Developing the First Digital Occupational Therapy Dictionary Worldwide: A Promising Mobile Application Model for...

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Medical Informatics
• Rehabilitation Sciences

Background:

• Lack of a dedicated English-Arabic occupational therapy dictionary hinders effective communication.
• Existing digital resources do not adequately address the specific terminology needs in occupational therapy for Arabic speakers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the first English-Arabic occupational therapy (OT) dictionary mobile application.
• To improve understanding and communication of OT services among providers and recipients.
• To address the gap in accessible, culturally relevant OT terminology resources.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic search of app stores for existing OT dictionaries.
• Incorporated user-centered design principles, considering end-user needs, language, and culture.
• Developed a comprehensive mobile application with translations, annotations, and visual aids.

Main Results:

• No existing electronic OT dictionaries were found on major app stores.
• Developed a mobile application featuring over 2400 English-Arabic OT terms, 350+ images, and user-friendly features.
• The application serves as a unified terminology resource, facilitating communication between Arab OT professionals and the community.

Conclusions:

• The English-Arabic OT dictionary mobile application is the first of its kind globally.
• It provides convenient, rapid access to OT terminology, fostering a shared understanding.
• Further research is needed to enhance content and develop more evidence-based mobile tools for Arabic-speaking populations in OT.