Evidence for occupational therapy interventions: Effectiveness research indexed in the OTseeker database

The aim of this study was to determine the overall quantity and quality of randomised controlled trials and the quantity of systematic reviews relevant to occupational therapy practice. The content of OTseeker (www.otseeker.com) was surveyed in June 2006. There were 3401 randomised controlled trials and 939 systematic reviews in OTseeker (total = 4340), published mostly in non-occupational therapy journals. The diagnostic areas of stroke (n = 458) and back or neck conditions/injuries (n = 391), and the intervention categories of exercise (n = 1262) and consumer education (n = 1098), were the most frequently listed. Although the quantity of evidence available about the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions is rapidly increasing, some areas require greater research effort. Occupational therapists also need to search more broadly than occupational therapy journals for research to support clinical decision making.