Revista de Terapia Ocupacional da Universidade de São Paulo
Interdisciplinary publication address to Occupational Therapy field in its interface with health, psychosocial rehabilitation, education and other similar areas.
Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina
Kinship, resistance, and the futures we make: a conversation with Pamela Block
This conversation brings together critical reflections on disability, care, kinship, and intersectionality through a transnational lens, featuring Pamela Block and interlocutors Lilian Magalhães and Sandra Galheigo. Drawing from both personal and academic experiences, Pamela Block discusses how family structures, institutional expectations, and systemic inequities shape the lives of disabled individuals and their siblings and explores how they co-create futures in contexts often marked by exclusion. The dialogue also addresses the uneven distribution of care responsibilities, particularly in Canada and Brazil, highlighting the ways in which race, class, gender, and immigration status intersect with disability. Attention is given to the social construction of "non-disabled" siblings as default caregivers and the emotional and structural consequences this carries. As Lilian and Sandra draw parallels with Brazilian realities, the conversation underscores the global relevance of these issues while emphasizing the need to resist reductive approaches—whether based solely on class or medical categories. This exchange invites readers to think critically about care, agency, and justice in everyday life, and contributes meaningfully to the broader project of decolonizing disability studies and occupational therapy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lilian Magalhães, Sandra Maria Galheigo, Pamela Block https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Erratum: Technology and early intervention: video production to support family- centered practices in Brazil
Copyright (c) 2025 Equipe Editorial Rev. Ter. Ocup. Univ. Sao Paulo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Insisting on revolutions: problematization as a “theoretical weapon” for social therapeutic-occupational practice
In the face of daily life, marked by alienation, which consumes the possibilities of a life with more freedom, it is important for occupational therapists to understand the forces of capitalism that have been devouring the natural, cultural, political and social bases - in the various dimensions, macro-microsocial, of life. Therefore, a revolutionary perspective is needed that has problematization as a "theoretical weapon" to develop an anti-oppressive therapeutic-occupational practice and that has the creation of "zones of freedom" as an intentionality. In order to substantiate this assertion, we discuss two aspects in this essay: the idealistic overcoming that occupational therapy is essentially good and innocent, thus dealing with its potential, already demonstrated by history, to produce violence, so that it is possible to assume a counter-hegemonic technical-political commitment; and, under these parameters, the proposition of occupational therapists as agents of problematization, in actions that contribute to making daily life happen better. It is a matter of understanding History as a possibility, which does not mean denying its cultural, social, political and economic conditioning, but recognizing them as non-determinant, affirming the ethical responsibility of being in and with the world and, thus, insisting on the guideline of transforming it collectively.
Copyright (c) 2025 Magno Nunes Farias, Roseli Esquerdo Lopes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Reading the Reality with Children: Health and Its Social Determinants.
Introduction: The Social Determinants of Health (SDH) emphasize that health and human development are shaped by the environment and experiences that significantly influence quality of life. This study is grounded in the perspective of SDH, highlighting the need for actions that link them with health promotion to foster a greater understanding and address inequalities. Objective: To understand children's knowledge of SDH, exploring their perceptions, with the goal of understanding the relationships children establish between health and its social determinants. Method: A qualitative study inspired by the thematic investigation proposed by Paulo Freire, focusing on the reading of reality of children, conducted in a Non-Governmental Organization in João Pessoa/PB. Data were collected through activity groups and participant observation. The meetings were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the spiral analysis proposed by Creswell. Results: The research findings highlight challenges related to children's understanding of SDH, limiting their ability to comprehend how SDH impact their health and well-being. Conclusion: These initiatives are crucial for developing effective strategies that help children, empowering them to make more informed decisions about their health and seek support when necessary.
Copyright (c) 2025 Victória Beatriz Santos da Silva, Maria Natália Santos Calheiros https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Occupational Therapy and Assistive Technology in Primary Health Care: possibilities and challenges
INTRODUCTION: People with disabilities, especially in low-and middle-income countries, face difficulties in accessing Assistive Technology (AT), because there are some difficulties understanding AT as a health resource with impacts on the possibilities of participation, rather as a technological product. There is a strong tradition about AT restricting it to specialized health services or to experimental projects within universities, with a lack of production in the context of Primary Health Care (PHC). This article seeks to discuss the action of occupational therapy with AT in PHC services. METHODOLOGY: This qualitative exploratory analytical research had as primary source the Laboratory of Studies in Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologie of São Paulo University’s database, produced between 2008 and 2023. The content analysis method was used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Actions of Occupational Therapy with AT in PHC enables access to healthcare for people with disabilities, with interprofessional teamwork and matrix support as main tool. The demands for AT in PHC can be met through Brazilian Health System and constructed by occupational therapists of low-cost resources in the users' home and coordinated with the community. CONCLUSION: Occupational Therapy needs to debate its actions in the PHC context, to offer comprehensive and resolutive services for everyone.
Camila Cristina Bortolozzo Ximenes de Souza
Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Cristina Bortolozzo Ximenes Souza, Eucenir Fredini Rocha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Assessment tools in pediatric palliative care in the hospital setting: an integrative literature review
INTRODUCTION: Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) refers to the care provided by a multidisciplinary team, aimed at improving the quality of life of children and adolescents, as well as their families, in the face of life-threatening illnesses. In this context, the Occupational Therapist plays a fundamental role, promoting independence and autonomy in daily activities that are affected by the illness and/or treatment. The growing recognition of the importance of palliative care in pediatrics highlights the need for effective tools to assess and guide Occupational Therapy interventions. OBJECTIVE: To map the standardized assessment tools used in the context of hospital PPC. METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURES: Integrative literature review in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and PubMed databases, in English and Portuguese, from 2012 to 2024. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were identified, indicating 23 standardized assessment tools. These tools were analyzed according to two thematic units: (1) domains of the tools and (2) who answers the tool. CONCLUSION: This review contributed to expanding knowledge about the standardized assessment tools used in PPC, discussing how the domains covered by the tools support occupational therapeutic reasoning.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Clara Salgado Ramos, Brunna Mainar de Lima, Carolina Becker Bueno Lopes https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Occupational therapy and palliative care in spinal muscular atrophy type 1: case study
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1 is a genetic disease that causes severe motor and respiratory impairments, and starts around 6 months of age. This study aimed to analyze occupational therapy (OT) interventions with a child with SMA, from the perspective of palliative care, and to understand the mother's perception of care in OT. This is a single case study of a child with SMA type 1, who experienced seven years of hospitalization and was assisted by the OT. The information was collected from the child's medical record and through an interview with the mother, and qualitatively analyzed. The OT practices were associated with the palliative care approach as they worked on physical, socio/family, emotional and spiritual issues of the child and his/her family. The assistance provided joint experiences (mother and child) of activities that favor the child's development and that are not commonly experienced by hospitalized children with SMA. The study indicated that OT contributed to the well-being of the child and the family during the hospitalization process.
Copyright (c) 2025 Débora da Silva Firino Felismino, Ângela Cristina Dornelas da Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Caring for teaching and teaching how to care: body practices in the context of Occupational Therapy training
The teaching of body practices has proven to be an important tool in resistance practices against the biomedical model and fostering the invention of new ways of thinking and producing body practices in healthcare, through the development of dialogical teaching methodologies and postures. Objective: To analyze the meaning of learning body practices for students during their undergraduate training in Occupational Therapy. Method: This is a qualitative, descriptive-exploratory documentary study, using as its primary data source the written records developed by sixth-semester students of the MFT0718 – Occupational Therapy and the body practices II, taught from 2020 to 2024, stored on the Moodle platform, with access restricted to the professor, tutor, and students. Results: The course included theoretical sessions and discussions of body practices; workshops on body work and body journaling; and workshops focused on caring for others and sharing experiences. A total of 152 documents were analyzed. Various benefits in physical, emotional, and well-being aspects were evidenced by the body practices experienced by students and others. Conclusion: The discipline, through dialogic teaching methodologies, encouraged the active participation of students, the embodiment of theoretical-practical knowledge, which transcended the classroom, approaching preparation for professional practice.
Camila Cristina Bortolozzo Ximenes Souza
Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Cristina Bortolozzo Ximenes Souza, Isadora Romagnoli Ribeiro, Rosé Colom Toldrá https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Challenges in Teaching Work in Occupational Therapy Courses in the State of São Paulo
Teaching work is essential for professional training and research, promoting critical reflection and the subjective development of the teacher. However, studies highlight challenges in this work that affect both health and work processes. Objective: To identify the challenges of teaching in Occupational Therapy programs at public universities in the state of São Paulo and their impact on educators' health and work quality. Methodology: A descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, conducted through semi-structured interviews with Occupational Therapy faculty members at public universities in São Paulo, followed by thematic data analysis. Results and Discussion: Work overload due to a lack of human resources affects health, personal time, work performance, and interpersonal relationships among educators. Nevertheless, the interviewees value the pleasure and social impact of their work. Precarization and the current management model in universities are relevant factors in the challenges mentioned during the interviews, affecting educators' quality of life and work, as well as relationships within the university. Conclusion: The challenges highlighted indicate the need for adjustments in financial and human resources at public universities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Juliana Ayra Yoshimura, Selma Lancman https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Wheelchair and dispositives of Assistive Technology: challenges in acquisition and user perception among Wheelchair Baske
Introduction: Wheelchair Basketball is a parasport practiced by people with physical disabilities, and for sports practice, athletes use specific wheelchairs and may employ dispositives of assistive technology to enhance their sports performance. However, the high cost of these devices leads many athletes to seek support in public policies and sponsorships. Objectives: Verify the methods and challenges of equipment acquisition, and identify the athlete’s perceptions of using assistive devices. Methods: A qualitative-quantitative study was conducted using an online questionnaire. Data analysis was performed through descriptive statistics, Bardin's Content Analysis, and Spearman's Correlation. Results: There were 37 participants, the majority with an income of up to three minimum wages, 11 athletes receive state or federal grants, and only 6 acquired wheelchairs through public programs. Many participants reported that the lack of proper fit and the obsolescence of assistive equipment negatively affect sports performance. Additionally, financial conditions and bureaucracy were the main challenges in obtaining the equipment. Conclusions: The study identified weaknesses in the provision of assistive devices and financial incentives through public policies, which may contribute to the disengagement of athletes from sports activities.
Copyright (c) 2025 Joyce Kelly França Domingues, Leticia Gabriela Rodrigues de Souza, Aline Ferrari Fabri, Iranise Moro Pereira Jorge, Ana Carolina Passos de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Notes on Occupational Therapy research from Northeast Brazil
Introduction: In Brazil, formal research groups play a central role in the production and dissemination of academic-scientific knowledge, being essential for strengthening, advancement, and consolidation of the field. Objective: To characterize Occupational Therapy research groups in higher education institutions in the Northeast region of Brazil and reflect on knowledge production in Occupational Therapy from this region. Method: This descriptive study used qualitative and quantitative approaches, relying on public data from the Lattes Platform. The Directory of Research Groups (DPG) was searched using the term “occupational therapy”, and the Lattes CVs of the researchers in these groups were consulted. Analyses included content analysis of textual material (group and research line names) and numerical analysis of distribution, quantity, and timeframes. Results: Seven research groups were identified in the Northeast. Most (five) included “fundamentals of occupational therapy” in their group or line titles; three were based in Paraíba, and five were certified. Only two leaders and one vice-leader completed doctoral training in the Northeast, and only one leader had a doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Conclusion: Regional asymmetries in Occupational Therapy research in the Northeast reflect historical national inequalities. Researchers should strengthen groups and coordinate efforts to shape the scientific future of the field.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marina Batista Chaves Azevedo Souza, Andrezza Marques Duque https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Materials, tools and difficulties encountered by occupational therapists in the production of low-cost Assistive Technology
Introduction: Occupational therapists are qualified to assess, prescribe, adapt, and produce Assistive Technology (AT) resources and, given the specificities and barriers of the market, produce low-cost adaptations. Objectives: To identify the materials and tools used and the difficulties encountered in the production of low-cost AT resources. Methodological procedures: Cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study. The sample consisted of occupational therapists registered with CREFITO 1, working in the state of Alagoas. Data collection included questions that characterized the sample, production, materials and tools used, and difficulties encountered in the production of low-cost AT. The data were analyzed using Jamovi software. Results: Most occupational therapists worked in the health field with children and used to produce low-cost, considering the effectiveness of the resource. Production in the area of food stands out. Among the materials, Velcro stands out, and among the tools, scissors, utility knives, and rulers. The main difficulty is the lack of time to produce the resources. Conclusions: In addition to the lack of time to make the resources, which limits customization and user adherence, the limitations were aggravated by the lack of updated publications.
Lara Leticia Bezerra Miranda Vasconcelos Correia
Copyright (c) 2025 Esmeralda da Silva dos Santos, Lara Leticia Bezerra Miranda Vasconcelos Correia, Monique Carla da Silva Reis https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Home participation and contextual factors in childhood disabilities: a cross sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic
Children’s functioning manifests in their participation and is highly influenced by personal factors (as mediators) and environmental factors (as barriers or facilitators), which can either hinder or support their participation. The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique circumstance to explore those influences. We investigated whether (i)child’s factors, (ii)home-family environment and (iii) frequency at home participation are associated with involvement in home participation of children with developmental disabilities (DD) during COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional-exploratory study. Ninety parents of children with DD (7.00±3.78 years) answered a standardized questionnaire and the home section of PEM-CY. Multivariate linear regression was run with involvement as a dependent outcome. The frequency at home participation was the first variable to enter the model, representing 48.5% of the involvement. The next variable to enter the model was the child’s motor impairment, representing 56.2% of the involvement together with frequency. The last variable that entered was caregivers that did not work, together representing 58.7% of the involvement. A higher frequency of participation at home, children with motor impairments (instead of intellectual or behavioral impairments) and mothers that are not employed were strongly associated with greater involvement in participation at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings are a small contribution to better understand the relationship between contextual factors that define participation at home during the COVID-19 pandemic
Copyright (c) 2025 Beatriz Helena Brugnaro, Isabelle Gansella Rocha da Costa , Gesica Fernandes, Olaf Kraus de Camargo, Silvia Letícia Pavão, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Playing in the hospital and the possibilities of family participation: a review of brazilian literature
Introduction: playing is widely addressed in Occupational Therapy. In the case of hospitalized children, it will play a central role in the occupational therapist’s interventions. The child and their family must be considered as a unit of care, considering the centrality of the parents to the child’s well-being. Objective: to identify in Brazilian scientific literature what has been discussed about occupational therapist practices related to playing in the hospital context and considerations regarding family participation. Methodological procedures: mapping review in the SciELO library - Scientific Electronic Library Online and in Brazilian journals in the area, in an open period. Results: 31 articles were included and the content analysis of the material resulted in five thematic axes: (1) Playing as an end in itself; (2) Playing as a resource or strategy; (3) Limitations in the hospitalized child’s play; (4) The assisted family; (5) The family as an active participant. Conclusions: the small number of works that discuss family involvement, more specifically, in occupational therapist practice, when the teme is playing during hospitalization, challenges occupational therapists in the hospital context to rethink their practices, in order to contemplate the family as a care unit.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mariana Oliveira Leite Silva, Maria Paula Panúncio Pinto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Feminist Political-Performative Practices in Occupational Therapy: expressions of resistance against violence against women
Occupational Therapy has demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the context of contemporary transformations, particularly in its dialogue with the arts when addressing complex social issues. This article presents a segment of a qualitative master’s research project focused on analyzing political-performative practices developed by occupational therapists from Brazil and Chile in contexts of violence against women. Based on open interviews and audiovisual materials, the analysis was organized into three participant groups. This article aims to present the general findings of the research and to deepen the analysis of Group 2, describing and discussing political-performative practices articulated with feminist and Occupational Therapy reflections, emphasizing their meanings in the creative process, professional practice, and political engagement of the participants. The thematic categories of violence and resistance permeate the narratives, expressed through the body as a collective act of denunciation and symbolic elaboration of suffering. These practices have proven to be powerful tools for Occupational Therapy by promoting the re-signification of experiences of violence, the construction of care networks, and the strengthening of sociopolitical actions that are sensitive to inequality and human rights violations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nathalia Ahumada Goity, Denise Dias Barros https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Occupational Therapy and Telehealth: a narrative review of the literature
Introduction: Changes in lifestyle resulting from the use of information and communication technology have repercussions on occupational therapy practices, notably accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic mobilized some occupational therapists to develop new strategies to ensure care for their target audience in a non-face-to-face manner. Thus, occupational therapists began to adopt the telehealth strategy, understood as a technique for developing actions, through telecommunications technologies, used to care for users, interact with professionals and network services. Objective: To understand and highlight the professional practices of occupational therapists developed in Brazil using the telehealth strategy. Methodology: This is a narrative review of the literature on the national experience of professionals, based on research in Brazilian Occupational Therapy journals, carried out in January 2024 without a time filter. Conclusion: The study allowed us to characterize the use of telehealth by occupational therapists in terms of the diversity of the target audience, the contexts of application, the resources used, as well as the challenges and potential of the telehealth strategy, especially for providing care to the population.
Copyright (c) 2024 Priscila de Souza Lepre, Rosé Colom Toldrá https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Experiences of occupational therapists in the management of socio-sanitary and community care in primary health care
Introduction: The need for care falls on families with limited state assistance and reflects deep gender inequality. Objectives: To analyze the experiences of occupational therapists (OT) in the provision of social health care and community care for dependency in primary health care in a town in Santiago de Chile. Methodological Procedures: This is a qualitative case study (exploratory and descriptive) based on a discussion group among professionals. Results: Six occupational therapists from local health services participated. The analysis of the discussion groups identified the following thematic categories: Interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral work in health: challenges of continuity of care and support in Primary Health Care; Health Promotion: potentials in horizontality and dialogical relationships in care; Care, gender, and human rights: comprehensiveness in access and exercise of rights; Strengthening and community care: territorial historicity and social participation; Mental Health and Caregivers: creation of collective spaces. Conclusions: Community participation is established as a space for strengthening support networks with a promotional and preventive role. Spaces such as health programs and social organizations are central to building community care networks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Lilian Araya Ortíz, Fátima Corrêa Oliver https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Academic and professional profile of graduates of the Occupational Therapy course at the University of Brasília
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The process of evaluating the profile of graduated students has been an institutional concern, however there is a gap in relation to the paths taken by graduates. Objective: To outline the academic and professional profile of occupational therapists graduating from the undergraduate course in Occupational Therapy at the University of Brasília. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, which involved 83 graduates of the Occupational Therapy course at the University of Brasília, who responded to an online questionnaire about socioeconomic aspects, training and professional experience. Results and discussion: The majority of the sample is made up of cisgender women (n=67; 80.72%), with professional remuneration between 2 and 10 minimum wages (n=70; 84.34%), who took open courses (n =61; 41.50%), with recent training. Such results reinforce the predominance of women in the profession and suggest that the level of training and length of professional experience can influence remuneration. The majority of the sample works in informal work categories (PJ, service provider and self-employed), in clinics/offices, with children aged 0 to 12, which involves issues of labor rights and reveals a professional profile. Final considerations: Understanding the reality of graduates of the Occupational Therapy course can contribute to reflections on theoretical and practical training aspects of the profession.
Copyright (c) 2024 Sarah Raquel Almeida Lins, Camila de Oliveira Ribamar, Daniela da Silva Rodrigues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The construction of social participation in the daily life of a Therapeutic Residential Service in São Paulo
Introduction: Social participation is an important object of intervention in the field of psychosocial rehabilitation, especially for residents of the Therapeutic Residential Service (SRT). Objective: This study seeks to identify how social participation in the SRT has been implemented from the perspective of workers at the reference service – Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS. Methodology: A qualitative study was carried out, based on intervention research, with bibliographic studies and using the strategy of semi-structured interviews that guided one stage of the investigation. Results: The analyzes of the actions carried out by CAPS workers that are related to facilitating the social participation process of SRT residents helped to identify the social participation needs of residents, taking into account their conceptions. Conclusion: The study allowed reflections on the way in which the reference service of SRT, such as CAPS, understand the daily relationship with housing, highlighting lines of care strategies for this population that aim to build a network of possible spaces for circulation and social inclusion based on the theoretical framework of psychosocial rehabilitation from the perspective of Benedetto Saraceno.
Copyright (c) 2025 Débora da Silva Louzada, Eliane Dias de Castro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Development and validation of the content of a manual for the prevention and non-pharmacological management of delirium in the hospital environment
Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by an altered level of consciousness with decreased or increased psychomotor activity, called hypoactive and hyperactive delirium, respectively. It is a prevalent condition in hospitalized elderly people, and the multidisciplinary health team is responsible for implementing measures for its prevention and management. The aim is to validate the content of a manual for the prevention and non-pharmacological management of delirium in the hospital environment. This is a qualitative study in two stages: content development and validation by occupational therapists. It was prepared based on an integrative review conducted by Caetano et al.¹. Aiming to update this review, a new bibliographic search was carried out, finding 166 articles. 13 articles were selected, but no new strategies were identified in relation to those already identified by the aforementioned author. Content validation was carried out using the Delphi technique. In the first round, experts contributed criticisms and suggestions on general aspects of the manual. In the second round, they judged each topic according to the criteria “content” and “clarity of statement”. In the third and final round, they exclusively evaluated the relevance of images. The process of preparing the manual and judging it by experts gave the manual content validity as a useful tool for occupational therapists.
Copyright (c) 2024 Mariana Pedrosa, Marina Picazzio Perez Batista, Tamires Nicodemos Vasques, Maria Helena Helena Morgani de Almeida, Rosé Colom Toldrá https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Where are trans rights? Challenges faced by young trans women in accessingsocial rights
Young trans women make up an invisible population group that faces challenges in entering school, work and access to healthcare, being subject to processes of discrimination, prejudice and violence. This research aimed to understand the life experiences of young trans women and the challenges to social participation and access to rights. This is qualitative research using open interviews with four young trans women aged 20 to 26, living in the city of São Paulo. The interviews were transcribed and textualized, and reflective thematic analysis was carried out. Two thematic categories were created, one of which is presented in this article: I'm looking for those places that are easiest to interact with people: recognition, access to rights and social participation. The research results reflect on the experiences of being trans with regard to: school experiences with their powers and discrimination; work experiences, which imply relationships of discrimination, informality and precariousness and; to health care and processes of violence, discrimination and mental health. The research affirms the importance of developing more welcoming and emancipatory social and health practices, which are based on better knowledge of their life experiences.
Copyright (c) 2024 Aryel Ken Murasaki, Sandra Maria Galheigo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of methodological procedures of studies about wheelchair users satisfaction: a scope review
Introduction: Wheelchairs are a priority assistive product. The use of a wheelchair with adequate configuration can contribute to the user's autonomy, participation and quality of life, while the use of a wheelchair with inadequate configurations can negatively impact health and cause functional limitations. Objective: To identify the methodological procedures of studies on the satisfaction of wheelchair users regarding the product and associated services. Method: This is a scoping review based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Most studies used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. It also stands out, samples composed of users of manual wheelchairs with varied diagnoses. Most studies pointed to good levels of satisfaction with the wheelchairs and lower levels with follow-up services. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop further studies in countries in South America and Asia, which investigate not only satisfaction with the resource, but also explore in detail the services based on the 8 stages recommended by the WHO.
Copyright (c) 2025 Renata Conter Franco, Haidar Tafner Curi, Eliana Chaves Ferretti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The centrality of life in the contemporary world and its implications for Occupational Therapy
We live in a world characterized by political crises, climate change, wars and genocides, in which, paradoxically, life and its preservation are at the heart of concerns raised by governments, the media and social movements. Life gained this centrality when a new relationship between power and life was established in modern Western society. This paper presents a theoretical study that followed the thinking of Hannah Arendt, Michel Foucault and other philosophers who dialogued with them, in order to build an understanding of the progressive development of power that affects life, separating what is inseparable in it: the fact of life from the forms of life. The aim was to problematize the implications of this process for Occupational Therapy, for the health field and for the people it cares for. This path also led us to explore the contributions of Occupational Therapy, as a clinical-political practice - whose landscape is active life and the common world - to resisting the power that is exercised over life, in activating the potencies of life itself to ceaselessly produce new ways of being, doing, acting and thinking.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elizabeth Maria Freire de Araújo Lima https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Observatory integrative and complementary health practices of University of Brasília: construction of knowledge and care actions
Objective: To describe and analyze the contributions of training and education as a device for change in the context of health promotion in order to discuss the potential of PICS. Method: Report that considers the daily experience of training and education of health professionals, civil servants, and students of Universidade de Brasília in the context of Health Promotion and PICS, which took place between June 2023 and July 2024 in the Federal District. Results: From the experience of the training recorded through narratives and reflections of the participants and facilitators of the courses, a set of ideas was awakened that presents and explains the contributions of the insertion of integrative practices as a mechanism of transformation in the training of health and education professionals, as well as university students. Final considerations: The Observatory, as a knowledge scenario, is a significant environment for new possibilities in health and education training, through collaborative construction involving various actors and strengthening institutional dialogue in the search for subsidizing public policies, as well as expanding integrative practices in the health and education network.
Copyright (c) 2025 Josenaide Engracia dos Santos, Flávia Mazitelli de Oliveira, Doralice Oliveira Gomes, Cristian da Cruz Silva, Daniela da Silva Rodrigues https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Mental health care: perspective of an occupational therapist intern in physical rehabilitation outpatients
Introduction: Health literature shows that physical illness can cause mental suffering to those who experience it. However, several health professionals have difficulties in offering integrality in healthcare to those patients, considering the psychic sphere in the care process. In the author's experience, throughout the occupational therapy internship in physical rehabilitation outpatient clinics, integrality in healthcare processes were carried out proposing treatments for the physical and mental illness of service users. Objective: Report through the experience process the importance of mental health care during the physical rehabilitation process with integrality in Health. Methodology: We highlighted experiences during the internship period, selected according to the need for expanded mental health care. These findings were discussed based on health literature, with emphasis in legislation and public policies, as well as in the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement. Results and Discussion: Three experiences were reported and their impact was debated in the light of literature: User Embracement, Occupational performance and Mindfulness. Conclusion: Comprehensive care achieved positive results in the health of the public served, favoring acceptance, self-perception, emotion management and occupational involvement.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fernando Henrique da Costa de Souza, Carolina Grego Del-Cole, Lisete Ribeiro Vaz, Bruna Bouzada Romano https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Nature and environment in Occupational Therapy: an approach through integrative review
There is worldwide concern about environmental issues, as seen in international conferences and agreements on climate emergency. Occupational Therapy can address this issue, since it is in nature where human activities and occupations with meaning and motivation for individuals occur. This integrative literature review sought to understand how occupational therapists approach and support the treatment of environmental issues in studies and professional practices. The consultation of different bibliographic databases and periodicals in the area selected 40 titles, using the descriptors: "ecology", "sustainability", "environment", "horticulture" and "gardening", combined with "occupational therapy". The analysis revealed four categories: "nature as a therapeutic resource"; "nature as a constitutive element of the territory and occupations"; "deterioration of nature as a health risk" and "nature and sustainability as an ethics of training and work". There is an emphasis on nature as a therapeutic resource and a call for incorporating sustainability into training and professional practices. There are different perspectives on nature and the human/nature relationship, with few descriptions pointing to the need for further literature on the subject. A mark of social exclusion is evident when discussing access to nature and environmental issues.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mileni Aparecida dos Santos, Fátima Correa Oliver, Ana Cristina Fagundes Souto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Ergonomics and usability in Assistive Technology design: scoping review protocol
Assistive Technology (AT) is essential for promoting independence, autonomy, and quality of life, especially for older adults and individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. However, the successful use of these devices depends on their ability to address the personal and contextual dimensions of those who rely on them. Although studies on AT development, effectiveness, and usability exist, there is still a gap in the literature regarding the synthesis of information linking these factors to the design of such products. Objective: To explain the procedures and criteria that will guide the literature mapping and subsequent analyses involving the application of ergonomics and usability principles in the design of assistive technology. Method: This protocol describes a scoping review outlined with the JBI and PRISMA-ScR model guidelines, focusing on the exploration of evidence and aiming to ensure the rigor and replicability of the study. The review question was constructed using the acronym Population, Concept and Context. Original studies published in peer-reviewed journals that address the relationship between AT Ergonomics and/or Usability will be included, with no date or language restrictions.
Daniele Masterson Tavares Pereira Ferreira
Copyright (c) 2025 Larissa Leite Umbelino, Carolina Maria do Carmo Alonso, Talita Silvério de Souza Silva, Larissa Boanerges Freire, Daniele Masterson Tavares Pereira Ferreira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
INSS Professional Rehabilitation: a narrative review of the literature
Introduction: Professional Rehabilitation (PR) is a service provided by the National Social Security Institute (INSS) that offers professional education or readaptation for insured workers away from work, due to accidents or illness, to return to work activities. Objective: explore and analyze publications on PR and the return of workers to the labor market. Methodology: Narrative literature review carried out in June 2023, in the Scielo, Lilacs databases and manual search in national Occupational Therapy journals from January 2018 to June 2023. Results: 12 articles related to the PR process were identified, subdivided into 5 themes focused on transformations and changes in the PR program, divergence between the program and worker needs, sociodemographic profile of workers, resources for professional training and mental health of workers. Conclusions: The PR program influences the personal and professional lives of workers. The historical changes in RP indicate a dismantling of the program and interfere with the return to work. The worker’s limitations and sociodemographic implications have effects on the conduct and eligibility of the program and maintenance of employability. Courses as resources for training are an institutional challenge to meet the worker’s needs.
Copyright (c) 2024 Marcos Cunha, Rosé Colom Toldrá https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Occupations of elderly people under oncological palliative care: a scope review
An oncological diagnosis can have important consequences on the lives of elderly people, especially on their occupations. This study aimed to identify the approach to the occupations of elderly people in the context of oncological palliative care. A scope review of publications in PUBMED, BVS and SCIELO, between 2018 and 2023, was carried out by reading the title, abstract and keywords and, when necessary, reading the text. The selection used some inclusion criteria. Duplicate works and those published in the years prior to the established search period were not considered. The search found 1,202 articles, of which 667 were unique. After screening, 07 articles remained in this research. The most researched occupation was the activity of daily living and the most used assessment instrument was the Barthel Scale. Only 02 articles reported on the subjective aspects of the occupation, but did not detail its peculiarities. And 04 articles proposed to report occupational therapy interventions in this context, but in a more generic way. Considering the diversity of occupations and their meanings, studies are needed that are dedicated to researching the occupations of elderly people and in PC palliative oncology care and that consider the subjective dimensions that permeate occupation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Allya Ariadne Alves Malcher, Marcelo Marques Cardoso, Victor Augusto Cavaleiro Corrêa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Visão de Maloqueiro: dialogue about mental health, racism and the cultural experience of funk
Brazil is a country with a significant colonial legacy, manifested in numerous updates of racist institutional structures and practices. Psychiatry stands out in this history by promoting pathologization and institutionalization as devices for controlling Black existence in the post-abolition period. In light of this, it is essential for the field of mental health to recognize and incorporate Black culture, as well as Afro-centered references, in the production of knowledge and effective care practices. In this context, this research aimed to understand how funk culture has generated possibilities for existence and transformation of realities for Black and peripheral youth. The investigation explores the production of mental health and the effects of everyday racism. Six interviews were conducted, guided by the perspectives of “Escrevivência” by Conceição Evaristo, with young Black, peripheral, and funk artists. The results were organized into four thematic axes, highlighting the urgency of developing: the racial agenda in mental health, the de-institutionalization of racism, and the valorization of Black subjectivity. The research revealed that funk culture serves as a powerful expression of the ethical, aesthetic, and political dimensions of mental health among Brazilian Black youth. Additionally, it points to pathways for the production of care practices and social transformation.
Copyright (c) 2024 Paula Fernanda de Andrade Leite, Sabrina Helena Ferigato https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0