OTJR is published quarterly in print, but material will be now published on the web once manuscripts are accepted and edited. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, originally titled The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (OTJR) from 1980 to 2001, is published by SLACK, Inc. for the AOTF and offers original research articles of professional interest to the occupational therapist. OTJR also features briefs, book reviews, letters to the editor, and commentaries. The Foundation has an online index to articles published in OTJR.

OTJR accepts original research articles and systematic review papers that advance the science of occupational therapy or the understanding of occupation, and will lead to improving the lives of people at risk of being restricted from participating in meaningful activities and roles.

In 1965 the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Inc. was chartered as a charitable, scientific, literary and educational society to “advance the science of occupational therapy...and increase the public knowledge and understanding thereof.” In 2000, as part of its mission to advance the science of the profession, the Foundation established its Institute for the Study of Occupation and Health organized around professional concepts as they relate to broad societal issues and needs. Since its establishment, the AOTF Institute has exemplified the vision of AOTF founder, Wilma L. West, who believed that occupational therapy should address the dynamics of health and social forces as well as therapeutic interventions that affect the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, titled The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research (OTJR) from 1980 to 2001, was developed as an expression of the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the profession through scientific inquiry. To advance the understanding of the role that occupation plays in fostering participation and enhancing health, the Foundation Board of Directors supported a name change for OTJR to OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health.

This newly focused and redesigned journal made its debut with Volume 22, Number 1, Winter 2002. The journal makes public the commitment of the profession to the study of occupation, participation and health; and at the same time, fosters interdisciplinary dialogue with contributions from disciplines like psychology, neuroscience, economics, anthropology, sociology, geography, rehabilitation science, nursing and social work.

OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health will accept research articles and sys-tematic review papers that advance knowledge of occupation, and/or will lead to improving the lives of people at risk of being restricted from participating in activities and roles that have meaning to them. The following topics should guide authors seeking to publish in the journal:

• the relationship of occupation to health, well-being and or quality of life
• occupational development in all ages of the life-span i.e., the occupation of children, the importance of occupation in maintaining health in aging
• the influence of body systems or body function on occupational performance and or social participation
• the impact of life-style redesign or occupational choice on health and participation
• the effectiveness of occupation-based interventions
• the influence of the social, built, or natural environments on occupational performance or occupation (or vice versa)
• the impact of culture on occupation
• how human perceptions and or behavior, i.e. meaning, habits, roles, ritual, attitudes, feelings, influence occupation or occupational performance
• the psychometric properties of measures of occupation or occupational performance
• the impact or relationship of social policies and attitudes on occupation
• interventions that influence health, well-being, and or quality of life
• other topics that will lead to improving the lives of people as they seek to fully participate in family, work, community and society.

For submission information, please contact:

Jane Case Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Email: otjr.editor@osumc.edu
Phone: 614-292-0357
Fax: 614-292-0210