Research in occupational therapy: notes about the academics ways in the national scene

Abstract

The area of occupational therapy has been discussing, in their collective forums, organizing strategies to access funding for research and its institutionalization in stricto sensu post-graduate studies. In this scenario, it's presented data on Research Groups in Occupational Therapy area in Brazilian universities. Groups registered with the term "Occupational Therapy" in their names, in the area of research title or in its keywords were searched in the CNPq Directory of Research Groups (large Health Area, Physical Therapy Sub-Area and Occupational Therapy). Subsequently, the groups' leaders were contacted and asked about data on ongoing researches, their participants as well as funds obtained. Twenty-six active research groups were found with great concentration in the southeast of Brazil and with a population of 172 researchers, from which 91 are doctors. One hundred twenty-four ongoing projects were i.dentified, 65 of which received some kind of financing. It is possible to verify that the area still has a small number of doctors with low participation in stricto sensu post-graduate programs, which are relevant elements for the development of specific research; it is necessary to deal with the challenge of achieving representative levels and grow along the institutions which certify the production of academic knowledge.