Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Research Agenda: A Scoping Review

Abstract Importance: As identified in the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s; 2023) statement about the purpose and value of the occupational therapy doctoral capstone, there is a lack of evidence about the purpose and value of the doctoral capstone. As an essential element of occupational therapy doctoral degree curricula, the capstone is unique to each program, supports the program’s scholarship agenda, and serves the needs of students and the communities served by the profession. Objective: To develop a doctoral capstone research agenda in an attempt to prioritize and guide research that can supplement the current paucity of evidence related to capstone efficacy or effectiveness. Method: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines were used to conduct a scoping review. Peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and June 2023 were searched using the CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Embase databases. Results: The doctoral capstone research agenda was developed and organized into five categories to drive research activities inclusive of the didactic and experiential learning associated with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the capstone process: (1) teaching and learning; (2) learner characteristics and competencies; (3) shaping professional identity; (4) faculty/mentor development and resources; and (5) promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Conclusions and Relevance: A doctoral capstone research agenda was developed in accordance with AOTA’s (2018) Occupational Therapy Education Research Agenda. It identifies an array of areas in which research is needed to inform the distinct value and purpose of the doctoral capstone to students, sites, programs, and the profession. Plain-Language Summary: The occupational therapy doctoral capstone is unique to each program, supports the program’s scholarship agenda, and supports the needs of students and the communities served by the profession. The American Occupational Therapy Association’s official document on the “Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone: Purpose and Value” states that there is a lack of evidence about how to identify the distinct purpose and value of the doctoral capstone. This scoping review explored the development of a doctoral capstone research agenda. A research agenda is provided to guide and prioritize research to articulate best practices and the distinct purpose and value of the doctoral capstone in occupational therapy education and for the profession.