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. 2024 Jul;44(3):521-540.
doi: 10.1177/15394492241238951. Epub 2024 Mar 22.

Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model: A Scoping Review

Julie D Bass  1 , Josephine K Marchant  1 , Stephanie L de Sam Lazaro  1 , Carolyn M Baum  2
Affiliations

Application of the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model: A Scoping Review

Julie D Bass et al. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2024 Jul.

Abstract

The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) Model is one of several occupation-based models in occupational therapy. The model describes the transactional nature of person, environment, and occupation factors that support performance (doing), participation (engagement), and well-being (health and quality of life). The purpose of this study was to explore the extent and nature of evidence on the PEOP Model. We used a scoping review to identify and analyze journal articles that used the PEOP Model as a framework for study. The PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) criteria were used to develop the research methods. We found 109 articles that adopted the PEOP Model as an organizing framework. The studies reviewed represent the breadth of occupational therapy practice and the transactional nature of person, environment, occupation, and performance in the PEOP Model. The PEOP Model is a useful international framework for research and practice across populations, conditions, life circumstances, settings, and areas of practice.

Keywords: PEOP Model; occupation-based models; person–environment–occupation–performance model; scoping review.

Plain language summary

The Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance (PEOP) Model: Summary of Current Research on an Occupational Therapy Lens for Everyday LivingBackground and Purpose: The Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance (PEOP) Model was developed to guide occupational therapy practice. The PEOP Model summarizes all the factors that support or limit our involvement in everyday living. By everyday living, we mean all the things we do to take care of ourselves, maintain our health and home, connect with friends and family, engage in meaningful activities, and support ourselves and our community through work and volunteering. The purpose of this study was to summarize the reasons why and the extent to which the PEOP Model was used in research and practice.

Method: We searched five databases to identify published articles that used the PEOP Model. Then, we analyzed our findings from peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed practice publications using a recommended process called a scoping review. We summarized how often the PEOP Model was used and the way in which it was used.

Findings: We found the PEOP Model was used in more than 100 published articles. The PEOP Model has been used to study everyday living for different populations, life circumstances, countries, and communities. Authors found the PEOP Model was helpful for identifying what was important to individuals and determining things that were helpful and barriers to everyday living.

Conclusion: Authors described the PEOP Model as a useful tool in their research methods and analyses. Occupational therapy professionals may find the PEOP Model helpful in current and innovative areas of practice to help people achieve their goals related to everyday living.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA 2020 Flow Diagram Used for the Scoping Review. Note. The articles identified in the flowchart come from two different time periods of searching.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process–fourth edition. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2), 7412410010p1–7412410010p87. 10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Arksey H., O’Malley L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. 10.1080/1364557032000119616 - DOI
    1. Bass J. D., Baum C. M., Christiansen C. H. (2015). Interventions and outcomes: The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) occupational therapy process. In Christiansen C. H., Baum C. M., Bass J. D. (Eds.), Occupational therapy: Performance, participation and well-being (4th ed., pp. 57–80). SLACK Inc.
    1. Bass J. D., Baum C. M., Christiansen C. H. (2017). Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP): An occupation-based framework for practice. In Kramer P., Hinojosa J., Royeen C. (Eds.), Perspectives on human occupation: Theories underlying practice (2nd ed., pp. 161–182). F.A. Davis.
    1. Baum C. M., Bass J. D., Christiansen C. H. (2020). The Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model. In Duncan E. (Eds.), Foundations for practice in occupational therapy (6th ed., pp. 87–95). Elsevier.

Scoping Review References

    1. *Akbarfahimi M., Nabavi S. M., Kor B., Rezaie L., Paschall E. (2020). The effectiveness of occupational therapy-based sleep interventions on quality of life and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: A pilot randomized clinical trial study. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 16, 1369–1379. 10.2147/NDT.S249277 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. *Andersson C., Mårtensson L. (2021). Women’s experiences of being in the sick leave process. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(6), 488–497. 10.1080/11038128.2020.1750692 - DOI - PubMed
    1. *Armstrong-Heimsoth A., Hahn-Floyd M., Williamson H. J., Lockmiller C. (2020). Toward a defined role for occupational therapy in foster care transition programming. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 8(4), 1–8. 10.15453/2168-6408.1726 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Arnaud L. M., Gutman S. A. (2022). Supporting literacy participation for underserved children: A set of guidelines for occupational therapy practice. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 15(2), 111–130. 10.1080/19411243.2021.1934234 - DOI
    1. Baum C. M., Connor L. T., Morrison T., Hahn M., Dromerick A. W., Edwards D. F. (2008). Reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the executive function performance test: A measure of executive function in a sample of people with stroke. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(4), 446–455. 10.5014/ajot.62.4.446 - DOI - PubMed

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