Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of occupational therapists in promoting oral health: a protocol for mixed-methods systematic review

Background/Objectives: Poor oral health is a significant global public health concern that adversely affects an individuals’ overall health and general well-being. Occupational therapists are well-suited to promote oral health by supporting activities of daily living (ADLs), thereby improving clients’ oral health outcomes. However, there is limited evidence on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of occupational therapists regarding oral health, as well as the barriers and facilitators they face in delivering oral healthcare. Methods: This paper outlines a protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review aimed at synthesizing the current evidence on the KAPs of occupational therapists related to oral health, as well as the barriers and facilitators they encounter in promoting it. The upcoming systematic review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for mixed-methods systematic reviews using a convergent integrated approach to synthesis and integration. The review will include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies that report on KAP, barriers, and facilitators associated with occupational therapists’ involvement in oral healthcare. A comprehensive search will be conducted across multiple databases, including MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), SCOPUS, EMBASE (Ovid), and OTseeker to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers will independently screen the studies for eligibility, assess their methodological quality, and extract key data for synthesis. The protocol adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024522136). Results: The findings from the planned systematic review are expected to provide valuable insights into the role of occupational therapists in promoting oral health, addressing barriers and facilitators, and shaping policies, training programs, and clinical practices. Conclusions: Ultimately, these findings aim to enhance the integration of oral health into occupational therapy and improve client outcomes.