A novel approach - occupational therapy on campus: A systematic review

Objective: To demonstrate the potential value of occupational therapy (OT) services for students in higher education settings. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024 were searched across PsychInfo, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and PubMed databases. Results: Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria. OT interventions included occupational performance coaching, group sessions, physical activity interventions, time management, occupation centered and other tailored support services. OT services showed positive impacts on occupational and academic performance, student well-being, reduced stress levels, and improved engagement. Conclusions: Consistent positive outcomes observed across OT interventions suggest that occupational therapy has value for addressing student challenges in higher education, particularly in academic performance, well-being, and engagement. Institutions would benefit from exploring how OT services could complement current support offerings. Future research should focus on conducting controlled studies to better understand service delivery models and sustainability.