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

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.

Developing a Global Strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce: A two-phased mixed methods consultation of country representatives shows the need for clarifying task-sharing strategies

“…Our previous scoping review of the occupational therapy workforce research found no study explicitly addressing task shifting or task sharing strategies [22]; this is an important background nding to understand the accounts of some participants with their initial hesitancy toward the strategy. On the one hand, this may imply a lower familiarity with the scope and purpose of the strategy among occupational therapy representatives; this reinforces the need for added clarity, speci city, and contextualization of any related documentation.…”

“…The mapping review found minimal yearly growth in research volume, with over-reliance on crosssectional studies, little use of advanced study methods, and few studies targeting LMICs [21]. Another review synthesized the ndings of occupational therapy workforce research to determine many important topics were minimally-addressed (e.g., racial/ethnic workforce representation) or not addressed at all (e.g., situational analyses, task shifting) [22]. A synthesis of study limitations and recommendations concluded that longitudinal studies were needed, in addition to strengthening of routine workforce data collection [14].…”

What Next? Learning from the findings of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists workforce survey 2022–2023

“…The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) has recorded shortages in 62 countries and territories, equating to 65% of WFOT member countries/territories worldwide (WFOT, 2022). Evidence suggests that more research is needed to fully understand and address occupational therapy workforce challenges globally, noting that existing research is scarce, inequitably distributed, poorly funded and of limited quality, especially in comparison to workforce research on other health professions (Jesus et al, 2023).…”

Refining the first global strategy for the occupational therapy workforce: results from a mixed-methods survey and multimodal expert feedback

“…15 Within the context described, WFOT has led a research-based, multistage development process to launch the rst global strategy for strengthening this workforce. The process started with a multipronged scoping review of the occupational therapy workforce to synthesize: a) the scope and limited growth of this the research; 16 b) the types of ndings generated, including the topics remaining unaddressed across nations 17 and c) the reported limitations or recommendations regarding which workforce data and other improvements need to be made. 18 Based on an integrated synthesis of these ndings, a situational analysis was conducted that included the input of an advisory board with health workforce experts from within and outside the profession.…”