Edinburgh Napier University

  Purpose: This scoping review aims to comprehensively identify, map and synthesise the current evidence on the use of robotics in occupational therapy research, practice, and education. The review will scope the current literature and focus upon the use, classification, and role of healthcare robots to provide a baseline from which to inform future research priorities and practice guidelines. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) scoping review framework will guide the review process and will be reported using the PRISMA-SCR (2018) guidelines. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, OT Seeker, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect will be searched from inception using predefined search terms related to 'occupational therapy' and 'robotics'. Grey literature will include handsearching of key occupational therapy, engineering and robotics journals. Peer-reviewed, English-language articles addressing robotics in occupational therapy practice, research, or education will be included. No restrictions will be placed upon year of publication, study design, or participant populations. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full-texts for inclusion. Data will be extracted using a piloted form and will be narratively synthesised. Results: Findings will be summarised using the proposed classification of healthcare robots by Huang (2022) to categorise the main characteristics of the robots. The role to which they are being used will be considered within a five-point checklist: improving precision and accuracy, increasing efficiency, enhancing patient engagement, improving safety, and personalising treatment plans. Conclusions: This scoping review will provide a broad landscape from which to understand the current evidence on the use, classification, and role of robotics in occupational therapy, identifying key opportunities and challenges to guide future research, education, and practice in this rapidly evolving field.