Cienciometria da terapia ocupacional no Brasil: uma análise baseada nas especialidades da profissão e no uso de terapêuticas

Abstract

Science needs to be evaluated periodically and one of the methods used is scientometry, of applying analytical numerical techniques to measure the scientific and technological progress, also highlights the trends and contributions of a particular area, institution or country for scientific advance. The Occupational Therapy (OT) is one of the areas with questions to be answered as to the stage of scientific production, mainly in Brazil. From the exposed, the objective of this review is to conduct a scientometric analysis of Brazilian periodics in the area of OT and verify its relation with the professionals expertise and the use of therapeutic. The methodology used was a cross-sectional study, quantitative and inferential character, with a sample of 11 Brazilian periodics with emphasis on the area of OT and articles linked to that from 2011. Analyzed characteristics of periodicals, indexing basis, definition of the methodology, time between acceptance and submission, and the distribution of publications among the specialty of the OT and especially the use or not of therapy in the area. The research identified 11 Brazilian periodics and 323 articles related to the area of the OT, and the stratum B2 being the most frequent, the Southeast region with the highest concentration of scientific production and the Functional Health specialty with the highest number of publications. The methodology that was the most used was qualitative, descriptive statistics and cross-sectional design. Regarding of therapy, most of the articles did not assess or mentioned the use. It is concluded, the area is emerging in the quantity and quality of research, and consequently the advances in scientific knowledge, but with few specific Brazilian periodics, restricted indexing, incipient use of methodologies, plus a small number of articles that evaluate the therapeutic effects of the various interventions of Occupational Therapy, demanding greater methodological rigor and professional practice based on evidence.