Global health workforce research: Comparative analyses of the scientific publication trends in PubMed

Occupational Therapy Research Publications From 2001 to 2020 in PubMed: Trends and Comparative Analysis with Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

A limited understanding of trends in occupational therapy (OT) research publications exists. This study aimed to evaluate trends in OT research publications, in PubMed (2001-2020), compared to physiotherapy and rehabilitation. A method of secondary analysis of publication trends in the PubMed database was used. Medical subject headings for OT, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation were combined with search filters (e.g., population age, study design, and OT practice area). Linear regressions were computed to analyze changes in yearly growth. OT research publications increased by 5.86 per year and comprised less than 2.5% of rehabilitation research publications yearly. Knowledge synthesis was the predominant OT study design (2.94% yearly increase; p < .001). Intellectual/cognitive conditions and emergent practice areas in OT research publications increased over time (both p = .007). OT research publications were relatively evenly distributed across population age. OT research publications are increasing over time but lag relative to physiotherapy and rehabilitation broadly. Our findings may inform future OT research priorities.

Global research publications on cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation and their alignment with population rehabilitation needs: An ecological study

PURPOSE

Towards informing health research policy and planning, this article evaluates the relationship of the research publications in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) with the rehabilitation needs arising from cardiovascular diseases (except stroke) and chronic respiratory diseases, over time (1990-2017).

METHODS

Ecological study using a secondary analysis and linear regressions of public domain data to associate two datasets of population-level data: (1) research publications for CR and PR (data from the PubMed database); and (2) global need for CR and PR (data from the Global Burden of Disease study).

RESULTS

The percentage of both CR and PR publications (among total rehabilitation research) significantly decreased from 1990 to 2017 (both: p < 0.01). PR needs and research publications were aligned: around 5% of total rehabilitation needs and rehabilitation research. For CR needs (around 2%, but significantly increasing since 1990), we found a greater portion of CR research publications (6.5% or over). Finally, we found an inverse association among the percentage of CR research publications and CR needs (b = -6.08; r2  = 0.37, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The portion of CR and PR research (among total rehabilitation research) is declining over time. Yearly percentage of CR publications were greater than those of PR but for lower level of rehabilitation need, but the disparate trend was significantly decreasing over time. Population rehabilitation needs and their alignment with research volume must be one factor in the design of population-centred, equitable health research priorities.

Situational analysis for informing the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce

BACKGROUND

Occupational Therapists are needed for meeting the health, rehabilitation, and occupational needs of the population worldwide, but there is no strategy for strengthening the occupational therapy workforce against a backdrop of an insufficient and inequitable supply worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

To perform a situational assessment of occupational therapy workforce development and research toward informing a global human resources strategy for the occupational therapy workforce strengthening.

METHOD

A multi-methods design incorporating Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis based on scoping review findings, workforce development frameworks, and expert feedback.

RESULTS

Strengths included identified workforce research trends, gaps, and findings. Weaknesses included a shortage of workforce research, lack of uniform and readily available workforce datasets, absence of workforce research programs, over-reliance on descriptive and non-experimental research, lack of research on workforce topics (e.g., diversity), and lack of labor market or economic analyses. Opportunities are the availability of guidance and tools for strengthening the health and rehabilitation workforce worldwide, and increased membership from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. Threats include the suboptimal funding of occupational therapy workforce research, the lack of occupational therapists data on international datasets and studies, suboptimal educational capacity in LMICs, lack of professional regulation and uniform workforce data collection in many contexts, and a perceived lower priority of this health workforce focused on health and wellbeing rather than medical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This SWOT analysis identifies strengths and opportunities to be seized and weaknesses and threats to be addressed by development of a strategy for the global strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce.

Type of Findings Generated by the Occupational Therapy Workforce Research Worldwide: Scoping Review and Content Analysis

Occupational therapists are needed to meet the health and occupational needs of the global population, but we know little about the type of findings generated by occupational therapy workforce research conducted worldwide. We aim to synthesize these findings and their range of content to inform future investigations. A scoping review with content analysis was used. Six scientific databases, websites of official institutions, snowballing, and key informants were used for searches. Two independent reviewers took selection decisions against the eligibility criteria published a priori in the review protocol. Of the 1246 unique references detected, 57 papers were included for the last 25 years. A total of 18 papers addressed issues of attractiveness and retention, often in Australia, and 14 addressed the issues of supply, demand, and distribution, often in the US. Only these two categories generated subtopics. Many workforce issues were rarely addressed as a main topic (e.g., race/ethnic representation). Cross-national, cross-regional, or cross-professional studies generated more actionable findings. Overall, we found few discernable trends, minimal evidence of research programs, and various gaps in content coverage or in the use of contemporary research approaches. There is a need for a coordinated strengthening of the occupational therapy workforce research worldwide.