A modified gap analysis designed to generate research priorities in occupational therapy

Abstract

Where a limited body of evidence exists the traditional mechanisms of a literature or systematic review, which are often used to establish research gaps and priorities, can be problematic. This is especially the case in occupational therapy where evidence to guide future research directions can be sparse. A gap analysis of existing literature is one way to inform future research planning. This paper aims to describe a modified version of gap analysis specifically designed to identify research priorities in occupational therapy. This is illustrated using a small, disparate body of pre-existing, published work that explored practitioner knowledge of drinking alcohol in later life.