American Journal of Occupational Therapy最新文献

This special section of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy presents important international developments in occupational therapy research related to sensory processing and participation across a range of contexts and occupations. Taken as a whole, this collection of articles provides evidence that sensory processing differences affect children across the developmental continuum, transcending specific diagnostic criteria and significantly influencing participation in diverse occupational environments. Although this may not seem like a novel insight to experienced occupational therapy practitioners, its significance lies in strengthening the empirical support underlying these practice-based "commonsense" claims.

This AOTA Position Statement defines the role of occupational therapy practitioners and describes their distinct approaches and value in the delivery of occupational therapy services for people with feeding, eating, and swallowing impairments and performance limitations.

The 2025 AOTA Annual Business Meeting was held as a virtual event on August 20, 2025. More than 340 members registered from over 46 states and territories.

This Occupational Therapy Education Research Agenda identifies seven major research goals and priorities and is intended to complement the 2011 Occupational Therapy Research Agenda, which identified five research priorities of the profession.

The 2025 AOTA Representative Assembly convened on April 24, 2025, to vote on key issues impacting the organization and profession. During the meeting, nine motions were presented. The outcomes of each motion are summarized herein.

In her lecture for the inaugural Dr. Lela A. Llorens Award of Excellence for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Shirley A. Wells acknowledges the growing importance of creating more inclusive and equitable environments across all aspects of health care, with occupational therapy being no exception. Inclusion and integration are fundamental values that should be woven into every part of the practice of occupational therapy. It is not enough to be aware of these concepts; occupational therapists must actively engage in Acts of Inclusion and Integration in their delivery of care, collaboration with clients and colleagues, and shaping of the future of the field. Dr. Wells highlights examples of how occupational therapists can break down barriers to create spaces where everyone feels valued and supported.

Translation of knowledge about the evidence for occupational therapy interventions is critical to support the profession's evidence base. It has become increasingly important to guide occupational therapy practice in an evidence-based, outcomes-oriented way and to identify strategies that can foster dissemination and integration of evidence into practice. In this Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture, Roseann C. Schaaf introduces the concept of precision occupational therapy using data-driven decision-making (DDDM) as a process to enhance practice, create evidence for occupational therapy, and foster knowledge translation. Precision occupational therapy embodies a personalized approach that respects the individual and considers multiple streams of information simultaneously to design treatments that are individually tailored and measure meaningful, personalized outcomes. It considers the individual's strengths and needs and customizes interventions to enhance wellness and quality of life; it thus can be a guide for practice and research and can create evidence through practice. Schaaf presents three case examples to exemplify the application of precision occupational therapy using DDDM.

Importance: Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) in the upper extremity can significantly affect the ability of patients to participate in preferred activities, yet measuring this effect is challenging because of limited suitable tools.

Objective: To understand the impact of PNI on activity participation on basis of the activities' motor demands (fine motor, gross motor, and/or bimanual). We hypothesized that fine motor activities would show lower retention than gross motor or nonmotor activities, that hand dexterity would correlate with fine motor retention, and that unimanual activities would be retained more than bimanual activities.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study.

Setting: Two upper extremity rehabilitation clinics.

Participants: Forty-eight patients with unilateral PNI in the upper extremity.

Outcomes and measures: Primary outcome was participation retention rates in five activity dimensions, as assessed with the Activity Card Sort.

Results: Participants retained fewer gross motor activities than fine motor activities. Pain and health-related quality of life were the only patient factors significantly associated with participation. Hand dexterity did not correlate with fine motor retention, and unimanual activities showed higher retention than bimanual activities, regardless of the injured side.

Conclusions and relevance: Patterns of activity loss after PNI cannot be fully explained by motor demands alone. Although addressing specific motor skills remains important, participation is shaped by a complex interplay of physical, personal, and contextual factors as well as compensation and difficulties with bimanual tasks, even in unilateral injuries. Rehabilitation should incorporate activity-based assessments that capture real-world challenges and support individualized intervention planning. Plain-Language Summary: Nerve injuries in the upper extremity can significantly affect the ability to engage in essential activities. This study aimed to enhance the assessment of activity participation for people with upper extremity nerve injuries. We found that focusing on specific motor skills, such as fine and gross motor skills, gives a better understanding of how nerve injuries affect engagement in important activities. Hand dexterity, as measured using standard tools, was not linked to the ability to retain fine motor activities. These findings suggest that, to tailor interventions to enhance overall recovery, rehabilitation should include an individualized assessment (in addition to standard scales) to identify the activities that depend on the patient's specific motor skills impairments.

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) has maintained its top-ranking status in the field of occupational therapy while expanding its efforts related to knowledge translation and improving reporting standards. Key outcomes for 2025 showcase the journal's breadth and depth, with 137 articles published, including a special issue on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Accessibility, and Belonging in Occupational Therapy Practice and Education. The AJOT Authors & Issues interview series also reached more than 21,000 views in 2025, doubling viewership from 2024.

This AOTA Position Statement articulates the principles, values, and beliefs that guide the practice of occupational therapy. The document provides a foundation for entry-level education and supports advocacy.