Main Research Areas

The Occupational Therapy Research Unit is committed to ensuring a high quality of occupational therapy solutions in the health care domain. Projects take up research questions from health care practice, which are addressed in close cooperation with partners. The results flow back into practice through our degree and continuing education programmes as well as publications.

Evaluating complex occupational therapy and interprofessional interventions and services

We evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of occupational therapy and interprofessional interventions and services. We closely collaborate with our partners from clinical practice, research, politics, and public administration and take into account factors that significantly influence the implementation of these complex interventions and services. 

Inclusion and participation in society

Important aims of our research are to evaluate and enhance activities, participation, and inclusion of persons with disabilities and chronic diseases. We develop and evaluate models, interventions, and tools to enable participation in social life for everybody. We actively involve persons with disabilities and chronic diseases in our projects, using participatory research methods. Our principle is "No decision about me without me."

Developing and evaluating new technologies and innovative therapeutic approaches

With many years of experience in the clinic, in industry and in research our team members are extremely well-qualified to develop and evaluate new technologies and innovative therapeutic approaches. Topics involve robotics, artificial intelligence, rehabilitation and assistive technologies, as well as the development of new models of care that enhance health, inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities and diseases  

Implementing and validating assessments

Assessments play a key role in evidence-based occupational therapy. Our researchers are experts in developing and translating assessments and evaluating sources of validity. Thus, we contribute to quality assurance and effectiveness testing in occupational therapy.

Clients and Research Partners

We develop solutions tailored to the problems and needs of our practice partners and clients, drawing on a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and other tools.

You benefit from our modern infrastructure and wide range of skills, which are supplemented by an interdisciplinary network within ZHAW and close ties with international experts in various subject areas.

For our interdisciplinary projects, we collaborate with the Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Public Health research units at the School of Health Sciences.