Addressing Occupational Dysfunction via Telehealth: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Public health
• Telemedicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted occupational functioning.
• Understanding telehealth's role in managing occupational dysfunction is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the utilization of telehealth for occupational dysfunction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To synthesize findings from adult and pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology based on Arksey and O'Malley's stages was employed.
• Literature search encompassed articles published between January 2020 and December 2022.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three articles were included in the review.
• Fifteen studies focused on adult populations, and eight on pediatric populations.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth demonstrated potential in improving occupational dysfunction for both adults and children.
• Further investigation is required to establish the definitive efficacy of telehealth interventions for occupational dysfunction.