Occupational therapy research on assistive technology and physical environmental issues: a literature review

Abstract

Background: To determine future directions for research in the area of assistive technology and physical environmental issues, it is important to have an understanding of prior research.

Purpose: This literature review examined how assistive technology and physical environmental issues have been studied in the research published in international peer-reviewed occupational therapy journals.

Method: Five recent volumes of nine journals were manually searched utilizing specific criteria. The publications were classified according to their perspective, application of the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model, and the research design.

Results: Both research fields demonstrated use of different research methods and they displayed equal needs with regard to improved research methodologies.

Practice implications: There are a lack of studies involving all three PEO components indicating a lack of research in occupational performance issues. Further research on occupational performance is important for developing occupational therapy practice in the area of assistive technology and physical environmental issues. Furthermore, study designs reflecting the societal level in all three PEO components are required. Finally, there is a strong need for conceptual and theoretical development in both fields.