The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on occupational performance among people with disabilities and strategies for bouncing back: A rapid scoping review

ABSTRACT

In March 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic. Governments implemented responses including lockdowns and social distancing requirements, these led to significant occupational disruption globally. This study focuses on how occupational performance among people with disabilities was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and possible strategies for recovery.

A rapid scoping review methodology was used following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the collated data.

Occupational performance among people with disabilities was affected in areas of work, education, daily routines, interpersonal relationships, and occupations for maintaining health and well-being. Non-inclusive policy frameworks were reported and strategies for recovery are suggested.

Findings imply the need for occupational therapists to take on the roles of facilitators, advocates, and researchers for promoting occupational engagement among people with disabilities including Long Covid.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational performance
• COVID-19
• Long COVID
• people with disabilities
• occupational science
• occupational therapy
• occupational disruption

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Bournemouth University: [Grant Number QR Funding].