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


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Ivanoff
Synneve Dahlin
SD
Division of Occupational Therapy, Institute of Neurosciences and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden. synneve.dahlin-ivanoff@fhs.gu.se
Iwarsson
Susanne
S
Sonn
Ulla
U