Methodological and Historical Evolution of Indexed Publications in Occupational Therapy

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Bibliometrics
• Research methodology

Background:

• Indexed publications are crucial for advancing occupational therapy research, practice, and theory.
• Understanding the historical evolution of these publications is key to identifying trends and progress.
• This study addresses the need to analyze the trajectory of occupational therapy literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the historical and methodological evolution of indexed occupational therapy publications.
• To identify thematic shifts and methodological progress in the field.
• To analyze trends in occupational therapy research over time.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 10,776 articles from 15 occupational therapy journals (1945-2022).
• Utilized Web of Science database for article screening and data extraction.
• Analyzed performance indicators, citation patterns, and thematic trends.

Main Results:

• Identified three publication periods: foundational (1945-1989), expansion (1990-2009), and maturity (2010-2022).
• Thematic focus shifted from physical rehabilitation to mental health, community interventions, and diverse populations.
• Methodological progression observed from qualitative to mixed methods and experimental designs, with noted limitations in rigor.

Conclusions:

• Occupational therapy research demonstrates substantial growth, thematic diversification, and methodological sophistication.
• The field's evolution reflects responsiveness to societal needs and clinical contexts.
• Sustaining evidence-based practice, collaboration, and research investment is vital for the discipline's future.