Incorporating spirituality into occupational therapy practice: A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2026/vol56no1a12Keywords:
Quality of life, Occupational therapy process, occupation , therapeutic use of self , Spirituality, Client centred practiceAbstract
Background: Spirituality is increasingly recognised as a vital component of health and well-being yet, there is a lack of clarity about how it is implemented in occupational therapy practice. This scoping review aimed to synthesise evidence on how spirituality is incorporated into occupational therapy practice and barriers and facilitators influencing this process
Method: Guided by the PRISMA-SCR PubMed, EBSCOhost, Scopus and Web of Sciences were searched for studies published in English from 2007 to 2024 that reported on ways which spirituality was incorporated into occupational therapy practice. Two reviewers independently screened all retrieved studies. data were exxtreacted and analysed descriptively.
Results: Of the 385 identified studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Spirituality was incorporated into occupational therapy practice through steps of the occupationalo therapy process (evaluation, intervention) and therapeutic use of self. Barriers included therapists' limited knowledge, cultural sensitivity conceerns, and systemic contrainsts, while faciitators included therapist agency and service-user receptivity.
Conclusion: Despite the barriers highlighted in the review, occupational therapists incorporate spirituality into practice mainly through the occupational therapy process. There are significant inconsistencies in addressing spiriitual needs throughout the process, with no studies reporting outcomes. Research on how occupational therapists integrate spirituality in practice remains limited.
Implications for practice
This study identified two keyways in which occupational therapists incorporate spirituality into their practice: through the occupational therapy process and the therapeutic use of self. These findings represent a significant step toward deepening the exploration of spirituality within occupational therapy practice and research. In the African context where spirituality is often deeply embedded in cultural, social, and personal life this study offers a strong foundation for advancing both practice and scholarship in this area. Moreover, the study clearly illuminates the barriers and facilitators to integrating spirituality in contemporary occupational therapy. The identification of these factors at individual, organisational, and systemic levels assert the need for context-sensitive strategies to support meaningful integration. The review reported the lack of research from the African region, and this highlights the importance of further research that is culturally aligned with African worldviews, spiritual traditions and practice settings or systems.
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