaliz Jiménez Arberas, Emiliano Díez","doi":"10.1177/03080226251371472","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226251371472","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The refugee situation in which the Sahrawi people live entails precarious policies, services, and care systems. People with disabilities suffer even more from this situation, seeing their quality of life diminished.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the personal outcomes related to the quality of life of the students at the special education school in Auserd.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The KidsLife and KidsLife TEA questionnaires were administered to the 26 students from the special education center during March 2019.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The results obtained from 100% of the participants display percentiles below the minimum values of the scale, with the most positive scores found in the Emotional Well-being domain and the least positive in the Social Inclusion domain.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The quality of life of the students at the special education center in Auserd has deteriorated due to the social, environmental, and political factors they face. Furthermore, it is necessary to have tools adapted to the context.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 2","pages":"129-138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12858753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146108070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Activity PRN: Establishing meaningful occupation as and when required across acute inpatient mental health and psychiatric intensive care units.","authors":"Neil Barker, Joanna Smith, Emma Hahn","doi":"10.1177/03080226251363730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226251363730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>There is a recognised phenomenon of boredom and lack of activity engagement within mental health units. Further innovation is required to improve access to meaningful activity within inpatient mental healthcare.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A quasi-experimental study measured the effect of Activity PRN on a female psychiatric intensive care unit and a male acute unit. Ad hoc activity provision, number of activity types engaged in per patient, and engagement frequency per patient was measured over a 3 month pre-intervention period. PRN activities, defined as 'meaningful, purposeful, accessible and timely activities' were measured during a 3 month post-intervention period. Patients received support to create an Activity PRN card, which contains information for ward staff to engage patients in their chosen activities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following intervention, activity provision, number of activity types engaged in per patient, and engagement frequency per patient increased on both units. Study limitations were low activity reporting and a limited number of activities available on Activity PRN cards. This suggested a need to improve staff training and review of the cards.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Activity PRN is an effective intervention which promotes meaningful occupation on mental health units. An implication for occupational therapy practice is the use of meaningful, purposeful, accessible and timely activities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 1","pages":"28-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12743943/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145858801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2024: The time is now, building a social movement to demonstrate the value of occupation.","authors":"Katrina Bannigan","doi":"10.1177/03080226251370180","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03080226251370180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a pervading feeling of dissonance within the occupational therapy profession: a sense that occupational therapy, and the work of occupational therapists, is not always recognised. Alongside this, there are examples of occupational therapists whose work is recognised at the highest levels and who are realising Elizabeth Casson's legacy. The social age, which we now live in, provides the means to capitalise on examples such as these, to change this narrative, through social movements and social leadership. By committing to a social movement, a form of collective action that enables occupational therapists to tell their own stories through their own networks, and exercising social leadership, which is not dependent on hierarchy or position, occupational therapists can promote the centrality of occupation in the lives of people. Collective action is contingent on individuals making a commitment to act, even if this requires overcoming any barriers they may experience. Elizabeth Casson's contribution to the profession and the collective wisdom of the Elizabeth Casson lectures provide inspiration for anyone unsure of where to begin.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 2","pages":"70-82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12858769/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146108042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developing occupational therapy and physiotherapy clinical support workers in their role in supporting student education.","authors":"Gemma Bradley, Nina Bedding, Sarah Smith","doi":"10.1177/03080226251379996","DOIUrl":"10.1177/03080226251379996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Global healthcare services face increasing pressures and workforce shortages. But at the same time, there are increasing learners in practice as part of longer-term workforce strategies, which, in turn, create extra demands on educators and teams. Anecdotally, we understand that clinical support workers (CSWs) are sharing responsibilities for student learning, yet there is limited understanding of this involvement or activities to support role development. The aims of this study were to (1) explore the CSW role in the practice education of students and (2) evaluate a training programme for CSWs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A mixed-methods design was utilised; 17 CSWs completed a survey prior to completing a training programme, and 11 participated in focus groups after the programme.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>We identified five themes: (1) <i>supporting students is an expectation</i>, (2) <i>supporting students 'boosts the role'</i>, (3) <i>legitimacy of the CSW role to support students</i>, (4) <i>application of new learning to practice</i> and (5) <i>enablers and barriers to engagement with the programme</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CSWs are part of practice education 'Communities of Practice', evidenced through regular involvement with student learning. Responsibilities for student learning are perceived as adding value, although there is an absence of structures to legitimise the role. CSWs identified barriers and enablers to engaging with the programme, such as blended learning approaches and management support.</p>","PeriodicalId":49096,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Occupational Therapy","volume":"89 4","pages":"264-274"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12982838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147469841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}