Date Presented 03/21/24
As part of our scoping review of 25 published works on neuro-occupation, we considered the evolution and application of this term in occupational science and therapy. We proposed a specific definition and discussed the limited future utility.
Primary Author and Speaker: Bethany Gruskin
Contributing Authors: Sofronia Ringold, Alison M. Cogan
PURPOSE: We conducted a scoping review to evaluate how the term neuro-occupation has been defined in the literature, applied in the fields of occupational therapy and occupational science, and evolved geographically and across time.
METHOD: We followed the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) five stages framework with suggestions by Levac et al. (2010). The included publications were analyzed both descriptively and thematically.
RESULTS: We included 25 works published between 1997-2020. In our descriptive analysis, we found neuro-occupation evolved from theoretical concepts utilized in the United States to a more widespread term applied to many different clinical populations. Through thematic analysis, common threads emerged such as (1) the reciprocal relationship between the nervous system and occupations, (2) the Intention, Meaning, and Perception (IMP) Model of neuro-occupation, and (3) pragmatic implications for occupational therapy practice and interventions.
CONCLUSIONS: Neuro-occupation has developed through collaboration between neuroscience, occupational therapy, and occupational science. While initially proposed as a theoretical concept, the IMP model of neuro-occupation has been applied to various clinical populations and occupational therapy interventions. We propose an updated definition of neurooccupation, incorporating a holistic approach for considering the interactions between neural activity, contextual factors, and occupational performance across individuals and groups from cellular to societal levels. Despite the utility of this term to highlight the connection between neuronal functioning and occupational engagement, we ultimately recommend the discontinued discontinuing its use of this term given current evidence regarding the enmeshment of these concepts.
References
Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
Levac, D., Colquhoun, H., & O’Brien, K. K. (2010). Scoping studies: Advancing the methodology. Implementation Science: IS, 5(1), 69–69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-5-692
