British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy has traditionally focused on child development but motherhood as an occupation is rarely analyzed. This study aimed to identify practices, theoretical perspectives, and concepts described or used in occupational therapy research concerning the early periods of motherhood and explore the literature to contribute to the advancement of practice.

A scoping review was conducted to map and synthesize multiple perspectives, provide current insights into motherhood as an occupation, and inform occupational therapists’ practice. Search across five databases and manual research in periodicals in the area were conducted up to mid-2024. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Eleven articles were included. The analysis revealed three themes: occupational therapy practitioner goals; occupational therapy practices; and theories and concepts supporting the relationship between motherhood, occupation and occupational therapy. The study underscores the limited number of studies available and highlights the need for clearer conceptual definitions and more explicit links between intervention strategies and underlying theoretical frameworks.

There is a compelling need for more research to enhance our understanding of the significance of motherhood as an occupation. This understanding will serve as a foundation for refining the role of occupational therapy in supporting motherhood.

Occupational therapists working in specialist palliative care aim to enable clients with life-limiting illnesses to continue engaging in meaningful occupations. However, there is a dearth of literature illustrating positive examples of occupational therapy practice in specialist palliative care in Ireland. This study aimed to highlight the positive examples of occupational therapists assisting clients in ‘doing dying well’ in specialist palliative care.

Single semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine occupational therapists, working in six different specialist palliative care settings. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

The first theme identified occupational therapists’ perceptions of how clients continue to ‘focus on living’ when dying. The second theme identified the core elements of ‘being client-centred’ as (i) ‘being present’, (ii) ‘developing collaborative goals’ and (iii) ‘supporting families and caregivers’. The third theme ‘holism’ described clients’ (i) ‘holistic everyday occupations’ and (ii) ‘holistic unique occupations’ in ‘doing dying well’.

Occupational therapists perceived that ‘doing dying well’ for clients can be facilitated by focusing on living until death, enabling continued engagement in occupations and roles. Adopting a truly client-centred and occupation-focused approach, occupational therapists can enable dying individuals to live and die as they want.

Understanding the factors that shape occupational therapy (OT) career pathways is crucial for strengthening recruitment and retention. In the Philippines, limited research has examined why students choose OT and how they navigate their entry-level education. This study explored the lived experiences of Filipino OT graduates to understand their career decision-making and educational journeys.

A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine Filipino OT graduates who completed their entry-level education in the Philippines. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method to identify key influences and shared experiences.

Four themes captured participants’ experiences: (1) deciding to enter OT, shaped by family guidance, immersion experiences, personal interests, and peer influence; (2) affirming their decision through clinical exposure, academic preparation, and personal growth; (3) navigating challenges associated with academic load, OT’s broad scope, pandemic-related gaps, and limited public awareness; and (4) perspectives on raising awareness through school-based advocacy, digital platforms, and personal storytelling. Supportive learning environments and mentorship contributed to their persistence.

Findings underscore the need for strengthened career guidance, improved public awareness of OT, and educational strategies supporting identity formation and resilience. These insights may inform program development and workforce policies in the Philippines and similar contexts.

Mood disorders disrupt occupational participation by interfering with routines, roles, and social connectedness. The Kawa (River) model offers a culturally sensitive, metaphor-based framework to explore how individuals perceive and navigate barriers, supports, and opportunities in daily life.

Thirteen adults with mood disorders were recruited from a university psychiatry clinic. Participants completed semi-structured interviews guided by the Kawa model, including river drawings and reflective questions. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Rigor was supported through reflexive memos, consensus coding, audit trails, peer debriefing, and integration of field notes.

Participants described life flow as turbulent, stagnant, or clear, reflecting disrupted routines, fluctuating motivation, and occasional stability. Occupational participation was limited by psychological symptoms, strained relationships, stigma, and rigid environments, yet supported by driftwood resources such as strengths, hobbies, spirituality, social support. Spaces reflected aspirations for independence, growth, stability.

The Kawa model provided participants with a supportive framework to share experiences of occupational participation and challenges. Its metaphorical and visual structure encouraged reflection, made complex experiences more accessible, and highlighted barriers and resources. Findings suggest the model can help occupational therapists understand how mood disorders shape daily life and support collaborative goal-setting within culturally responsive practice.

Toileting independence is a key factor influencing discharge to home for patients with stroke and is a primary target in rehabilitation. Achieving toileting independence requires multiple physical and cognitive functions, including attention. Attentional deficits, occurring in up to 80% of stroke survivors, may hinder toileting independence; however, their impact has not been systematically examined using standardised behavioural observation scales such as the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS). We aimed to investigate the relationship between MARS scores and the degree of toileting independence in patients with acute stroke.

This cross-sectional study included 61 Japanese patients with stroke (44 with cerebral infarctions, 4 with cerebral haemorrhages and 13 with subarachnoid haemorrhages). The primary outcomes were toileting and toilet trans scores of the Functional Independence Measure. The secondary outcomes were MARS scores, grip strength and Trail Making Test scores.

Ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that MARS scores were independently associated with the degree of toileting independence (R² > 0.50, p < 0.05).

Toileting independence relies on physical and cognitive functions. The MARS is valuable for determining toileting independence. Using behavioural observation scales, such as the MARS, along with neurological and neuropsychological tests may further support the establishment of occupational therapy goals and interventions.

Occupational therapy is emerging as one of the components of early rehabilitation for patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

This study aimed to explore the lived experience of mechanically ventilated patients participating in an occupation-based intervention, delivered in an ICU by occupational therapists.

Interpretative description methodology guided a qualitative study of participants in the intervention group of a single site randomised controlled feasibility trial (EFFORT-ICU). Semi-structured interviews were completed with 11 participants at 90-day post-randomisation. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Three themes emerged from the data including (1) relationships with health professionals, (2) mastery of self through participation in daily occupations and (3) the journey of recovery. Participants perceived early engagement in therapy as positive.

Participation in early occupation-based therapy, incorporating activities such as grooming and selfcare, was considered beneficial by patients who perceived it had a positive impact on their recovery and the experience of an ICU admission. The results support the contribution of the occupational therapist in ICUs in contributing to humanising care and enhancing longer-term outcomes of patients and highlight the importance of collaboration with families.