OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research evidence available from systematic reviews of the efficacy of occupational therapy (OT) for practitioners, researchers, purchasing organizations and policy-makers. DATA SOURCE: The search for systematic reviews was conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library (October 2004). METHODS: The reviews included were those that utilized a systematic search for evidence with regard to OT for specific patient groups. Data were summarized for patient group, interventions, outcome domains, type of study designs included, method of data synthesis and conclusions. RESULTS: Fourteen systematic reviews were included. Three reviews related to rheumatoid arthritis, four reviewed stroke and four focused on elderly people. Reviews of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, cerebral palsy and mental illnesses were also identified. The reviews of rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and elderly people showed evidence of the efficacy of OT in increasing functional abilities. Positive results were presented for quality of life and social participation in elderly people and stroke respectively. The efficacy of OT in all other patient groups is unknown due to insufficient evidence. CONCLUSION: This summary shows that elderly people and people with stroke or rheumatoid arthritis can expect to benefit from comprehensive OT. Evidence of the efficacy of specific interventions is sparse and should be addressed in future research. The evidence that does exist should be incorporated into OT practice.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research evidence available from systematic reviews of the efficacy of occupational therapy (OT) for practitioners, researchers, purchasing organizations and policy-makers. DATA SOURCE: The search for systematic reviews was conducted in PubMed and the Cochrane Library (October 2004). METHODS: The reviews included were those that utilized a systematic search for evidence with regard to OT for specific patient groups. Data were summarized for patient group, interventions, outcome domains, type of study designs included, method of data synthesis and conclusions. RESULTS: Fourteen systematic reviews were included. Three reviews related to rheumatoid arthritis, four reviewed stroke and four focused on elderly people. Reviews of Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, cerebral palsy and mental illnesses were also identified. The reviews of rheumatoid arthritis, stroke and elderly people showed evidence of the efficacy of OT in increasing functional abilities. Positive results were presented for quality of life and social participation in elderly people and stroke respectively. The efficacy of OT in all other patient groups is unknown due to insufficient evidence. CONCLUSION: This summary shows that elderly people and people with stroke or rheumatoid arthritis can expect to benefit from comprehensive OT. Evidence of the efficacy of specific interventions is sparse and should be addressed in future research. The evidence that does exist should be incorporated into OT practice.
Authors: Lynn Legg; Avril Drummond; Jo Leonardi-Bee; J R F Gladman; Susan Corr; Mireille Donkervoort; Judi Edmans; Louise Gilbertson; Lyn Jongbloed; Pip Logan; Catherine Sackley; Marion Walker; Peter Langhorne Journal: BMJ Date: 2007-09-27
Authors: Sebastian Voigt-Radloff; Maud Graff; Rainer Leonhart; Katrin Schornstein; Frank Jessen; Jens Bohlken; Brigitte Metz; Andreas Fellgiebel; Richard Dodel; Gerhard Eschweiler; Myrra Vernooij-Dassen; Marcel Olde Rikkert; Michael Hüll Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2011-08-09 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Margriet C Pol; Gerben Ter Riet; Margo van Hartingsveldt; Ben Kröse; Sophia E de Rooij; Bianca M Buurman Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-01-03 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Susanne Guidetti; Kristina Tomra Nielsen; Cecilie von Bülow; Marc Sampedro Pilegaard; Louise Klokker; Eva Ejlersen Wæhrens Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-05-20 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Toby O Smith; Paul Jepson; Andrew Beswick; Gina Sands; Avril Drummond; Edward T Davis; Catherine M Sackley Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2016-07-04